We’ve all been there. You get a new pair of jeans, and before you know it, your old ones are relegated to the back of your closet. You might wear them once or twice more, but eventually, they just become too faded, too stained, or simply too tight. So what do you do with them? Most people just throw them away, but there are many great ways to recycle old jeans. This article will explore some ideas on how you can put those old jeans to new use!
Contents
Make Denim Pot Holders
If the thought of throwing away your old jeans breaks your heart, consider upcycling them into something new! One use for jeans is to repurpose them into denim potholders. You can follow these steps to make your own!
First, find some scrap pieces of soft material that you can use as padding. Next, simply cut out two identical rectangles, and place them on the inside of the legs. Next, use a needle and thread to sew along all four sides, making sure you leave open one end so you’ll be able to flip it right side out when you finish! After this, turn it inside out (this will be harder than expected because of the thick material), and sew about 1/2″ to 1″ along the open end to close it off. Finally, get to using your new potholders!
Make Denim Pouches
You can also reuse old jeans to make denim pouches which are great for storing makeup, hair ties, lip balm, or chargers. You can follow these steps to make your own! First, cut off the legs at the seams, allowing you to lay one flat and adjust it to how big you want your pouch to be (if you’re using a pair of shorts cut across the side seam).
Next, layout your material with the right side down and fold it over two times so that you have three layers of denim on the outside. Sew across the top edge to keep it in place, and then fold over one more time to make four layers of denim on the outside (two folded pieces, two sewing lines). Flip right side out. Just like that, you have some new pouches to keep your things in!
Make A Chair Cushion
You can also take old jeans and upcycle them into chair cushions for any chairs, stools, or benches that you may have. Follow these steps to make your own! First, decide what size cushion you want, depending on how big or small your chair is. Then cut off the legs at the seams so that three layers of fabric will allow you to attach them together. Next, take strips of softer material (like an old t-shirt) and use them as ties to tighten the cushion together. Finally, sew all three pieces of denim together, leaving an opening at one end so you can fill it with stuffing before finishing up!
Make A Recycled Denim Rug
You can also use your old jeans to make a recycled denim rug! Just follow these steps to make your own! Start by cutting off the legs at the seams or what’s left of them. Then cut into smaller strips from the bottom of each leg until you have a pile of “inner tube” strips. Next, lay all your strips horizontally and attach one strip to another vertically for as long as you want your rug to be. Finally, sew along both ends, so there is no open space between any strips! You will now have a recycled denim rug that is sure to spruce up any room!
Wash Bag
If you’re looking for something simple that doesn’t require too much time or effort, why not make a wash bag? Jeans are great fabrics because they’re durable. All you need to do is follow these steps! First, cut the legs off of your jeans, but keep them on the waistband!
Then make sure to sew up any holes or tears. Next, find an old belt to use as a strap. Using crimp beads, you can use this one or attach another belt through the loops of your denim pouch, which will let you adjust it depending on how long or short you want it to be. Once that’s done, just fill it with whatever items you want. Your homemade wash bag is now complete!
Conclusion
There are many different things that you can do with old jeans. However, no matter how you decide to use your old jeans, there is no denying that recycling your clothes into something new is a great way to save money and be more environmentally friendly. By following the steps above, you should have no problem finding a unique and creative way to repurpose your old pants!