Recycling Ideas for Denim and Other Clothing

by Lois Breneman - 2003 - Heart to Heart

Denim Quilt ~ I've been saving old denim jeans or parts of them for years.  Many of my scraps are from turning worn jeans into shorts for the three men in my family over the years.  There was a motive, however, for saving those different shades of blue denim.  It is on my "Round To It" List!   I have plans to make a denim quilt with those scraps - when I can find the time - when I get "around to it," you know.  We all have lists like that, at least in our minds, if not on paper.  If I make this denim quilt for a boy, I'd like to find some printed denim that a boy would like, to use squares of that print throughout the quilt, along with the solids.  If this quilt is made for a girl, I already have two beautiful denim florals from which to choose.  I may already have enough of a pile of denim for every grandchild I'll ever have!  

        Before cutting, decide on a quilt pattern. Use only the sections of the fabric that aren't worn out, of course.  If sewing a patchwork denim quilt, cut the fabric into squares of 3, 4, 5 or 6 inches - whatever you choose.   You may want to lay out the squares to see how it will turn out before sewing them together. 

        If you want to make a "rag" quilt, sew it so the seams are on the outside, rather than on the inside.  The exposed seams of your quilt will automatically fray after being washed and dried in the dryer. If the seams are on the inside, do not wash the quilt until it is finished, since you do not want the seams to fray.
        (A 2011 addition to this article: Machine embroidery designs would also be especially fun, sewing things that boys or girls love onto squares to be arranged throughout the quilt - or to be sewn on a patchwork pillow!)

Patchwork Pillows ~ Using various shades and prints of denim, sew a patchwork pillow or make one in a crazy quilt design.

Pencil People ~ Children will enjoy getting their pencils ready to take to school by doing this craft.  Look through your family's supply of gloves for the ones without partners, or check out a thrift store for inexpensive gloves.  Cut off about one inch of the fingertips.  You will slip a glove fingertip over the eraser of a new pencil for school when finished.   First decorate by gluing on a pair of googly eyes, a bead for a nose, acrylic paint for a mouth, blush for rosy cheeks and felt for a hat - maybe with a tiny pom pom on top.  Let your imagination run wild with this craft.  Make animals too.