Denim is strong and durable fabric used to make jackets, vests, purses, and pillows. They make a wonderful material for crafts. Here are several ideas for using the denim to create some stunning things.

Create a denim vest with the old material. The materials are old jeans, straight pins, scissors, a vest pattern, lace or the decorations, tacky glue and a sewing machine. Split the old jeans into two halves. Place them on a flat surface and pin the vest pattern onto the material. Assemble the vest according to the directions of the pattern. Sew the material together as instructed. Add the lace and other decorations.

The denim pocket purse includes lace, tiny flowers, ribbons, beads, and hot glue. Cut the pockets off the jeans. Keep the pocket attached to the material of the jeans. Leave about 1" of material on the outside of the pocket. Place the two pockets facing together and sew the seams of the material together on three sides. Turn the material so the sewn area is on the inside. Add a strap made out of material or lace. Decorate with lace, ribbons, tiny flowers, and beads by gluing the decorations onto the outside of the pocket purse. Add a snap to the top of the pocket purse if desired.

To create a jean journal, use the following materials jean material, belt, tacky glue, clamps, photo album or journal and fabric label. Lay the album on the jean material. Cover the outside of the album with the jeans. Cut to material to fit the size of the album. The seam of the jeans should be at the binding of the album.

Use tacky glue to attach the material to the cover of the album. Wrap the jean on the inside of the album about 1". Use the clamps to hold the material to the album. Allow the jean to dry on the album while the album is in the open position. Once the material is dry, glue the belt to the outside of the closed album. Add ribbons and beads as decorations on the front and back of the album.

To make jean pillow, use the following materials. Collect an old pillow, jean material, and lace. Using the old pillow as a pattern, cut the material to the size of the pillow. Turn the material with the good side facing together. Sew three sides of the material together tightly. Turn the material so the good side is facing out. Remove the filling from the old pillow. Stuff the new jean pillow with the filling from the old pillow. At the opened area, insert the lace and stitch the area closed.

Jonathan Pitts

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