50+ Fabulous Crafts from Denim Jeans!
You Said “Denim”?
1a: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads. b: a similar fabric woven in colored stripes. 2 denims plural: overalls or trousers usually of blue denim.
That’s what Merriam Webster tells us about denim. But denim is so much more to us, right?
When we think of denim, we think of those cozy, comfy jeans that we can’t live without. Time to learn a bit about those special pieces of clothing.
History of Denim Jeans
Our favorite jeans are most often made of denim or dungaree cloth. “Blue jeans” were invented by J. Davis in a partnership with Levi Strauss and Co in 1871.
Can you believe jeans go back that far?
“Jean” references a historic type of sturdy cloth usually made with a cotton warp and wool weft. Jean cloth can be made of cotton as well, and in this form, it is known as “denim”.
Although denim jeans were originally made for miners, they became popular as casual wear by the great Marlon Brando and James Dean in their 1950s films. This lead to the denim fabric becoming a symbol of rebellion among teenagers.
From the 1960s onward, jeans were common with young members of the general population. And now, today we find denim jeans as the most popular type of pants in Western culture.
OK, I know that’s more than you need to know about jeans and denim. But I’m a history geek and just had to put that in there.
Mending Denim
If you are looking for fun and fancy ways to mend jeans, we have links to wonderful books and websites that will show you how to use decorative stitching and patching to make your jeans whole again.
Now, be warned, not all jeans are meant for mending!
My daughter definitely would not want me to “mend” the holey jeans that she paid so much for; I still struggle to see the allure of jeans that look 15 years past their prime.
However, many adults want to continue to wear those favorite jeans, and fancy or hidden mending can be a lifesaver.
We have more helpful hints on our page devoted to mending clothing.
Repurpose Your Denim
Because denim is so strong and comes in a variety of shades, it makes the perfect fabric to repurpose into new and usable items.
We have many projects to make with your old denim clothing or those you can purchase cheaply at thrift sales or yard sales.
Some of the ideas below include:
- HOME ACCESSORIES such as the cozy denim quilt, chevron pillow, bedside organizers, Christmas stockings, rugs and more.
- CLOTHING like the skirt, apron, slippers, and many others.
- ACCESSORIES like barretts, purses, tote bags, plus more ideas.
- CRAFTING ITEMS such as our craft organizer with jean pockets, adult coloring pencils bag, and more!
- AND TOO MANY OTHER ITEMS TO LIST!
So go ahead and check out all of the great denim ideas we have gathered for you! And remember to save those old jeans!!
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Adult coloring books are really popular these days, so why not try to make an adult coloring bag as well that can hold all your pencils?
Craft Bits
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Use old jeans to transform them into a drawstring lunch sack.
Inner Child Fun
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Scrap fabrics of denim and other fabric are used to create pretty barrettes.
Until Wednesday Calls
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Upcycle a pair of jeans into a handy bed organizer to store stuff.
Upcycle My Stuff
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Recycle your old blue jeans into an easy, pieced throw.
All People Quilt
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Upcycle old jeans into a chevron pillow with this free pattern tutorial.
Ashbee Design
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How to make a Christmas stocking by upcycling old jeans.
Nebraska Views
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Make useful items from old denim - quilt, purse, pillow, apron.
RLROUSE Directory
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Declutter and upcycle old jeans into heart garland as Valentine's Day decor.
Creative Green Living
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Learn how to weave denim strips into a basket.
Ohoh Deco
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Here are do-it-yourself instructions to turn a bunch of unwanted jeans into a stunning and useful picnic blanket.
Sustain My Craft Habit
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Dogs love bones! Why not stitch up a denim bone toy using the instructions in this free tutorial.
Pillar Box Blue
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Turn denim pant legs into hanging storage baskets.
Pillar Box Blue
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A simple tutorial how to create an apron from old denim jeans.
My Byrd House
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Stop throwing away old jeans! You can transform the old jeans into a useful denim bag (basket) with this tutorial.
Needlepointers.com
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Looking for a creative way to upcycle your old jeans? How about a Denim Play Crown!
Creative Green Living
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How to make a denim pocketbook or handbag from an old jeans.
Love To Sew
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20 Projects to Reconstruct & Embellish Jeans, Overalls, and Jackets.
by Amy Barickman
- Paperback
- Published 2007
Affiliate Link to Amazon
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Recycle denim shirts or skirts into a homespun, farmhouse look rug.
All free Crafts
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If you have intermediate sewing skills then you can easily stitch yourself a pair of proper denim slippers using a pair of old jeans.
The Guardian
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Turn old jeans into something new and useful, a tote bag.
Love To Sew
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This denim recycling project is fun to do and makes a perfect homemade gift for a young girl who keeps a diary. No sewing necessary
All free Crafts
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Create DIY coasters from old jeans.
Scratch and Stitch
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Find a step-by-step written tutorial with VIDEO instructions for making a dog bone toy out of jeans.
Hello Sewing
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Making a skirt out of a pair of jeans.
Not Martha
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Dogs and cats will love it when you learn to make your own pet bed in any size using recycled denim and fleece scraps.
Needlepointers.com Associate
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This tutorial will show you how to make a denim jeans skirt for an 18" doll from old jeans. No sewing is necessary!
Needlepointers.com
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Transform the legs of old jeans into a usable, functional basket.
Embroidery Library Projects
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For this project you can purchase denim or recycle old denim.
My Recycled Bags
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Video and instructions on how to fix holes in jeans.
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Twenty things to do with old jeans.
WiseBread
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Recycle old jeans and machine embroidery to make a crafty apron.
Embroidery Library
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A fun and pretty denim jean upcycle. Make a summery cuff bracelet from the waistband of an old pair of jeans.
Sum of Their Stories
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This Recycled Jeans Organizer is a fun way for teens to combine their creative side and keep locker organized.
Free Kids Crafts
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You can create your own unique jeans skirt using these easy-to-follow instructions by Simplicity.
Sewing.org
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Have some old jeans. Upcycle them into a skirt.
Curbly - Threadbanger
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Splice jeans, add some fabric and transform them into a long skirt.
Fashion Icon
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A tutorial on how to make shorts from jeans.
mmm crafts
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You can make the entire apron for a kid out of one pant leg. Learn how here.
Happy Hooligans
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How to add knee patches to jeans.
My Poppet Makes
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Make your upcycled denim jean cut-offs a bit fancy with a little lace.
Sum of Their Stories
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This articles shows how to turn old jeans into a laptop bag.
Habit of Art
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Vacation time! Need a luggage tag? upcycled denim into DIY luggage tags.
Scratch and Stitch
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Create this simple lunch bag from old denim jeans.
Make and Takes
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Upcycle jeans and copper tubing into a DIY magazine rack.
Pillar Box Blue
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Learn how to stitch, patch, and repair your favorite denim and more. It includes more than 20 hands-on projects that showcase current trends in visible mending that are edgy, modern, and bold.
by Katrina Rodabaugh
- Kindle Book
- Published 2018
Affiliate Link to Amazon
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You can upcycle old jeans into an owl doorstop with this free pattern.
Hello Sewing
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A nice way to use old jeans or leftover denim fabric is to make a nine-patch pillow. It's so simple.
Love To Sew
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How to make a small, cute handbag using an old jeans or shorts pocket. This project only requires simple sewing skills so beginners and kids can sew this project.
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Recycle denim jeans pockets into magnets. Stick them on the fridge to store pencils, coupons, notepaper. Kid's can attach inside school lockers to store things.
All free Crafts
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Turn old jeans into pot holders with these free directions.
Favecrafts
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Recycle denim jeans into pot holders.
My Recycled Bags
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Instruction for giving durable denim another life as a set of cute 'n' cozy rag-quilted coasters.
Sew I See
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How to make a rag rug from old worn-out jeans and lots of cotton yarn scraps.
My Poppet Makes
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Upcycle denim jeans into a wine bag with this tutorial.
Cathie Filian
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A free pattern on how to make a jeans skirt.
This Thrifty House
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By using a pair of jeans, sew a shoulder tote and/or water bottle holder.
AOK Corral
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Here is a tutorial on how to sew a simple pillow with old jeans or clothing.
Cyberseams
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This quick sewing project makes it a cinch to turn old jeans into tool roll for craft supplies such as scissors, knitting needles, brushes, etc.
Until Wednesday Calls
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Recycle cast off denim into a convenient caddy.
Instructables
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Repurpose items! How to make curtain tie backs by upcycling materials around the house including tee shirt curtain tie backs and jeans tie backs.
Our Daily Craft
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Visible mending is a new technique where artful stitches are used to repair and fix your favorite things.
Turn a chore into a delight! Instead of hiding holes or wear and tear on your clothes, make them a feature with all the ideas you will find in this book.
by Jenny Wilding Cardon
- Kindle Book
- Published 2018
Affiliate Link to Amazon
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Upcycle denim jeans into a wine bottle gift bag.
Needlepointers.com
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How to make zipper purse from old denim jeans pockets
My Poppet Makes
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