I read a quote about denim jeans once. It went something like “Jeans are like French fries. You can’t just have one”.
But have you got some old jeans around the house? And you like French fries sewing too? Then you are in EXACTLY the right place my friend!
Because in this post I am going to share a bunch of super sewing projects you can make with denim!
Best of course, is recycling those old jeans and upcycling them into something new and cool vs going out and purchasing yards of new denim fabric. 😉
Some of the best sewing advice I was given a few years back was to never, ever throw out any old jeans.
So now, thanks to that piece of wisdom, I have a sack of old jeans laying around in our roof waiting to be reused somehow.
Which is what inspired me to go searching for sewing projects using old denim and to share what I found with you!
In this post you’ll find 7 really cool ideas of what you can use that old denim to make. I’ve found a fun mix of projects, ranging from home décor to clothes to cute accessories. And all of them have loads of photos and easy to follow instructions to make your sewing time as productive as possible!
Get comfy and let yourself be inspired with these eco-friendly denim projects now!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you.
Why you Should Recycle your Denim Jeans
Many of us are becoming more environmentally-aware these days. And using your sewing skills to upcycle old clothes or fabric pieces is one small, but important way, that we can help reduce our impact on the environment.
Did you know that clothing and textiles make up approximately 6% of landfill? Urgh.
All the more reason to make use of unwanted clothes, including jeans, that are stuffed away at the back of your wardrobe!
7 DIY Sewing Ideas to Reuse Denim
01. Clothes for Kids
It’s pretty easy to reuse some of the denim of your own old jeans to upcycle into funky trousers, shorts or skirts for your children.
In the photo above you can see the cute shorts I sewed for my son using the Boony Shorts pattern from Nanoda.
Granted, this pattern is in German (jubeln, meine deutschen Freunde! 😁). But you get the idea, right? Just find your favourite sewing pattern for kids’ clothes and get started!
02. Denim Coasters
These coasters are super easy to make for your own home. I mean, who doesn’t like a quick sewing project?!?
Bonus: they also make lovely handmade gifts!
Discover the sewing instructions at Scratch and Stitch.
03. Zipper Pouch
Another quick sewing project for when you have a spare hour is this gorgeous AND useful zipper pouch!
Perfect for some cash, cards and keys, these don’t require much denim at all. (Psst! That means you could make a few from one pair of jeans and some Christmas gifts are already taken care of 😉.)
Get the sewing tutorial at Make it in Denim.
04. Denim Pouf
This sewing project is perfect for quilting fans! It’s probably also more suited for those with a bit more sewing experience, due to all the fiddly pattern pieces. But really, anyone with a sewing machine can manage this denim project with the right amount of patience and concentration 😅.
For the full details check out Michelle Made Me.
05. Kid’s Apron
With kids at home there is always mess to be made in the kitchen and on the craft table. That’s where an apron comes in handy!
These aprons are adorable and perfectly kid-sized! They’re also a great way to make use of the pockets from old jeans for the kids to stash their equipment while working 😉.
Find out how you can sew one (or more) aprons too, at Happy Hooligans.
06. Fabric Basket
A little while back I posted a really detailed blog post about how you can upcycle a variety of fabric pieces to sew a lined storage basket.
If you want to use denim but skip the lining, or you want to make a round basket (vs the square ones I made), then these great baskets are made from the legs of old jeans.
Grab the sewing pattern from Heather Handmade.
07. Reversible Bag
If you are looking for a practical, easy-to-sew, good-looking handbag, then you’ll love this reversible boho-style bag.
It’s not only a great way to use up old denim, but also any fun fabric scraps you have lying around.
Find the detailed pattern at Very Purple Person.
If you haven’t found what you’re looking for right now in this post, there are gazillion more ideas to make with your old denim jeans be found online.
And if you are looking for other ways to use up fabric scraps and old clothing, get inspired with more upcycling sewing projects here! Or if it’s an exploding linen closet you’ve got, take a look at these cool DIY ideas using old towels!
Which pattern above would you like to try first? Drop a comment below!
