Even if you don’t have a lot of sewing experience, you can turn those buried relics at the back of your closet into treasures for the front. When I finally purged the depths of the storage cupboard, I discovered armfuls of clothes that were never going on my body again — but I couldn’t bear to toss them because the fabric was great.
Down to the sewing table they went. While a few pieces are still lurking there (let’s be honest), I did manage to create some new things. Here are a few ideas to get you started on revamping your own “wardrobe” — although mine could hardly be called that. It’s more like a collection of eclectic fabric pieces.
Jeans
Skirts
Cut off the hems, split open the legs, cut away the crotch points, and sew the legs together — fronts together and backs together — to create a skirt.
Tip: Leave a split for walking room. How high and where is totally up to your brave soul.
Bags
Cut off the legs somewhere above the crotch points (but not through the zipper). Stitch across the bottom — right sides or wrong sides together, it doesn’t matter. Make a strap from the leftover leg fabric and attach it to each side seam at the top.
To close it, you can insert a zipper, glue on Velcro, or even use a clothespin if you like. Start a new trend. If you’re really ambitious, decorate the jeans with glitter… or did that go out in the ’80s?
Lunch Bags
Use the leftover leg pieces to make lunch bags. Cut off a section, sew one end closed, and hem the other end for the opening. Add Velcro and you’ve got a lunch tote.
(Wash the jeans first — you are putting food in there, after all.)
Quilts
If you have enough jeans, cut off all the legs, make bags from the tops, and cut squares from the rest. Mix and match different shades and colours to form blocks, and you’ve got the makings of a quilt.
This is where acid-wash jeans really shine for contrast. And you wondered why they were invented in the first place. These make great dog blankets — it takes a long time for drool to soak through. Trust me, I have a Saint Bernard.
Sleeves
Use the fabric from the legs to make sleeves for a quilted or knitted jacket — or to replace sleeves you’ve wrecked on something else you own.
Fashion tip: Don’t use acid-wash jeans.
