Go Green: Six Ways to Reuse Old Jeans

Nearly everyone has old jeans cluttering their closets and drawers and many do not think of reusing those jeans in new ways. Even cheaper jeans contain solid fabric that serves as the base for another project. Turn the jeans into decorative items for your home, or something completely unexpected.

Patchwork Denim Quilt

Gather all of the outdated and ill-fitting jeans from your home. Cut the seams, pockets, and zippers from the denim and reuse the jeans as a new quilt. Cut the remaining denim into squares and rectangles of different sizes. Stitch the patches into a large rectangle and add trim to the edges. Use the quilt as-is, or add quilt batting and a fabric batting to the back.

Injury Pack

Cut a rectangle four-inches-by-four-inches from the denim. Fold the fabric over in half and stitch along the bottom edge and side. Fill the packet with ordinary dried rice and stitch the top closed. Keep the pouch in the freezer and use when you have an injury that requires an ice pack. The ice stays crisp and cold inside the jeans. Or, toss the denim in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds and use as a makeshift heating pad.

Covered Box

Reuse old jeans as a funky covering for a cardboard storage box, such as a hatbox. Remove the lid from the box and cover the bottom of the box with spray adhesive. Set the box on the old jeans and spray the sides of the box with more glue. Wrap the denim around the box and attach to the inside with more adhesive. For a funkier look, use a different color or wash of denim on the lid of the box.

Drink Cooler

Measure six inches up from the bottom leg of a pair of jeans and cut directly across the fabric. Turn the denim inside out, so that the inside faces out. Apply fabric glue to the top edge and fold the top two inches over. Turn the denim inside out again and slip over your favorite drink. The jeans cover protects your drink, keeping it icy cold or warmer longer.

Funky Jean Purse

Lay a pair of jeans flat and cut directly across the bottom of the seat. Turn the jeans inside out and stitch across the bottom, creating a flat edge. Add a few stitches across the zipper, which keeps it from coming open. Sew a large button or attach a magnetic clasp to the top of the denim. Cut a 20-inch-by-2-inch length from one leg of the pants. Fold the piece in half and stitch closed. Attach the length to the sides of the bag, creating a strap for the purse.

Denim Picture Frames

Remove the back and glass from a cheap picture frame. Cut a pair of jeans into strips 2-inches-by-six inches. Spray the top of the picture frame with a thin coating of spray adhesive. Wrap the denim strips around the picture frame, trimming off the excess with a craft knife. The picture frame lets you breathe new life into an ordinary item and lets you reuse those tired jeans.