Did you know that a new pair of jeans can take up to 13 years’ worth of drinking water to make?
After reading that, I went to the laundry and rescued the boys’ torn jeans from the rag pile and mended the ones that were still wearable. They’ve still got plenty of life in them…
Then I made an apron out of one leg…
And another one out of three legs…
I was hooked! The vinyl on Small Man’s desk chair was flaking away, so we covered it with a patchwork of jeans’ legs. It’s now more comfortable than ever…
After cutting the legs off the jeans, I was left with the waistband and pockets, and it occurred to me that the belt-loops were the perfect size for little denim rings. So I carefully unpicked them, cut them to size, and handstitched the butted ends together. Voila!
If you want to try making these, cut the loops to lengths of 6cm – 7cm, depending on your ring size. I have sausage fingers, so I rarely wear rings, but the denim has enough give to be comfortable and non-constricting. The added advantage of course is that you don’t need to be precious about them in any way. Just remember to take them off before you wash your hand…
It’s quite addictive, as they only take minutes to make…
I made a matching bracelet and ring set from old Levi’s…
My boys won’t wear them, but my other young friends can’t get enough of them…
Having used up my stash of old jeans by this point, I decided to hit the op shops.
I’ve discovered that if you shop carefully and search for fabric rather than fit, you can pick up secondhand denim for a song. The cheapest place to find it is at Salvos stores – their clothing is colour tagged, and each week, a different colour goes on sale for $2 a piece. These are the pieces that have sat on the rack the longest and they’re usually the least fashionable, but they’re perfect for upcycling.
As you can see from the receipt below, I picked up eight pairs last week for $20 (orange was $2, blue was half price)…
A couple of them were brand new! Sadly they didn’t fit anyone, but I’ll find something clever to do with the fabric…
Next on the drawing board are zippered bags, more aprons, and possibly a denim patchwork blanket. I’m threatening to make a Siberian parka out of them as well, but Pete has declared that he won’t be seen with me in it.
Do you have any denim upcycling ideas? I’d love to know them! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You are just so clever! Aprons I ‘be seen but rings? So cool!And I loved the chair seat idea! Thank you for sharing your originality!
Brilliant! I saw a really good video on YouTube (I think) recently to save jeans when they wear really thin between the thighs. It used iron on interfacing inside then lots of backwards and forwards zig zag stitching from the outside over the patch…very clever!
I saw that too! It’s very clever!!
Utterly love the aprons, office chair cover and jewellery!!!
I have seen ‘coffe cup cozies’ which I think are a great idea to put round your cup at home when you have a nice cup of hot tea! A bit of Velcro or a cute button and loop to hold it together. Bunting also looks cute in denim! Love your creativity!
Oh that’s a great idea!! Thank you!
You are truly the queen of upcycling! I love all of your ideas to reduce waste and am constantly encouraged to be better at waste management! Thanks.
And this is why I wish I could sew! You are so clever Celia! I do love your aprons.
Here’s a small job for you, I remember in the 70’s we had a denim beanbag…
No no Cath, not going there again! 😂
🤣🤣🤣
We have a men’s mission in our city. They are very grateful for clothing donations. Mostly homeless men. Perhaps a good use for the new ones?
Mo
We donate homemade beanies to our homeless charity every year, but the jeans are coming from the Salvation Army, so I’m guessing they’re already handing out the ones they can. Same with Vinnies. The problem is actually that there’s so MUCH clothing being donated that some charities have asked folks to stop dropping them off as they’re ending up in landfill! By buying back from the charities, it actually contributes funds back into their work – it’s what they ask folks to do and many of their products are tagged with “buying is giving”.
Mo, having said that, you’ve now got me thinking that denim duffel bags might be something the homeless COULD use. Hmmm.
What a fantastic idea! And old denim is much softer, when its used as a pillow. A lockable zip would be important too. I’m not familiar with sewing, I’m more into natural crafts, but I hope someone grabs this and starts something cool! :)
The Husband wears jeans for work, and I general recycle the worst worn pair down into patches to mend all the others when they tear in the seat (as they inevitably do!). Once I have patches on the patches, it’s usually time to turn them into garage rags… I’ve also made him a quilt for his truck out of patches from his jeans and hi-vis work shirts, and a couple of hard-wearing pillowcases to go with it. Denim’s good in this case because he delivers fuel to the mines and everything gets black with coal dust very quickly. Denim ‘rings’ from the bottom of jeans legs are also good to make sock-savers with a bit of elastic in the top, and opened-out legs make good, hard wearing laundry bags for camping trips with a drawstring top. I’ve also turned jeans legs into yarn by spiral cutting half inch wide strips from the legs, and have crocheted a mat and a heat pad for our caravan from it. Although that’s pretty hard on the hands, it makes an amazingly durable finished product.
Wonderful ideas Kate, thank you!
:-)
I love your ideas!! Making yarn!! So cool
The mat I made with it is really nice, thick and chunky. Worth a go!
that statistic about the water needed to make denim is sad – makes me wonder about how much water goes into making other clothes. I saw a video recently about lots of cool ways to patch jeans (I think it was bright side). I am not so into blue denim but really like some of the coloured ones and could imagine they would make great patching – love the idea of upcycling from salvos
what a great post!! It’s a crime the water that is wasted in industry,, so sad,,I have reused denims for bags, toys, quilts and made the skirts from them but never jewelry, I love to meet people with the same passion,, denim is such a hard working cloth too,, the rings you made,, oh my gosh what a great novel idea,, you are very clever!!!!
Fantastic! I have a denim skirt from the ummmm what year was that? haha complete with lots of embroidery but I love the apron and all of the other ideas. Passing this on……thank you.
I have two pairs of jeans which are perfectly fine except that they’ve faded badly. I’m going to try dying them with a navy blue dye and hopefully they’ll look as good as new.
Celia, you are so very creative, thank you for sharing it with us.
Clever!
How clever! I have a little bag made out of denim. I’ve sadly worn it out but I wonder if I could make one from the fabric of old jeans. Thanks for the idea! Meg:)
Wow Celia!! What an inspiration! I’m going to go through the ‘hand wipes’ pile where a couple of jeans have gone into.. Your apron idea will be in the works soon. We homeschool so my 14 year old cut the pockets & thick hem
Cords from an old jeans to make a Phone & Charger bag when we’re visiting. This eases less wear and tear on the phone charger cord when placed into the denim pouch.. can’t wait to get sewing! Thank you! Xx
Hi Celia, great ideas for denim upcycling; denim is such great fabric…I made a quilt from denim from my jeans plus a pair of shorts that had worn out. I also used denim from my old jeans and my Mum’s denim skirt to make tote bags. Also I recommend Sherri Lynn Wood’s work. She literally takes fabric out of the trash and makes beautiful things with it.
Here’s one of the bags I made in case anyone’s interested https://instagram.com/p/BTEbcbcjX2E/
Fantastic idea. Glad you are back. We’ve missed your blog postings.
Thank you! Unexpected “long service leave” after ten years of blogging! :)
Guess you earned a break then. :)
Awesome ideas! I love the rings and bracelets. Denim is my favorite thing to thrift for and repurpose!
What a great idea! For my wife and I’s wedding, one of my friends gave us a blanket that he had made out of old denim. It’s amazing. Super heavy, incredibly warm, and tough as nails.
Very inventive! I use old jeans to make cushion covers but since I went on a Creative Darning workshop with Tom of Holldand, I’ve been darning and patching jeans until they’re sometimes as much patch as original. Check out https://tomofholland.com/ I think you’ll love some of his ideas.
Oooh thank you!
Love your ideas Celia. I have made yoga bags out of the legs of old jeans by sewing up the cut end of the leg. This becomes the bottom of the yoga bag and the hemmed end is where the rolled up yoga mat goes in. I sew an adjustable bag strap along the length of the leg, adding jean pockets for style and storage. Useful bag for very little effort.
Brilliant ideas. Yet i struggle to grasp how denim uses so much water to make?
Love this idea! I always attempt to try and up cycle things and it never really turns out well!
I love hearing about your green living experiments. I don’t know how it is where you live but I live in Ohio (US) and this summer I have seen not a SINGLE honeybee…so scary. My mother used old jeans to make a quilt that fits a twin bed and I have to say, it is HEAVY!
Very clever Celia! Well worn Denim is so soft, bet that chair seat is cozy and comfortable.
The aprons are adorable!
You really are quite clever to recycle the old jeans. Who would have thought they take so much water to make? Not me, that’s for sure. I am working on a craft project I plan to launch shortly on Etsy, you’ve inspired me to look at taking old jeans and upcycling them, thanks Celi.