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Blue Jeans Purse
 My favorite thing to recycle is blue jeans. I collect old jeans from
family and friends, pick them up at yard sales, and find great deals at second
hand stores like Goodwill. After 25+ years, my collection of used jeans
has grown to obsessive proportions threatening to overtake my small apartment.
Old blue jeans can be transformed into beautiful blankets giving them many, many
years of additional life. You can see some examples on my Quilts &
Blankets page. Jeans waistbands make unique blanket bindings, and
interesting pockets can add to a blanket's charm.
Girls
of all ages love one-of-a-kind purses, and denim never seems to go out of style.
My granddaughter Dellaney is nuts for gum, and I was lucky enough to have an old
pair of "Bubblegum" brand jeans to create her purse featured here. (Click
on the photos for a closer look.) It was further embellished with pockets,
belt loops, rhinestones,
embroidery, beads and ribbons. The possibilities are endless.
 To
create your own denim purse in this style, begin with a pants leg, open the
seam, and cut one side shorter than the other as shown in the photo.
Opening the seam allows you to add a pocket, design the area that will become
the purse flap, and add batting and lining.
When collecting jeans, look for large sizes (more fabric),
interesting pockets, a variety of colors and shades, and few worn/torn areas.
I like to deconstruct my jeans when I'm kicking back watching TV. I've
found the most useful tool for removing waistbands and pockets is a box opener
or craft knife. It makes quicker work of the job than a seam ripper.
After ripping them apart, waistbands are stored in one craft box, pockets in
another, etc.
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