What Can You Do With Old Pairs of Jeans?

Jeans are considered an American wardrobe essential.

It's hard to toss out an old pair of jeans, especially when they've become a faithful friend. There's something sacred about our jeans; the way they conform specifically to our bodies, how they are always there for us on those days when we can't find a thing to wear, the way they stick by us through thick and thin...literally. Then, one day, it's time to say goodbye. But the good times aren't really over. The relationship has just changed a little. If you can sew a straight line, are decent with an iron, or own a staple or glue gun, then you can give anything a second life.

Windows

You can pair your denim cornice box with any color sheer curtain; jeans go with everything.

With a staple gun, some wood and batting, you can make a cornice box with one of the pant legs. Cut one leg of the pants off at the knee. Just open the cut-off pant leg up at the side seam and wrap your cornice box with it, stapling the fabric to the wood. Denim always looks cute and stylish, whether it's on you or in your window.

Tables

Flat unembellished pockets can be made into placemats.

Cut the other leg off of the pants. Make a place mat out of the back. Iron the pants flat, remove the waistband, and cut the back of the pants off. Sew the fabric, pockets-side up, onto a large finished place mat. You can even put a place card or napkin into the back pocket.

Bag-y Jeans

Now your plastic bags won't go into a landfill; they're in your pants!

If you cut the other leg in half, you can make a a plastic grocery bag holder. Sew a drawstring on one end of the leg and add an elastic opening on the other. You can even put a small loop at the top to allow the bag to hang inside your pantry.

The Rest of the Leg

Your jeans can make even the snootiest wine seem more approachable.

You've got half a leg. If you make a drawstring in one end with a beautiful ribbon and sew up the other end, you have a fabulous wine bottle gift bag! Just fit a wine bottle into the leg beforehand to make sure your pant leg isn't too skinny or baggy or you'll have to make adjustments to the width.

The Front

All that is left now is the front. This makes a cute decorative pillow for a preschooler that she can learn to zip, button or snap with, depending on the style of jeans you had. She can even put things in the pockets. Add a backing to the jean fabric and stuff the resulting pillow case with fiber fill.

References

• Building Materials 365: How to Make a Cornice Box
• All Free Crafts: Making a Square Pillow
• YouTube: Video for Making an Elastic Casing