I’m trying to keep myself busy these days, it’s part of the way I’ve been coping with Max’s passing. I’ve been clearing out closets and I came across these old jeans that are very much out of style and ahem, a little too small. Do you have jeans in your closet like that?
A little light bulb went off, something I’ve been wanting to do in a tablescape for a while.
I cut the back pockets off keeping the fabric intact so it still remained a pocket.
Then I trimmed off the access fabric being careful to not cut through the top-stitching.
Here’s how the backs looked once the excess fabric was removed. The back pockets on jeans are great for cutting since the top-stitching keeps them intact.
Three pairs of old jeans yielded 6 back pockets. Can you guess what I have planned for these?
How about something fun for a 4th of July table setting. Those old jean pockets make pretty handy little flatware holders.
I tied a red, white, and blue ribbon around the pocket for a little extra pizazz. These took all of about 15 minutes to make. So easy and no sewing required!
This was such a fun, super easy project! Looking forward to using these in a future 4th of July table setting.
So cute! When I make my denim wreaths, I’ve always got left over pockets. Now, I know what to do with them 😉 Happy 4th of July Susan!
Oh, denim wreaths sound so cute! Do you have a link Shannon so I can see?
I do, let me get it.
http://foxhollowcottage.com/2012/05/patriotic-summer-pool-noodle-wreath.html
I made a few for my sister’s shop and I sent this one to another blogger who liked it. They are fun to make and those pool noodles as a base are so inexpensive 🙂
I made a set of place-mats using the pockets for the silverware. Love reusing things. (gotta get that tutorial up)
Love that idea!
This is such a cute idea! I’m so doing this for my 4th of July party!
BRAVO!!!!!
Love that creative idea, Susan! Well done.
Love this. Even a “handicraft challenged” person like myself can do this!
Great idea Susan. I’ll be gathering my old jeans together for this one. Thanks so much for sharing.
It’s good to keep busy so your mind stays full of new ideas. Glad to hear that you are getting along. Enjoy your holiday.
OK? Susan have you any idea why my comment has that link in it? I certainly didn’t put it there. You can delete it if you like. Ahrisha
I don’t see a link…in my view, there’s no link. Ummm, maybe you’re just seeing it…not visible on my end.
You have such a creative brain, Susan. This is so cute.
Great idea Susan, great recycling!! I know you are keeping yourself busy when your heart hurts..have been there.
I wish you a great 4th July, we had our Canada Day yesterday, we attended a pool party over the weekend and also moved my daughter to a new home!! Just chilling out today, it is over 40 degrees!!!!
Thanks, Megan. Wow, you’ve been busy! I can’t believe it is still that chilly there! Is that normal for this time of year?
It is probably Celsius so not really that cold.
Carla, you were right! 🙂
Susan, that is 40 degrees celsius!! (about 90 plus F) We are all melting!!! 🙂 This is usually our August weather, when we expect forest fires!!
Ohhh, Carla was right. That makes more sense. I was wondering, does it ever warm up in Canada? 🙂 Hope you see some relief soon!
Love the silverware pockets! What a darling idea, and not just for the 4th of July – you could use them for Father’s Day, picnics, Memorial Day – all kinds of fun events! Figured you were keeping busy for that reason, but you are REALLY keeping busy!! Yard work, cleaning out closets! And the “ahem….” too small jeans….I think we ALL have some of them in our closets! There are going to be an awful lot of silverware pocket makers this summer! LOL Glad you’re keeping busy & the creative juices are still flowing!
So true…love all those suggestions! Yep, keeping the mind busy is always good. 🙂
Makes me wish I’d kept all those old jeans, darn!!! 😀
Hugs an have a happy July 4th,
Beth
Great idea, and I could use a little extra space in my closet! Cherry Kay
Well, I just made up my mind not to put my old jeans in the Goodwill bag!…Thanks for the great idea Susan…and love those plates!
Thanks, Shirley. I lucked out and found a set on eBay a few years back. They weren’t expensive either…very reasonable. The pattern is Colonial by Warren Kimble. I just looked and there’s a bunch of it on eBay right now.
Clever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG, Susan!
I love them! May I “steal” your great idea, pleeease? 🙂
I even have some American flag embroidered patches with gold trim and the letters U.S.A. in gold, too, that I could sew on them! Susan, since the 4th of July is not a holiday in Germany, I will celebrate it two days later, on Saturday, with some of my Italian and German friends who know I have “Americanitis”. lol
I am planning an all American BBQ Party and of course, everyone is allowed to wear red, white and blue, only! 🙂 Oh, and I am the only one responsible for the “Americana” decorations, because it is something that I always have! Now, I only need 10-11 old jeans… LOL
~Hugs to you~
Cecilia
Thanks Cecilia! I’d be honored if you used this idea! 🙂 Maybe you can find some old jeans in a thrift store, or perhaps your friends have some jeans they have outgrown or wore out. Have fun on Saturday and I want to hear all about it!
LOL, Susan. I just emailed to all my friends who will be my guests to clean out their closets immediately and bring me all their old jeans tomorrow! Three of them already asked: “WHY?!”
(I’m sure, now they really think I’m “crazy”! lol)
I replied “Because Susan had a great idea that I can “steal”!
They know who is “Susan” from the States and that “Susan” always has great ideas… 🙂
Now they are curious to know specifically WHAT was your idea, today?! LOLOL
I told them “Sorry, you have to wait till Saturday! I can only say, you will be thrilled!” 🙂
(Maybe, they are reading your blog right now! LOL)
Thank you, Susan!
P.S. Happy to see that bunting garland is hanging again! 🙂
Cecilia, that is a hoot! You have your friends wondering what you are up to! 🙂 I love it!
Adorable Susan! I don’t have any old jeans. As soon as they get tight, out they go. I don’t want a reminder, kwim? 😉
I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you’re doing. It’s great to keep yourself busy, but it’s really important to talk about Max too. I hope you have someone in your life you can talk to about him, and you know you have hundreds of fans who want nothing more than to help and we are here to listen also.
Thanks, Doreen…you are a sweetheart. I have been talking about him a bunch. I have some friends who have furbabies and they do understand. There’s one friend in particular who has been really great. She and I have that kind of friendship where we can call each other any time, day or night. Thanks again for being so sweet and caring…appreciate you! ♥
Susan, this is the cutest idea! I have some old jeans in the Goodwill bag that are coming out to make these! Thank you for sharing this idea; I’m on my way to give this a try! Happy Fourth of July!
SO cute and fitting for this holiday, love the ribbon…I made some with khaki pockets and added some lace and doilies, also a hit, thank you for sharing, Love & Blessings to you/yours…
That sounds so cute, Delores…great idea!
A number of years ago, I had the same idea when my daughter outgrew about 6 pairs of jeans at one time! I used some fun red glitter glue to write phrases like: “seconds please”, ” chocolate lover”, “save room for dessert”, “yummy”, you get the idea! I also used them for 4th of July!! We must have the same gene–never waste anything!
Awww, I love that! Wow, the possibilities are really endless!
Susan,
That is one clever idea and it looks fantastic! Thanks for the idea!
Pat F.
Las Vegas
Susan, I’ve been thinking about doing this same project. You are inspiring me to go ahead and cut up those old jeans.
Hope you have a happy 4th. No big plans here……..Sarah
Hola Susana, no sé allí pero acá en Argentina hay mucha gente que necesita ropa así que realmente me daría mucha pena cortarlos para hacer esto. Muchas felicidades para el 4 de julio! Feliz día!
Hi Susan, I do not know but here in Argentina there are many people who need clothes so much pain I really would cut to do this. Congratulations to the 4th of July! Happy day!
Hola Mariele! Thanks for the congrats! 🙂 Well, they wouldn’t want these old jeans, they were pretty faded and worn out. One had a hole in back beside the pocket. These were headed for the trash.
Gracias por la respuesta Susana, es una idea creativa no quise de ninguna manera incomodar. Un beso!
Thanks for the reply Susan, is a creative idea in any way I did not want bother. A kiss!
No bother at all. 🙂
That is the cutest idea! Do you think my hubby or son would notice if I snipped their pockets off? 😉
Do it while they’re sleeping. 😉
Haha. You have a sneaky side! 😀
🙂
Thanks for the reply Susan it was very helpful. In my comment that I could see, there was a link. Gotta call my ‘puter geek and see what’s up. Thanks.
Susan, I love this idea. You did a fantastic job and they are so cute.
Thanks! Easiest DIY project ever! 🙂
Hi Susan!
I love this idea!! I m having a BBQ for the 4th and realized I had a whole bag of old jeans that was going out on Trash Day – well not anymore! also, I have several old kids jeans – so the pockets are coming off and I’m going to use them with the children’s table setting! Thank you for a great idea! Have a wonderful 4th and stay well…….
That sounds great! They are so fast and easy to create. Have fun! 🙂
This is a cute idea and it made me think, what else could you do with those pockets? Possibly sew a bunch of them to a sturdy bit of fabric and make a hanging pocket organizer for accessories, hosiery, this and that, etc. But there are probably countless other uses. I hope we can put our heads together and come up with more. Fun idea, Susan. 🙂
I’m going to do this. I think I will glue red/white/blue buttons on then. So cute. Thanks for the idea.
So cute and clever!! Love it with the fourth f July theme! 🙂
XO,
Christy
What about a quilted tablecloth for the kiddie table with pockets from the kids’ jeans sewn into place to hold the silverware. Would be a real keepsake!
Love that!
I love this idea. I also have four pair of jeans that mysteriously shrunk and would lend themselves nicely to this type of treatment. ;-). I once saw a rug that was made up of blue jean pockets sewn to a backing. It was quite eye catching.
Yep, hate it when jeans just shrink up for no apparent reason. 😉
A rug? How interesting is that! But I’m wondering, how someone could walk across it and not trip on a pocket? 🙂
Hi Susan, you always have such cute ideas. Keeping busy is about the only thing you can do to help yourself and ofcourse talking about Max to a very Special Friend. What would we do with out friends? We still miss out beloved dog and he has been gone almost 2 years. We now have 2 Goldens who make us laugh every day. Have a great 4th. and dont work too hard.
Hi Susan,
Great idea! The pocket could also be used to stuff the point of a red bandanna “napkin” for a Western themed table…
Definitely! Would be so cute!
Very cute Susan I like these. Hugs to you, I lost 3 pets in June alone.. ageing out though but its never easy. Praying another rescue pet steals your heart down the line when your ready. Happy Sweet blessed 4th of July.
Great idea, Susan!! I’ve got some of those jeans, too! :O) Now I know what I can do with the pockets! Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Lanita
Susan, so glad you are keeping busy-We just had to put our 15 year old cat to sleep. He developed a tumor in his mouth and the vets said it would have taken his jawbone out too if they tried to remove it. I believe there is more than this life and I will see all my sweet little animals again. That makes it easier if you believe that and I really do.
Thanks, Cheryl. I’m so sorry you and your kitty just went through that, too. 🙁 Breaks my heart. I love all cats and dogs so much that it kills me when I hear of another one passing. I’ve been researching a lot lately about Life After Death especially as related to our furbabies and there are a lot of books on the subject. I haven’t purchased it yet but folks on Amazon love this one: http://www.amazon.com/There-Eternal-Animals-Behrikis-Shanahan/dp/0972030107/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=BB4YJG5PB4BW&coliid=I12U6O5NC3HWO7
My thoughts are with you because I know how great the pain is. Believing I will see Max again one day makes it almost bearable.
Great idea Susan, looks adorable!
Great Idea..now come up with things that you can make with the rest of the jeans! How about a lady’s purse? I bet one could find some patriotic ribbon or small pins to put on the pocket instead of the ribbon tie, but the gathered ribbon would help hold the silverware in the pocket tight.
What are those dishes made of..china or a plastic material like melamine?
Betty, don’t worry, I saved them. I had something else in mind to make but just ran out of time. The dishes are breakable, not sure if they are stoneware or what you call it. I call everything china half the time, even when it’s not real china. They aren’t plastic or melamine. They are good and heavy and definitely breakable.
YES to the denim pocket- Anyone can do it BUT SOMEONE HAS TO THINK OF IT!!
Jonell
L O V E this idea! My brain is now spinning – I’m thinking maybe collecting khaki colored jeans from Sal Army and using glitter pens to make turkeys on each one for Thanksgiving – doesn’t that sound cute to use for turkey day? I have two little nephews (5 + 3 yr old) that are part of our Thanksgiving dinner and they’d love to see glitter turkeys at the table! (or glitter pumpkins?)
That does sound cute for turkey day! 🙂
You know…you could add those belt loops on the sides of the pockets to use to snug it up to hold the flatware in place while being carried! 🙂 Great idea, love it!
That’s a great idea, Terry!
Susan, noticed the blue swirl glassware. Any chance it could still be available?
It’s called Breeze and it’s by Noritake. They still carry it in clear, but not sure it’s available in blue. You can see it in clear here: http://noritakechina.com/nsearch/?q=breeze
You may want to give them a call and ask if they still make it in blue. They used to make it in several colors.
I just checked on eBay and found some there. You can see those here: Breeze Glassware.