Turning a Pair of Old Jeans Into Awesome New Items

Jeans are one of the most common and popular items of clothing that we own. The majority of people own several pairs of jeans. What do you do when your jeans no longer fit, become to short or get a stain? Rather than throwing them in the donate pile or stuffing them away in the back of your closet, turn them into something else!

For kids, the problem with jeans is often a matter of outgrowing them. Often times, the waist will still fit and the length becomes too short. Turn a pair of too-short jeans into a cute pair of capris or shorts. Cut the pants on the jeans to the desired length, making sure that both sides are even. Go to your local fabric or craft store and purchase fringe, ribbon and other decorative items to add to the jeans. Using fabric glue or a sewing machine, fold the bottoms of the jeans 1/2 inch down and sew or glue so that a nice clean cut line is achieved. Add the decorative items by stitching or gluing into place along the edge of the jeans.

You can make denim hair scrunchies by simply cutting a piece of old denim in a 2 inch wide strip. Turn the denim inside out and sew the strip together so that it makes a tube. Cut a piece of elastic and slide it inside of the denim tube. Overlap the elastic and sew together so that the seam is tightly stiched. Then, stich the denim closed.

Use old pieces of denim as patches on other articles of clothing. If you have a pair of light colored jean shorts, use darker shades of jean patches to add a mix of contrasting colors. Do the same for dark colored jeans with lightly colored denim patches.

To make a useful bedskirt with old jean pockets, simply purchase a premade bedskirt of your choice. If you are really crafty, you can even cut the entire pair of jeans into pieces and make a denim bedskirt of your own. Cut the pockets off an old pair of jeans and sew them on the bedskirt. Make sure that you only sew around the edges so that you can use the pockets for storage.

Use old jeans to make a dog's chew toy. Simply cut the jeans into strips and tie them tightly around one another to make a toy that your dog will love to play tug-o-war with! Make sure to tie them tightly so they do not come lose in your dog's mouth.

Add flair to an old pair of flip flops by using old jeans! Simply cut strips from the jeans that are about 1/2 inch wide. Tie the strips around the flip flop thongs and secure tightly with a double knot. Try this with alternating colors of denim for a funky look!