By Niki Meiners
Contents
My Favorite Tools and Materials
Deconstructing Jeans
PROJECTS
Pencil or Make-up Case
Sailor Tote
Planter Pincushion
Chevron Handbag
Baby Bibs
Tote for Kids
Pretty Patterned Headband
Stitch and Slash Pillow
Denim Scrap Pillow
Cathedral Window Table Runner
Shirred and Blocked Floor Pillow
Tech Pillow
Crochet Accent Rug
Diamond Pillow
Director’s Chair
Embroidered Body Pillow
Laundry Bag
Pocketed Floor Pouf
Hammock Cover
Tank Top Tote
Wine Bottle Cozy with T-shirt Flower
Tablet Case
T-shirt Yarn Place Mat
T-shirt Pillow
Draft Dodger
Tufted Pillow
Coiled Trivet
Dazzling Dog Collar
Dazzling Dog Leash
Reversible Contour Burp Cloth
Whimsical Coasters
Playful Pincushions
Key Fobs
Stitch and Slash Pin Tuck T-shirt Purse
Painted Mobile
Baskets
Alphabet Bean Bags
Denim Place Mats
Mug Wrap
Art Apron
Memory Pillows
Christmas Tags
Denim Star Ornaments
Braided Animal Toy
Denim Slipcover
Visual Index
About the Author
Introduction
It is easy to remake everyday clothing you already have on hand into sophisticated home decor and handmade gifts. All it takes is a little ingenuity and basic sewing skills. With this book as your guide, you can create extraordinary one-of-a kind handmade gifts and decorative accents by recycling everyday clothing such as jeans and T-shirts. Each denim or T-shirt project is fun to make and even more fun to give as a gift! Just follow the simple instructions to make gifts and home decor that are both budget-friendly and ecoconscious.
Let’s get started!
My Favorite Tools and Materials
There are many tools and materials that I reach for again and again in my studio, and these are ones that are used in many of the projects in this book. You don’t need to have all of these on hand, but they are what I consider essentials for my crafting. Each project includes a list of the specific tools and materials used in the project; refer to that list before you begin a project to make sure you have what you need. Here are my must-haves:
- 8-inch fabric scissors
- 4-inch fabric scissors
- Sewing machine
- Sewing machine needles for denim (16/100)
- Jean-A-Ma-Jig
- Needles: upholstery, assorted craft
- Thread: heavy duty, denim, waxed
- Straight pins
- Seam ripper
- Cover button kit
- Fiberfill
- Fusible fleece
- Interlining
- Poly-Pellets (weighted stuffing material)
- Pillow forms
- Iron-on letters
- Die-cut machine and dies
- Stencils
- Fabric paint
- Paintbrushes
- Fabric glue
- Rotary cutter and mat
- Ruler
I am often asked what specific products I use, so I list those here for your reference, but they are by no means the only brands available. I use these brands because they are reliable and easy to find in most big box stores and online. Find what you like and what fits in your budget and use it. You don’t have to break the bank to make great things.
Westcott: ExtremEdge 8″ Bent Adjustable Tension Titanium Bonded Scissors, 4″ Titanium Bonded Detail Cut Sewing Scissors Coats and Clark: Dual Duty XP Thread—Denim or Heavy Weight Thread Prym Dritz: Jean-A-Ma-Jig, Denim/Jeans Machine Needles 16/100, Straight Pins, Seam Fix Seam Ripper, Craft Cover Button Kit, Upholstery Needle, Waxed Thread, 25-Piece Assorted Craft Needles, Grommet Pliers Fairfield Processing Corporation: Poly-Fil Fiberfill, Smooth Fusible Fleece, Stick Interlining, Poly-Pellets, Biggie Bean Bag Filler, Crafter’s Choice Pillow Forms Joy: Iron-on Letters
Sizzix: Big Shot Pro, Big Shot, Baby Bib die (item #660924), Bigz Heart die (item #660789), Star die (item #A10181), Tag die (item #660280)
DecoArt: Stencils, Acrylic Paint, Paintbrushes
Beacon Adhesives: Fabri-Tac Permanent Stiffen Stuff Adhesive
Omnigrid: Rotary cutter, cutting mat, rulers in different shapes and sizes. A rotary cutter is optional but very helpful for working with denim and T-shirt material.