Blue jeans 4ever?

Using recycled jeans has been a DIY favorite material since the 60´s. It´s durable, easy to sew and very available. Just one thing I miss.. variety in color.. Most crafters and designers continue using light blue denim as their most commonly used color. Why, when there´s so many other shades available?? If black, snow bleach, acid wash or untreated darkblue denim is not available denim can always be tinned (dirty treatment), colored, spraypainted or painted to give your project a different look. Just by using various shades of blue helps to make the design more intresting. Below are some of my September denim favorites. They all have a unique beautiful design. Just imagine what they would look like made from a different colored or treated denim.

Recycled denim jacket by SEWN BY DCC


Jeans Couture by Adnan Hassan


Denim belt chair reconstruction by Monkey Giggles.


Recycled Fashion Show at 2008 Maker Faire. Photo by Fiber Queen.


Hobo Bag by Nemesiam.


Recycled punky patchwork denim dungarees dress by Princess Tiger Mouse.

Denim Design Lab designer Brian Robbins

I´ve been known to hog paintstained jeans and workpants from my husbands work buddies to study the original paint and varnish stains on them. I´m fascinated by the way how some denim brands (like Diesel) are able to imitate these original wear and tears in their industrial made jeans. I use the work garments to make bags and clothes since I adore authentic and worn looking treatments in my fashions. I´ve read a lot about the industrial denim manufacturing process, but never thought I would finally able to mimic these treatments in my own home!



Brian Robbins has written the Denim Design Lab™ Book in a very compact form but it has everything that a DIY denim enthusast needs, inspirational images and simple tips to destroy, detail and decorate your jeans for that authentic vintage denim look. Basically it´s sharing all industries tips for home use. I think that it is wonderful to see a talented designer share his tips and knowledge to encourage home DIYers to create their own pair of vintage jeans! More designers should do that.

What many people out there still don't understand is, that if you have one or two really good pairs of jeans, refashion them instead of buying new ones all the time. This book is the next step for someone who is tired of appliques and beading. It´s not that there´s anything wrong with pretty embellishments, but I´m just a huge fan of authensity and rugged worn down looks. All the tools and instructions are presented simply and with loads of examples. This book is a bit more expensive than your average craft book, but totally woth the money! A great present and a must-have for your craft book collection. Keep in mind that these techniques can also be applied to other natural-fibre garments such as secondhand canvas bags, cotton tees, sweats, shirts and so on.






The DDL Kit
And that´s not all... DDL also offers tool kits to help you get started on your own designs. Each DDL™ Kit includes a collection of tools used for hand finishing denim garments and a copy of DDL book, as well as the first ever consumer version of a denim finishing bladder used by professional denim laundries. The Kits are produced in limited edition runs of 200 units each. The initial release features three unique vintage inspired washes, each based on a theme from the DDL™ Book; the "Gold Miner," the "Mechanic," and the "Painter." The kit is destined to become a collectors item for every true connoisseur of denim jeans. Go to DDL website for more details on where to get yours.

I recommend the DDL book and kit especially to those of you who sell your denim DIY goods. Robbins´s tips will give your products "that extra something" to guarantee sales. For more info, visit DDL website.

The art of shortening jeans - Darts

How many times have you left a great looking, worn down pair of denim in to the shop because the legs are too long? I love denim and it kills me every time I see (an expensive) worn pair of denim shortened just by CUTTING them. I´ve been working with denim for years and shortened more jeans for my friends that I can remember. So far I have come up with about six dfferent ways to shorten them (depending on the fit, wash and style).



Darts are the perfect solution when you need to lose a lot or just a little length from the back leg of your jeans, but none from the front. The leg will curve to the back but it will look surprisingly straight when the jeans are worn. Fast, simple and hardly visible!

This is the second denim shortening tutorial - DARTS at Cut Out and Keep craft community. The photos and instructions can also be found from my Flickr Trashion Tutorial Set. The first tutorial was about shortening bootcut jeans.

Isn´t it amazing where 1 1/2 inches (8cm) on extra-length just disappheared! And no cutting needed. So... If I ever wanted to open the darts up again to add length, it is possible! I use only one dart (sewn to hem) if I need to shorten the denim 1/2 inches (3cm) from the back, but leave the front un-touched.

The art of shortening jeans - Bootcut

Picture: www.diesel.com, Doozy 71J

How many times have you left a great looking, worn down pair of denim in to the shop because the legs are too long? I love denim and it kills me every time I see (an expensive) worn pair of denim shortened just by CUTTING them. I´ve been working with denim for years and shortened more jeans for my friends that I can remember. So far I have come up with about six dfferent ways to shorten them (depending on the fit, wash and style). Here´s the first tutorial for shortening abraded/washed bootcut jeans on Cut Out and Keep craft community. The basic idea is to be shortened with an "invisible seam".



Bootcut jeans cannot be shortened with a straight seam because the sewing lines are not the same length. In this tutorial you´ll see how to shorten jeans with a curved seam - no matter how flare legged your bootcut jeas are!

When you are done the jeans are about 3 cm (1/2 inches) shorter from the heel than in front, but they seem to be the same lentgh when you have the denims on. Except that the heel won´t slip under your foot all the time. :) Finally you have bootcut jeans that can be worn with flats and high heels. And nobody notices the extra seam in the bottom...

Patchwork denim

Denim is by far my favorite material to work with. It is easy to find from thrift stores and secondhand shops + it usually does not cost much. It is also pretty easy to sew and theredore a very good material to start with if you are a novice customizer.

I´m currently working on two bags that I have created from worn out denim pieces. Patchwork technique allows you to use even the smallest pieces from your craft fabric collections so it is very ecological. I will post the images (and tutorial) of the bags when they are finished but in the meantime here are some of my favorite denim patchwork projects by other crafty trashionistas and my inspiration book.

The technique is simple. Arrange the denim pieces on to the paper patterns and sew together. There really are no rules! The denim pieces can be of different colors, they can have raw edges and as much freehand over stitching that you can possibly think of. Cut of extra fabric, but remember to leave allowences. Sew together according to the models instructions. The seams make the pieces a bit stiff, but this technique works well on bags, jackets and home textiles.

Patchwork denim jacket by E.Patzig




This fab bag is made by (room#15)from southern califolnia



This lovely denim teddy was made by suzysu sparkles



Denim covered armchair by Mattia Bonetti

Rosie Robinson´s painted jeans

Every once a while I strike gold while browsing through Flickr. This time it lead me to denim painting wizard Rosie Robinson. I think her painted jeans pictures found on her website speak for them selves. Amazing technique with fine taste in denim customizing. Some of these look so freaking fantastic that I do not know weather to wear them or frame them on my wall...

After graduating from Central St Martins in 2001 with a degree in Fine Art, she has been working on a accessories line, selling in independent shops in London’s East End. The core of her collections are revolving around her “sewing-drawing” technique. Machine embroidered, freehand drawn pictures on canvas or vinyl which are then made up into a range of utility bags and purses. The denims are custom made from recycled quality jeans (including Diesel, Replay, Energie, Levis and G-Star.).

And the best part is that these denim-art-pieces can be bought from her website (in requested sizes!!)and Ebay... But they are also a great inspiration for all you home-denim-painters. I wonder if she could customize a pair for me if I sent her one???

Project ReJEANeration by Del Forte Denim

Del Forte Denim is made with 100 percent organic cotton. Del Forte Denim has partnered with The Sustainable Cotton Project, which has been building bridges between farmers, manufacturers and consumers to pioneer markets for certified organically grown and sustainable cotton.

Project Rejeaneration is simply genious. The idea is that you can send them your old pair of Del Forte´s and theY will reconstruct them into a fab skirt (just one style though)! I just wish other major denim brands would follow up on these kinds of sustainaility projects... And imagine the uniqueness of your denim after the reconstruction!

You can also find some more pics of these Del Forte reconstructions on JanelleP´s Flickr DEL FORTE SET.