This month over at the Trash to Treasures group on Ravelry we are having a fabric and clothing scraps challenge. So I broke out some old jeans I have been saving and recycled them into some baby bibs.
The first bib is larger and I used the trimmed side seams from a pair of jeans for the bib ties. This bib is more suitable for an older baby or toddler.
My next bib is smaller and features ribbon for the ties. I thought the ribbon would be gentler for a younger baby’s skin than the denim ties.
Below you will find a picture tutorial showing how I made each of these recycled denim heart bibs.
Just in time for Valentine’s day, here are several recycled craft projects that you can make. First I want to share this cute Valentine’s bag that Carmen sent me a picture of. She crocheted this using my recycled Valentine’s bag pattern and added some red plastic bags to trim her creation.
Next maybe you need a holder for your Valentines, if so here is a fused plastic bag project with a full picture tutorial found here.
For those crafters that enjoy working with recycled denim, here are a few little denim heart purses. The purses are lined and have several different embellishment options as shown in the tutorial.
Well that concludes my recycled crafting roundup for Valentine’s day.
Happy Valentine’s day!
This recycled bag project is a request from Moonshadow. She suggested I craft a waterproof sit-upon (SitUpon) like what the Girl Scouts use to sit on. I crocheted this from recycled plastic bags or plarn first. Then I added 4 layers of plastic that I fused onto the back side of the sit-upon to completely waterproof it. I added a handle to the sit-upon so you can carry it around easily too. And as an option I added a layer of recycled denim to soften up the sit-upon and give it a unique look.
Here is my plastic only sit-upon without the denim. This is my basic recycled plastic sit-upon that is crocheted using plastic bags made into plarn and with a fused plastic backing. This fused plastic backing makes the sit-upon waterproof.
Click to supersize photos
Here is the back side of the finished sit-upon and also another version of how you can decorate your finished denim side by adding a denim jean pocket.
I tried to keep this project simple so a young Girl Scout or anyone could make this sit-upon without a bunch of sewing required. You can just glue the hearts on or even hand decorate the denim. Handwriting your name on the denim may be another embellishment a Scout could add. Needless to say, you can decorate as much or as little as you like. I’ve included several different ideas and here is the free crochet pattern and tutorial on making a recycled sit-upon.
Free Sit-Upon Crochet Pattern
Materials needed:
One large ball of plastic bag yarn aka Plarn – approx. 35-40 plastic grocery bags
Four plastic bags cut into large pieces to cover back for fusing
Waxed paper for the fusing
Option for denim cover: One large piece of recycled denim from an old pair of jeans
appox. 15 inches x 15 inches
Hook: N (9 mm) metal crochet hook
Description: Plastic Sit-Upon with fused plastic backing
Sit-Upon measures 13 inches wide and 13 inches long with 5 inch handle
Option with recycled denim cover measures 14-1/2 inches x 14-1/2 inches
Directions:
Ch 32 […]
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I have crafted some recycled denim heart purses.
Here are two of my creations.
I want to provide a tutorial on how to make these easy and cute little purses. I have included the following picture tutorial for your use so you too can take those old jeans and turn them into some wonderful re-purposed purses.
Craft a recycled denim Christmas stocking this holiday. I used a pant leg of some old jeans and a printed stocking panel to make this unique Christmas stocking. I then topped it off with a crocheted top edge and a jingle bell.
Here is the back of the stocking. I left mine plain but you could add embellishments. Another option is to just make your entire stocking like this one and not use a printed panel as I did on the stocking above. Either way your recycled denim Christmas stocking is sure to be one-of-a-kind!
Below is a mini tutorial showing the steps to make your denim Christmas stocking.
I’ve been on a bit of a kick recycling denim jeans lately. I’ve made several tote bags from old jeans which are posted here under the Denim Crafts category. I’ve been wanting to make a potholder and still want to make a oven mitt too. But first things first, right? Here is my recycled denim potholder complete with a jeans pocket!
Here is my denim potholder in use.
Old recycled denim makes great potholders. All you need is an old pair of jeans, some cotton for padding and I added a piece of insul-bright. Insul-bright is an inexpensive reflective material that is designed for providing padding for potholders, oven mitts etc. Use only 100% cotton towels and cotton crafting batting. Do not use polyester batting or towels as the heat passes right through that material. I paid less than a dollar for a small piece of insul-bright so I figure this is a bargain to provide a good insulation for my potholder. Plus I have leftovers for my future oven mitt project.
Below you will find my step-by-step picture tutorial on how to make this recycled denim potholder.
Here is my completed recycled denim tote bag with tutorial. I recycled an old pair of my son’s jeans to create this tote bag pattern. I used just one pant leg for the body of the bag and the other pant leg to make the straps. I lined the bag with some thrift store material that I bought for only a dollar. I want to remind readers here that I have stated in the past that I am not a seamstress so if my tutorial isn’t quite right, please be gentle. First and far most I am a recycler who tries to crochet and sew green, eco-friendly products. So with that being said, here’s my step-by-step instructions on how you too can sew a recycled denim tote bag.
First get a pant leg as shown.
All pictures are clickable complete tutorial click on the read more link here […]
Here is my first machine-sewn recycled denim jean bag. I’ve been wanting to get this posted for quite awhile. I’ve been working on sewing denim totes from old jeans that I have. This is my first attempt and please understand that I am not a seamstress. This is truly a work in progress to create a small denim tote bag. I made this using only the pant leg of some old jeans. Then I added the outside pocket which I stitched around through the original pocket stitching to secure it to the tote bag.
I recycled an old curtain and cut it up to make my lining. I added in some pockets from an old denim shirt I had. This picture was taken when I just had the lining pinned in place.
Here is a picture of the handles I made for this bag. After I trimmed the seams, I turned them right side out. I then top-stitched the handles.
click to view larger
Here is a picture on how I attached the handles. I put them inside between the denim and the lining. I then stitched around the top to secure the lining to the bag with the straps in place. Make sure you use a machine needle designed for heavy denim as they work much better and don’t break like regular sewing machine needles do. The finished size of this bag is 7-1/2″ wide x 11″ long with 18″ straps.
click to view larger
I am working on a picture tutorial for a denim tote bag with a zippered lining. It will have step-by-step pictures. Once I have it completed, I will post it here for everyone. Recycling old denim jeans is really a lot of fun and I hope you’ll give it a try!
This week I have been working on a new recycled idea. A crocheted rag bag using recycled denim. I had a few old denim shirts that I didn’t want to throw away so I decided that I needed to get the ole’ creative juices flowing and use them in a project. It turned out to be a really heavy duty bag. I didn’t trim or fold the strips so that’s why you see the fibers from the material. But I think it turned out cool with the fibers kinda sticking out as they do.
So… this is the result, a recycled denim rag bag!
I used one of the pockets from the shirt to create an inside pocket as shown below.
I hope you enjoy trying this week’s recycling craft idea and as always — here’s the free pattern.
Free Crocheted Recycled Denim Rag Bag Pattern
Bag measures 11 inches wide and 10 inches long.
Material: Two denim shirts cut into 3/4 inch strips (See notes below on different methods.)
For complete pattern click on read more link below.
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