Basket made with Recycled Jeans

This is an Easter basket that I made from the flat fold seams of my son-in-law's old jeans. I cut all the double sewn seams off the jeans, including the ones that go across the back yoke that has the little red wrangler tab that you can see in the bottom picture.This basket took two pair of jeans to make. When cutting the seams out, I leave about 1/4 inch of material on both sides of the seam. I also used both waist bands. On one I left the belt loops attached to the top of the waist band and used a seam ripper to rip them loose from the pants before I cut the waist band off the pants with the extra 1/4 inch of fabric.


To start, with the right side of the seam facing up. I pulled a 4 inch length around and butted it up against each other. I Started at the loop end and, using a wide zig-zag stitch, I began sewing the two together. The hardest part is the first turn. Just keep the seam as flat as possible and turn the corner making sure that the zig-zag stitch is catching fabric on both sides. Continue in this fashion, going around both ends until you come to the end of the first piece. Then just butt the next piece up next to the last one and keep zig-zagging until the bottom is as large as you want it. At that point, pull slightly on the piece that is being attached and continue. This pulling will make the sides start to take shape. When you run thru all the pieces of flat fold seams, use scissors to taper the end of the last piece so it has a smooth rather than an abrupt end. Now, put the waist band on. Attach the waist band with the loops (I cut the snaps and or buttons and holes off first)to the top of the basket in the same manor as before, trim to insure that the two ends butt up against each other. Zig-zag waist band together. Use the other waistband to make the handle. First, fold it in half length wise and sew (with straight stitch). Next, fold it in half and attach the folded side to the basket. Then, twist the two like a rope (twist just enough to make the handle hold its shape, if you twist too much, the handle won't stand up) and attach to the other side of the basket. Use hot glue and attach the loose ends of the belt loops to the basket. Decorate with ribbon thru the belt loops and a large bow. Flowers or other decorations could also be used, it's up to you.