Recycling Your Favorite Jeans

Do you, or your child, have a favorite pair of jeans that you simply do not want to part with...ever? Well, here’s a way to make that happen. Unlike children (or adults) dolls never outgrow their clothes, so we're going to transform that special pair into an outfit/keepsake.

I picked up the pair of jeans I'm using in this example from Goodwill for $1. Tip: go to Goodwill on Dollar Days for some amazing finds! Just call your local Goodwill and ask when their is.

Here we go:

The first step in the recycling process is to take the jeans apart. Simply cut off the seems and the legs become big pieces of handy fabric. *Note: stretch jeans are best for this! 

Use your handy stitch ripper (or tiny snips) to remove the back pockets. Take care to carefully cut out the side pockets as well. We can use those. I used the back pockets here to make a bib for the skirt, and a matching bag. The side pocket makes a cute matching wristlet for a little girl, or an oversize bag for the doll.

Harvest the jeans for notions! Embroidered parts, patches, bling, zippers, buttons, these can all be saved for later use.

Refer back to my post on skirt making. I chose a simple A-frame skirt. The pictures are pretty self explanatory. 

I made the straps to snap in the back, this keeps the bib smooth. It’s better constructed that way, and looks nicer to me.

I used the side seam as a purse handle and Zig-zagged the sides to keep them fabric from fraying.

Because denim is a thicker fabric, I made the waist by simply folding it over instead of adding bulk by putting in a waist band.

Get creative and have some fun!