Thursday, February 8, 2018

My $$ Saving Up-cycle/Re-cycles

This week I have been working on some projects that I have been putting off for ages!
I have jeans that need repaired or up-cycled.  The average women's jeans (no fancy brands) around go on sale for around $19.99 - $29.99 in my area.  Not me - not if I can help it!!!

I have a couple pair of 'nice' jeans that I wear out  in public.  I have jeans that are garden jeans, and I have jeans that need a world of help!!!
I am repairing this week.  Many need a new bum, some need the zipper area fixed, and others have knees out.  Now I know the holey jeans are fashionable - but I can't stand the feel of my knees hanging out of holes! 
Considering some of the "fashion" jeans I see at stores - mine are probably worth a small fortune!  LOL

Here are 7 pair that I am working on.  I do believe that one pair that is pretty darn bad, and will become a garden apron.  Using these jeans  (even just for yard work) is at minimum a savings of $120 - $160 !
Yes, I can buy jeans at the thrift store - but don't often find ones that fit right in leg length and in the crotch length.  I am long waisted - so it can be a challenge.

I also came across a couple pair of pastel colored dress pants from my working days.  I haven't worked since 2006!  I thought I got rid of all that stuff - but here they hang.  I am going to be cutting them down into capris this week.  They will look nice and cool this summer, when I don't want to sport jeans.
(I am a jeans person if you can't tell!)

I also found a couple of samples of fabric that my brother gave me years ago, from when he was trying to decide on fabric for a chair.  I am going to make a new spring handbag with them.  They are both just the perfect size.  I have strap material and everything else needed in my sewing supplies, so the cost will be $0 for a new handbag.  I will post pictures when I get it done.

It is amazing what a little thought and effort can save dollar-wise.
What are you doing to re-cycle or up-cycle things you have around the house?
Any new projects going on?

19 comments:

  1. I actually have a quilt top ready to sew that is made out of recycled jeans I have cut off from customers pants. When ever I cut off more than 5 inches I save it in a drawer. They make great heavy outdoor quilts.

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    1. Good idea - free material.
      I have seen a lot of pictures of denim quilts, but boy oh boy they would have to be heavy! Outdoor quilt sounds like a deal to me.
      Good thinking!

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  2. I could have sworn I commented on this post...I know I did but it's gone somewhere in cyberspace I suppose. I'll try to remember what that attempt was. ;) I am long and high waisted also and finding jeans that fit are a struggle. My favorite brands are Seven, Layne Bryant, and Not Your Daughters Jeans. I just remembered another one, J Jill (they have the softest leggings too that I wear around the house). I get all of these at thrift stores or yard sales because they are so spendy bring new. I have given one of my girls some of my old jeans in the past and she has used them to make aprons that are really cute!

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    1. Debbie, I have only heard of one of those brands. I wonder if they are country wide.
      I love to find something that fits really good. Hard to find the right fit - snug in legs, long enough in crotch area not to cut, and fitting in the waist.
      I have no butt at all - so that creates a problem too! Geesh I am a mess! LOL

      Jean aprons are really cute.

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  3. I've made a Jean quilt. It takes a lot of jeans though. We don't seem to wear our jeans out as fast since we have retired.

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    1. I imagine it would take a lot of jeans, especially to make a decent size one.
      My jeans get worn out faster now that I am retired. I used to dress up a lot and only wore jeans on the weekends. NOW they are a daily thing.

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  4. I hold on to my old jeans too. I've even got a pair of Levi's cutoffs from 1972. I can't get into them, but still hanging on to them.

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    1. LOL - that is funny. Don't feel bad. I have a party dress I made in high school for a dance. NO WAY would it possibly fit. I just thought it was pretty.
      I bet those cut-offs are short too!!! LOL I know mine were back in the day.

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  5. I have one pair of nice looking jeans. ONE! The older I have gotten, the less comfortable I am in jeans, mainly because they are so hard to fit my big butt and fat legs! I wish I found them as comfy as some people do. My mom only wore jeans, but she was a skinny little thing, and had no problem finding jeans to fit. You are smart to repurpose your dress pants into capri's.

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    1. Hey, at least you have one pair. I had a brother-in-law that was in his 70's before he got his first pair of jeans (they were a gift). He always dressed nicely, even working in the yard.

      It is very hard to find a pair that fits perfectly.
      I would donate those dress slacks - but they aren't really the style now - so I figured I would up-cycle them into something more of the times!

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  6. Cheryl, how do you do the rear end area down around the inside of the legs and crotch? By the time I have put in patches and sewn up the threads, it is very stiff and takes a bit to make them comfortable and not feel like I am wearing diapers!

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    1. Mine have the actual rear end busted out, so that is fairly easy.
      The rips near crotch area are on the front of mine and around the zipper area.
      I will try to show a pic, when completed.

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  7. would you post a pic? Knees I can do, tear out the inside seam, patch sew and go...and belt loops and pockets are okay, but the seat near the crotch seam is a mystery to me.

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    1. Ellen, I will try to if I can get them fixed to look right. Not sure how they will turn out. I think I may be using liquid stitch on that fix. I will let you know for sure!!!

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  8. Cheryl it must have been the week for recycling and using what we have around the home. I recovered my outdoor setting. I had bought the fabric on sale late last year. I used the old cushion covers as a template for the new and unpicked the old zippers and re used them in the new cushions. I also made a slip cover to go over my Office chair in the sewing room. The black vinyl was peeling off and looked awful. I cut up an old doona(duvet) cover, using this to make the slip cover.
    You may not have much of a butt but I have a lovely round bum. It does not like jeans at all. Our climate is such that jeans are too hot to wear exept in the middle of winter. I have had the same pair of jeans for five years and they still look quite reasonable.
    I noticed today that my favourite table cloth is starting to get small holes in it. I think I will cut this one up and make it into shopping/market bags. Let the re use and rethink continue.

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    1. Sounds like you have had a busy week. How wonderful on the having a "new" outdoor set now. That was quite an ambitious project. Same with the office chair.

      I wish I had a 'lovely round butt'!! LOL It seems that a flat butt runs in my family with the girls - not many of us had one!

      Good idea for the tablecloth re-use.
      have a good one.

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  9. My son has a bad habit of ripping out the crotch in the back side of his jeans. He's a big guy and 18 years old. He brought me a favorite pair of his to "fix it mama". LOL. Any way, I had an old ripped flannel sheet in navy blue. I just put the split part together and put the flannel over it. It is not the best sewing job, but it actually gives him a little extra room and is soft to boot. He loves it! So a good repurpose on a ripped flannel fitted sheet I just couldn't bear to part with. I love all the great repurpose ideas.

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    1. Oh good idea Barbara. Using flannel would make a thinner yet more comfortable patch in that area. Ellen was asking about that as well.
      I have put off doing my worst pair, so I may have to use that idea.

      Glad you son is happy to have his favorite jeans saved!
      Thank you for the great tip.

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