Though jeans are really durable, they have a certain life span too like when they don't fit us anymore because we have really grown. Like, they are really worn out from everyday use and laundry... and many more.
What do you usually do with your old jeans? Are you like others who cut them and make them into another kind of clothing like shorts? Do you cut them into pieces to make a new product like a bag or a purse, or a skirt? Do you redecorate it? Or you just simply hand it down to a family member or a friend or you give to charity? Or do you bring them to a garage sale and make money out of it?
Wow...there's a lot of things to do with our old jeans. What about you? What do you do? Thanks!
[question posted by leateagee]
responses and comments:
I have never been a blue jean lover. I own a few pairs that I wear all the time. When I dont want them anymore, my mom takes them to make those cute denim hand bags with. [melissaruth1]
Its a good thing you give it to your mom, because moms just have a lot of ideas on what to do with these things. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
Well if they don't fir me anymore, I will give them to the Salvation Army. But if they are torn up, I will just throw them in the trash. [cream97]
Yes, its a good idea to give it to the salvation army. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
if the jeans wont fit on me already i will just give it to my younger sister or niece if its still ok to use... but if not already i make it rug or for our pets clothes or bed cover. but if still fit on me ill just cut them to make it short shorts...or redecorate with beads,sumtimes i slashe to be like a trasher... [lady11eve]
That is very practical of you. Very good. I will give you a positive rate. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
I generally wear my jeans down to a nub, so I hardly ever have "old" jeans. I will throw them out because they have holes, are really thin in the fabric, or have broken zippers or buttons. However, I have recently lost a lot of weight, I will donate the old ones that are still in good condition to charity. But, that rarely happens. I still have jeans that I've had for 20 years in my closet and I still wear them. [desertdarlene]
Jeans are really one of the lifetime item of clothing. I have a jeans that had stayed for so long with me and I just can't give it away. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
i made one of my old jeans as shoulder bag but seldom use it. one of them i made it a shorts, just like yours. another was,, i made it a skirt., let me see.. what else.. there was once i was thinking of making it into a binder notebook. a cover. there i was, starting to cut it off and placing all the stuffs i needed. suddenly, i was told to ran an errand and i totally forgot about it. so when i got home, im tired to do that thing. i might do that sometime.. :) ~pInX~ [killerpinx]
Wow you are good at handicrafts. You can make money out of it. Very few people have patience and creativity to make an old thing into something new. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
Boy - it's been YEARS since I "did something" with my old jeans, but here's what I used to do. If they were otherwise decent, just the legs were a mess, I'd cut them off for shorts. If they didn't fit anymore, I'd turn them inside out and sew across the bottom near the crotch and then cut off everything below that (the legs part). Then I'd cut a strip out of the legs, fold it in half, sew it up on one side, and turn it inside out. I'd then attach that "strap" to the waistband of the "bag" I made at both side seams. I'd also put snaps across the opening and use it as a purse. I'd leave the snaps off if I was going to use it to carry books to class. If you open the inside seams of the legs up across the crotch, you can sew everything together and make a skirt or make a deeper sack and Lace a rope through the belt loops to close the top with a draw string action. You could use it as a laundry bag then. It wouldn't necessarily be gorgeous, but it would be usable. [jerzgirl]
You are very creative. Indeed, it takes a lot of patience and being crafty to be able to think of something to make an old jeans into another usable item. It is better to give it to the salvation centers. Or if you don't have time. Just wrap it separately when you throw it in the trash. Thank you so much for all your responses. Take care =) [leateagee]
Most of the time, I gave it to someone else. I don't know if I alter it, it will fit nice like the original. And I think, it is hard to find someone who is an experienced tailor to do it for me here. For me, it is best to buy a new pair than altered the old one. Sometime, I do want to try to make it short but I just can't find the time to do it. [biobio55]
That is a good idea. If you can't be crafty about your things...it is better you give it away than waste it buy letting it rot. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
My son usually blows the knees out in his jeans so I cut them off into jean shorts and he can wear them through the summer. If the jeans are in good shape with no holes just got to small for him I will take them to the local consigment shop and sell them. [luvstochat]
Loose old jeans are really good during the summer. You are good. You can still make money out of it. That is great. Thank you so much for responding and take care =) [leateagee]
If they're not fit to be worn any longer, I toss them. But more often than not, they're in shape for another person. I either sell them in a garage sale or on Ebay or I give them through Freecycle. [primalmom]
Freecycle is a worldwide network of individual groups who prevent wasted landscape by reducing the amount of useful items that go into landfills. Members of the groups give and receive items that still have "life" in them rather than putting them to the curb. www.freecycle.org [primalmom]
i wear them when doing house work. i turn them into shorts to wear in the summer, so i can wear when doing outside work. [Cocoa33]
I do this too. Cut it and use as shorts then use at home while doing household chores. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
I don't own many pair maybe 2 or 3 . If I out grow them I will sell them on ebay or I will donate them. I still have a couple of my fav that i wont part with . If i could i would make shorts out of them , i tried once and it did not look so good. [metschica25]
Well, maybe jeans are really not the type of clothing for you. Because skirt has never been in my closet except when I was in school because its a uniform. Anyway, thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
Well for me i usually just throw them out. by the time im done with them they have turned to vapor and are no longer useful for any purpose but the trash. of course i walk everywhere i go so its really not hard to do that either. [Palmerhusky]
If its really not useful anymore, you could trow it away but I hope not in the trash because it will really damage our environment. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
i usually donate my old clothes to goodwill.. i used to throw out clothes i didn't wear anymore, which is awful! [julie1234]
Good for you that you donate them. Awful ones shouldn't really be given to anybody anymore. Thank yu so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
I used to sew my old jeans to make a new bag or purse, But I rarely do that now. Usually I just give them as a sort of goodwill to less fortunates or juts turn them into rags ;] [musecontrol]
Maybe you became busy now thats why you can't transform it anymore. Well giving to the less fortunate is good and turning it to rugs if really not useful is good to. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
I use them for the rough work that gets physical. [rededdlog]
Oh, really. Like for painting the house or doing other man hose work. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
all of the above... ahihihih... oh! except the garage sale... i have never tried that one... maybe some time i would.^_^ i've made pedal pushers, shorts and skirts out of my old jeans before. i had used the rest of the jeans to make a sling for my bag back in college. but most of the time, i hand them over to charity. others, those which i have used in several occasions only, are given to friends. [blue_thr3e]
Cool. Thats great. Well, you can try garage sale together with your friends ... its a lot of fun. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
usualy i dont do anything. but let me give you some tips on it. Recycling fabric is a powerful green living and cost saving strategy. Denim is one of the coolest fabrics to do it with. It's sturdy, gains character with age and can be acquired very inexpensively at yard sales or in your own old clothes closet. Some of the coolest ideas I've found?1. Pot holders. In my opinion, these look far better out of used denim than the new stuff. And you can incorporate your own style via choice of trim or a patch stitched to the outside. Here's a link to some tips for making your own. 2. Cool quilts. You can do this in many forms. Different shades of denim patchwork options abound and are certainly sturdy and fun. Unfortunately, one of the coolest ideas I've ever seen I've been unable to find pictures of. It was done with pieced denim, but they had left on all the details like pockets, buttons, belt loops, etc. It made for a really fabulous unique quilt with a lot of attitude. If anyone has a link to a picture of one of these, please post below in the comments section 3. Hanging sleeves for storing plastic bags and cleaning rags. This is an idea I came up when trying to find a workable solution for giving up paper towels. I needed something convenient to store my cleaning rags in and made several out of the legs of old blue jeans. 4. Pocket books and backpacks. These are tons of fun as beach bags and particularly popular with the younger crowd. Easily jazzed up with pins various bits of clip on flair. Here are one, and two separate links for various sets of project directions. 5. Help dress a scarecrow. Fairly timely, considering the season. Here's a cool picture of one. 6. Reusable lunch sack. This one was decorated with primary colored embellishments because it was designed for children. But I think you could be as individual here as with some of the jazz up your jeans ideas listed above (patches, airbrushing, crystals). It's made from a pant leg. How cool!7. Picture frame. Not the most formal project idea ever, but a fun idea that would be great for a teen room bulletin board . It's a no sew photo frame made from a jeans pocket. [thyaga03]
I don't really know.. I think I throw them in my drawer or something.. [JBKnutsen]
Really??? Well, you have to look for it now ... maybe there are termites in there already. LOL Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
keep them in the closet till i find someone who can mend it.. haha.. seriously, i have 2 mended already.. another 2 is currently with a sewing lady.. then i have one turned into a skirt.. don't know.. it's hard to find a great fitting jean so when i find one, it's hard to let go... [posham]
Yeah, i do agree with you. I have a very wide butt but my waistline is so little. So I always need a sewing lady or I do it .. altering the sides so that it will fit to me very well, Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
Usually quilts. My son passed away a year and a half ago and my friend made me a beautiful quilt out of his levis and shirts!! When you use shirts with it it takes the heaviness out of it. [1richgirl]
That is so nice. Great job! Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
nothing at all. i just put them in my closet. i have never thought i should do something with them. hehe. maybe i can use the cloth to make myself a purse. but i don't know how to make one. oh, i have no pin or string. er, or i can cut one pair of trousers into short pants. i can wear it when i am at home. good idea. thank you for your reminder. :) [Canteen]
You can give the others to the charity institution if its really didn't fit and you don't want it to be altered. You're welcome. I am so glad I reminded you. Thank you so much for responding. Take care =) [leateagee]
Most of my jeans don't really get a chance to wear out. I keep any ones that are too small, hoping they will fit again! I do remember wearing out a pair, I think I held on to them hoping they could be fixed, which means they are probably in a box somewhere, because they are also too small! I think I may have given a couple of pairs away after I lost weight, thinking I would never wear them again. I was wrong and want them back! lol [fluffysue]
I do keep those that I love most when I added some weigh. Until now I am hoping to wear them again. Maybe I will lose some weight if I try to. Don't regret now, be happy that you lost those added weight. Buy another one for new shape of your body. Take care and thanks for responding =) [leateagee]
I just but them in the back of my closet or something and i might use then if i am doing in so work where my close will get dirty. [ChrisH09]
Mostly I give them to a needy person. A few only remains with me for any type of use for odd work at home. Yes, old jeans don't lack strength! Only I shall have to change them for lack of colour and appearance! Some old jeans, I cut them to make bags for usual weekly marketing purpose. Thanks for this discussion. [Mitraa]
Yup, it is god to give them to the needy. You have a good heart. Jeans are really durable. Recycling is the best approach for things like this. You're welcome. Thanks for your valuable response. =) [leateagee]
My great grandmother made a quilt,gone now, of different bits of jeans. I wanted to reproduce this. I have found interesting jeans at Yard sales, family, friends. Some corduroy in the bunch too. I am saving them and am going to make a quilt. And a purse would be cool as well. I may have to do that also. [celticeagle]
Those are nice ideas. My grandmother does a lot of different ways to these things too. Quilt is a good idea. Cool if each pieces of jeans have a story when you use it. LOL. A purse would be cool too. You are a crafty person. Take care and thanks for your valuable response. =) [leateagee]
I will cut it into a small pieces of pants !!! [ovation4u]
Cut it into small pieces! Oh ... of pants. Well, I guess you never add weight. For someone like me the best thing to do is to give away. Most of my pants are ripped now because I added weight and I still one to wear them so I forced myself to fit. But I must let them go so whenever its not fit anymore I give away or if I have time I do some recycling to crafty ideas. If only I have time. Take care and thanks for your valuable response. [leateagee]
i usually sell my jeans and other clothes online in ebay... [kayeshayne21]
What i do with my old jeans is make it shorts and sometimes i give to my relative when they like it,Im not the type of person who is designer so i usually do simply with my jeans into short or give it to my relatives. [swennerholm]
i will usualy turn my jeans into some short shorts or i will turn them into skirts or somthing i usualy find some sort of use for them and if i some how dont find a use for them i will give them a way to people who i know will need them instaid of throwing them in the garbage at least thins way my jeans will have a new purpose to serve another person. [wadeys]
If they are still in good shape, I donate them to a church or the Salvation Army. I'd rather see someone else get some use out of them. If they are not fit to give away, I just throw them in the trash. :) [Wyldrose]
If they are really old I throw them away.. What's the use of keeping them ? If they are too small for me after a while, or I don't like them anymore then I give them to needy persons, there is a bin at my church, I deposit them in there :) Have a good day.. [NrgDfenZ]
sometimes, due to the daily use, or due to it's long time use, my jeans got rip off, and can't use anymore, what I did is that to use it as a rag.. if it is still durable but already faded, I will cut it and use it as a shorts.. if it doesn't fit me at all, but still in good condition, I'd rather give it to my relatives..happy [zer0charly]
usually when my old jeans are still fit on me i still wear it and i dont care if it fade away the original color i just love to wear it and it is not needed to buy a new one. But when it doesnt fit on me i probably give to my niece so that they can still use it but the only thing i say to them that they will take care of my things that i have given to them for i dont like a person who never give importance to the things they have. [patzel88]
If they are still in good condition, I will give them away to the Salvation Army. That is what I will usually do with any of my clothes. And if they are torn and damaged, I will throw them in the trash can.happy [cream97]
If is just a matter of me outgrowing them because I have gained weight, I will sometimes hold on to them to see if I can eventually wear them again. If it seems like a lost cause and I will never get down to that size again I will usually try to sell them in a garage sale, and if they don't sell I will donate them. If it is because they are work out but they still fit me well, I will try to make shorts out of them, or repair them if I can . [ladym33]
I am a no nonsense kind of guy. If I can't use something or it has not been used in a while I will just throw it out. Of course this makes my wife really mad and she will often pull then out of the trash and take them to the thrift store. I don't like to waste my time with that, but if she wants to do it that is fine. [thedaddym]
i like selling my old jeans to its lowest price and sell it to my friends and ill use the money to buy a new clothes...happy mylotting! [acie_21]