Upcycling Jeans ~ Don't waste that good denim!

Is there anyone in this world who can honestly say they do not like denim? I love denim! I love wearing it, feeling it, and making things out of it. I even had a whole love seat upholstered in denim with matching pillows...c o z y! I think it's such a shame when someone thinks it's a good idea to throw away a pair of jeans just because the zipper broke or the waistband is threadbare or the seams split. A pair of jeans has so much denim that, even if it is no longer usable as a pair of jeans, all that denim can be salvaged and made into other durable and useful items.

Here's one that I just finished, made out of an old pair of jeans and some fabric strategically cut from some vest panels I had in my stash for a long time!


Is that not a cheerful looking tote bag?


The inside lining is layered with fusible fleece and quilted to give the bag even more structure than what the denim gives it on its own.


The handles are also layered with two layers of fusible fleece and quilted...


...and triple stitched into the bag for strength and durability.


This bag is generously sized (which of course is because the jeans were generously sized :) ), but even if you had a small pair of jeans to work with, the denim could be salvaged and pieced to make whatever project you had in mind.

I've made other things from upcycled jeans and clothing and listed them HERE, so if you're looking for ideas for putting to good use clothing that can no longer be used as clothing, go check it out! Or if you like to make things as gifts or just for fun but you don't have a budget for new fabric, you can always ask people for their old clothing or find articles of clothing at a thrift store to remake and upcycle. Be creative and have fun with it!

Happy Stitching!

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