Uses for Old Denim Jeans

People love denim jeans so much that they usually hate to part with them when they become worn or are outgrown. Rather than throwing out those old, worn-out jeans, why not turn them into something useful? People have recycled their old jeans into skirts and purses for years, but here are a few new uses for old denim jeans.

Recycling

One of the best ways to extend the life of old denim jeans is to donate them to the local Habitat for Humanity or to Cotton Inc., so they can be recycled into environmentally friendly insulation for new homes.

Braided Rug

Cut old jeans into strips and use these to make an old-fashioned braided rug (see Resources section). You can get a variegated look by alternating strips of faded denim and strips of newer denim.

Drink Cozy

Make a reusable cozy for tea or coffee out of a pair of old denim jeans (see Resources section). If the pocket is still attached, it's a good place to store stirrers and coffee-shop punch cards.

Camera Bag

Using old jeans and a bit of colorful fabric, you can create a custom camera bag to store cameras and their accessories (see Resources section).

Lunch Bag

A single pair of old denim jeans can produce several reusable lunch bags (see Resources section). Decorate them with age-appropriate embellishments.

References

• Denim Recycling Program

Resources

• Custom Camera Bag Directions
• Reusable Lunch Bags
• Braided Denim Rug Tutorial
• Denim Coffee Cozy