5 Great Jeans Recycling Projects: Pretty Amazing!

1.  DIY Bean Bag Game from Jeans Pockets:  These are almost no-sew.  Just cut the back pockets from jeans (including the fabric underneath), fill with  dried beans or split peas, and sew up the top opening.  Use paper plates or boxes for the targets.  You can use a nail to attach the targets to the ground so they don’t slide around. Or make a “corn hole” target.  I made some & love them.  I found this at ChicaAndJo.  Theirs look so cute with the red star painted on them.  I decided to not paint mine as the fabric just felt so good in my hand.  I didn’t want to lose that comfy old jeans feel by adding paint.  I think they are much more fun to throw than other bean bags, and even have a little of the heft of horseshoes.  Much safer to throw than horseshoes too!

Jeans Pockets Bean Bag Game

 

2.  Water Bottle Holder:  Pretty simple.  Cut a section off the bottom of a pant leg.  Make sure the section is about 2 inches longer that the water bottle is tall.  The bottom hem of the pant leg will become the top of the bag.  Turn the section inside out and sew the cut end in a straight seam.  Cut off the waistband of the jeans and sew the ends to the top of the water bottle holder.   Done!  I think it looks pretty cool just as it is, but you can add embellishments if you like. If the bag is too big inside, take in the seam before you add the strap.  I’ve seen ribbons used as the strap also and it adds a nice color accent.

3.  Decorating a Young Person’s Room or a Family Room:  How about throw pillows with the pockets and waistbands included for a fun look.  Make a denim patchwork bedspread from squares of several pairs of old jeans.  The varying colors look great mixed together randomly.  Leave the raw seams on the top of the cover to fray fashionably in the laundry.  You could make matching curtains if you have enough jeans.  Not enough?  Buy them for about $3 each at a thrift shop.  Be sure to pick the largest sizes of men’s jeans to get the most fabric!

4.  Tote Bags:  Tote bags can be made from cut open pant legs of jeans.  Each leg makes one side of the tote and you cut to the length you want. These are great for groceries or any kind of gear.   You could probably make a great log tote if you double the fabric.  Use webbing or rope to make the straps.  Strong and rugged–makes a great gift.  Click here for a tutorial on making bags from jeans including tips for sewing over jean seams.

Dolce and Gabbana Bag for $1.270

5.  Jeans Purses:  Have a go at making a bag like the one pictured here.  I guarantee it will cost you tons less than this designer bag by Dolce and Gabbana.  The webbing they used for the straps is available at fabric and craft stores.  Remember you can buy very large jeans at a thrift shop for about $3 if you want a bigger size bag.

A cute idea I’ve seen (see picture at top of this post) for a jeans purse is to use bamboo handles from a craft store through some of the belt loops.  Here is the very good tutorial for this cute bag at MotherEarthNews.

Click here for more inspiration. There are some amazing bags and even book bags. 
Wow.  I need to get more creative!

I hope you give some of these a try.  Have you recycled jeans into anything?  I’d love some more ideas!