How to Make a Coaster by Repurposing Old Jeans
Stop throwing away your old pairs of jeans; make THIS instead!
Discover how to make a coaster by repurposing old jeans with this quick and easy step-by-step tutorial. These DIY coasters can be made in an hour (or less) and will keep your coffee table free of water stains and other unsightly rings. The frayed edges of these denim coasters give them a distressed look, which is really on trend— at a fraction of the cost. Since they're upcycled, you won't be too afraid of damaging them. After all, when one pair of jeans wears out, another set of coasters come in. You won't need a lot of material to make a set of four coasters, so you can make additional sets and give them away as housewarming gifts or personalize one for every member of your family.
These coasters are also great for practicing and experimenting with embroidery stitches, so feel free to add your own twist to this project! Oh, and don't forget to show us in the comments below. We'd love to see your unique creations.
Estimated CostUnder $10
Time to CompleteUnder an hour
MaterialsRecycled Materials
Primary TechniqueSewing
Project TypeMake a Project
Materials List
- Old jeans
- Iron
- Scissors
- Marker
- Pins
- Sewing Machine
- Ruler
- Thread
How to Make a Coaster by Repurposing Old Jeans
Directions
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On one pant leg cut out a denim square 4 inches by 4 inches.
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On the other pant leg cut a small slit with scissors. Then, pull on each side of the slit and tear a line up your leg.
Note: The reason you tear the denim up is to define the straight grain which is the original line of weaving from the fabric production. This ensures that there is no extra stretch or bias in your fabric so that your projects come out straight. This is the technique used to professionally fray garments without damaging the fabric. -
Take your ripped pant leg and measure 2 inches out from the newly ripped edge. Mark all the way up the edge.
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Cut up the marked line and section into 5 inch segments. Then, cut out the segments.
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Take your ripped segments and on the edge that we originally ripped start pulling out the loose threads. Continue to pull threads out until you have an inch of frayed denim.
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Pin 2 denim strips on opposite sides of your denim square. Stitch in place.
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Iron your stitching open.
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Pin the other 2 denim strips to opposite sides of the denim square. Pin in place.
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Stitch the remaining two denim strips in place and iron the seam allowance to one side. Secure any edges that might fray with fray check and enjoy your coasters!