Denim For Everything But Jeans

Ever wonder what you can do with an old pair of jeans besides donate them? Apparently there are lots of things you can do and all you need is an idea and a sewing machine- or a good tailor (for folks like myself). I stumbled upon a blog that listed 65 things you can do with denim. Most of the suggestions were lame, but I found a couple of great ideas. Put your creative hat on and try some of these out! Here are my top and bottom five. 

The Good Stuff

• Make a jean skirt-This is great, your high-water or over warn jeans have done their job now onto another, hugging your curves in a skirt or shorts. The skirt they have shown on this website is hideous. I suggest leave the extra (ugly) girly fabrics out and go for something simple, or use more denim material.

•  A bag made of overalls- If you actually own a pair of overalls this is a good way to use them- instead of wearing them, unless you live on a farm of course (just kidding, I love overall shorts). This bag is adorable and sturdy- two handles!

• Zippered travel pouches- You may need to be a sewing machine expert to pull this off but wouldn't it be great? It's original too. I know I haven't seen one of these. If you want something bigger a make-up case or shaving kit would be interesting to try too. 

• Eye glass case-Sunglasses or reading glasses, whichever you use you can always use an eye glass case at one point. You don't need too much material to make this, so make two or three for you and your friends. Plus this is a non-expert sewing task. My kind of gig.

• Make a hot-pack- I have a bean bag hot pack and it is a life-saver. This is something that can be done so easily with one leg of your old jeans. You can fill it with rice or beans and your good to go. If you don't want to use it as a hot-pack-well at least you will have a bean bag.

I have to admit, it was extremely hard to choose the bad ones, because there were so many! Here are the winners, or losers rather:

Please Don't Try This at Home

• Table runners- Now I don't know where you live, but a denim table runner just isn't classy. In this case keep the denim on your jeans- not your table.

• Make slippers- I realize you wear slippers in the comfort of your own home, but denim slippers? That's just unnecessary. 
• Patterned vest- A denim vest is a fashion statement of its own. To add a pattern is a problem. Also, I can't imagine where you would start in creating a vest out of your jeans. Non sewing experts please step away from this idea- ASAP.
• A casserole carrier- First of all I didn't know there was such a thing. Denim just doesn't belong in the kitchen or the living room, period.
• Waste basket cover- I'm not going to even get into why a waste basket needs a cover, but no, no, no. Don't do this- please!

There you have it, the do's and dont's of how to resuse your old denim. If non of this sparks your creative interests you can stick to the good old donation method. Whichever you choose it's a good deal.

Happy sewing!


(Photo- CTDcreations.com)

One time when it's cool to drop your jeans

That old pair of jeans that’s been sitting in your closet collecting dust for months could be insulating somebody’s house. It’s easy to give back; all you have to do is donate your jeans!

“We hope students realize one pair of jeans can make a difference, because it only takes 500 jeans to insulate a home,” says Laura Foti, member of Hill Communications and the “Drop Your Jeans for a Good Cause Campaign.”

Cotton from Blue to Green is a denim drive that collects people’s old jeans and turns them into UltraTouch Denim Insulation, which is used to insulate homes in communities in need.

“When I heard about it, I didn’t know what a denim drive was,” Foti says, but she knew the denim would be used for a good cause, home insulation.

“As a student you want to be able to give back and you want to be able to help, but it’s difficult because you might not have the time or resources, but everyone has a pair of jeans,” Foti says.

On Friday October 8^th, members of Public Relations Student Society of America were on Syracuse University’s quad ready to fill their cardboard boxes with jeans. Many students donated to the cause. In return they received a free t-shirt, Frisbee and chocolate bar, not bad for getting rid of something they didn’t need anymore.

Foti doesn’t see any problems occurring with them reaching their goal of 500 jeans. Her mom even got involved handing flyers out in her hometown. Syracuse started their denim drive with 115 pairs of jeans all from mom! On Friday 70 pairs of jeans were collected. Making Syracuse closer to their goal.

This event even brought out a Syracuse celebrity. Chancellor Nancy Cantor stopped by and gave her denim donation.

Everyone’s donation counts. Cantor’s donation put Syracuse one step closer to their goal of collecting 500 pairs of jeans. Foti says the denim drive won’t stop at 500, the more jeans the better.

In 2009, 270,617 pieces of denim were collected providing denim insulation for 540 homes. This year several retailers participated in the program, one being Gap. They collected over 270,000 pairs of jeans alone. Everyone who donated a pair of jeans was rewarded with a 30% discount off their new jeans purchase.

Four other universities are getting involved with the Cotton From Blue to Green program, University of Nebraska, University of Texas, University of Wisconsin and the University of Kentucky.

“Everyone has a pair of jeans that doesn’t fit anymore, and I think that’s what’s so great about this campaign,” Foti says. “Everyone can relate to it.”