Got some old jeans, a chambray shirt or some other denim you don’t need? Don’t throw it away, let’s just upcycle it making a couple of stylish home décor items! Here are DIYs you may like.
Planters
Looking for easy, fast, cheap gifts to sew? Or just want to add a trendy modern touch to your décor? Sew an upcycled DIY fabric planter made from old jeans! There are so many ways you could customize this idea with stencils, paint, trim, special fabrics, or beads. These denim planters can be used as planters themselves (they are thick enough) or as planter covers, get inspired!
This project allows you to upcycle not only denim but also tin cans too! Marry the two with this gorgeous recycled jean planter. To make this planter unique and to show off the different shades of indigo in denim, use just the seams and hems for this upcycle. Seams and waistbands of jeans are definitely the most interesting bits that add character to any upcycle (along with the pockets of course). Don’t you think succulents and denim look awesome together?
Making a vertical garden is a very functional idea for any season, and you can make it for outdoors or indoors. This vertical garden is made using denim, which makes it cool and special! The herbs now hang vertically next to the cooker so they are handy to reach when cooking. As well as looking good, the herbs in these handmade planters last longer as they are double potted which allows for easier watering and drainage. Read how to make these cool planters in the source.
Rugs
If you love different shades of indigo blue, this craft is your thing. This handmade chevron rug made up of different pairs of old jeans would be a great way to show the various indigo shades, these are legs of old jeans. You can make it any size you want, and the only thing restricting you will be the amount of denim you have in your stash to upcycle. You can make the rug longer by adding more chevrons to each row and wider by adding another column or two of chevrons.
Rag rugs are such a great way of upcycling unwanted textiles and clothing! This little rag rug is pretty sturdy and makes the perfect bedside mat or even a colorful indoor door mat. You can use this technique to make a rag rug in any size you like. Of course the bigger your rug the more jeans you’ll need. Just to give you an idea, this little mat is made from 2 pairs of large loose fit men’s jeans. If you are using ladies or skinny jeans you may need more pairs.
Denim is one of the most durable fabrics made and also the easiest to find for projects such as this small space floor mat. You can repurpose last year’s worn out jeans or go in search of a handful of jumpers or dresses at the thrift store without spending a lot of money. You can also purchase new denim fabric in various shades from most fabric stores if you aren’t interested in hitting up the thrifts. This project is very similar to (and uses many of the same skills) as making a quilt. Whatever you call it, you won’t be sad when you see it around, sprucing up a doorway.
Pillows/Blankets
Denim is one of those fashion trends that has staying power and continues to evolve throughout the years. That’s why rocking a cool denim pillow is a great idea for any season and space in case it fits your décor style. This tutorial will tell you how to sew a quilted denim pillow with a nautical theme – though if you change colors, it’s gonna be a bit different. Get inspired!
I totally love the design of this pretty pillow with lots of appliques! You can make an easy, zipper free pillow cover with frayed edges, but if sewing isn’t your thing you can purchase pre- made ones here and still partake in the embellishment fun. If you’re not sure how you want to design the cover exactly it’s helpful to take pictures as you go along so you can reference changes and multiple ideas. Get inspired and make this cutie!
If you love maps and denim, this craft is for you! This is an Ursula pillow cover by IKEA spruced up with denim appliques that show off the world map. You may also add a personal touch to the piece by making tiny red felt hearts to mark places in the world that are special to you. I love the rustic farmhouse look of the denim combined with the linen on the floor cushion.
Sashiko is a Japanese hand-stitching technique that translates to mean “little stabs” and is an age old way to reinforce worn fabric with decorative stitching. It’s another ancient tradition that’s showing up in maker’s circles as part of the slow fashion movement. Patterns can vary from densely stitched waves, repeating diamonds, and linked squares to simple parallel lines made of running stitches. This is a gorgeous Sashiko-style bolster pillow, and the project was pretty easy and you don’t have to be really great at embroidery for this to look good, thanks to the magic of tailor’s chalk!
This is a tutorial on how to upcycle and sew pillows with upcycled denim and other fabrics. You can find fabric to reuse everywhere, the French ticking pieces, for instance, come from a fabric sample. Not enough for making a cushion on its own but plenty to make a beautiful new fabric with some imagination, patchwork and denim.
Make a cool durable blanket for an upcoming camping trip! Rather than heading to the store, use up all of that great denim fabric to make a picnic blanket. Here are the do-it-yourself instructions to turn a bunch of unwanted jeans into a stunning and useful picnic blanket.