Recycle your old jeans by using basic quilting tools and sewing know-how to piece together this country-inspired throw rug.
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You will need
- Several pairs of old blue jeans
- A seam ripper
- A measuring tape
- Scissors or a strip cutter
- A sewing machine
- A sewing needle and heavy thread
- Heavy cotton or nylon thread
- A thrift store (optional)
Step 1 Prepare jeans Cut the legs off of your jeans and open up the seams on each side of the pant leg with a seam ripper. Measure and cut the fabric lengthwise into long, one-inch-wide strips with scissors or a strip cutter.
Quick Tip:
If you don’t have enough denim on hand, shop for inexpensive jeans at your local thrift store.
Step 2 Sew the strips Sew three strips together, end to end, using a sewing machine. If you sew by hand, use a simple whip stitch.
Step 3 Braid strips Braid your strips of fabric together into long, tight plaits.
Step 4 Coil the braids Decide on the shape of your rug — oval or round — and coil the braids accordingly. Stitch the ends of each plait together with heavy thread.
Step 5 Tuck the end Tuck the end of your last plait between the folds of the coils and sew it into place. Find some bare floor and lay down a little piece of country in your own home.
Did You Know:
Levi Strauss, who invented denim in 1873, left $6 million to his family and various charities when he died in 1902.
