I’ve been on a bit of a kick recycling denim jeans lately. I’ve made several tote bags from old jeans which are posted here under the Denim Crafts category. I’ve been wanting to make a potholder and still want to make a oven mitt too. But first things first, right? Here is my recycled denim potholder complete with a jeans pocket!
Here is my denim potholder in use.
Old recycled denim makes great potholders. All you need is an old pair of jeans, some cotton for padding and I added a piece of insul-bright. Insul-bright is an inexpensive reflective material that is designed for providing padding for potholders, oven mitts etc. Use only 100% cotton towels and cotton crafting batting. Do not use polyester batting or towels as the heat passes right through that material. I paid less than a dollar for a small piece of insul-bright so I figure this is a bargain to provide a good insulation for my potholder. Plus I have leftovers for my future oven mitt project.
Below you will find my step-by-step picture tutorial on how to make this recycled denim potholder.
Cut a piece of denim from an old pair of jeans about 9 inches long with the leg seams intact. If your pant leg is too wide, just sew a seam down each side to make the denim shell as shown.
All Pictures are Clickable
Fold over and press a hem on both unfinished edges as shown.
A picture that shows the insul-bright I used.
I used an old cotton towel for additional padding for my insert inside my denim shell. Cut your cotton towel and insul-bright piece just slightly smaller than your denim piece. I zig-zag’d around the towel and insul-bright piece to secure them together.
Trim your edges and insert this inside your denim shell.
Here is the denim shell shown with the towel and insul-bright inserted inside.
I then pinned and stitched around the top and bottom hems once to close them off and again to secure the insert inside in place. Finish by sewing a trimmed jeans pocket on the outside of the potholder around on 3 sides of the original pocket stitching.
another project that could be entered into my contest…… hint, hint!!
So… where do you find the insul-bright? Good job and I’m looking forward to seeing the oven mitt next!
Nan,
I purchased my insul-bright at Walmart. Thanks for stopping by and I will have to check out your contest.
You are quite crafty! What a great idea! Do you have to add some padding and stuff in it also or is it just one layered?
Amber,
Yes if you check the tutorial I show the extra layer of cotton needed for the potholder. You can use two layers of 100% cotton recycled towel pieces or insul-bright for insulation inside the denim shell.
Cindy,
I have given all my jeans to Goodwill. I should have known you earlier to do wonders with recycling. Thanks for sharing another great idea.
Very cool!
great idea!
🙂
Great idea. I was shopping this weekend and saw where someone had made a purse from old jeans. The purse even had some bedazzling done to it.
Excellent tutorial as usual Cindy!
A friend made me a pair of potholders very much like these, and I can tell you they’re just great — you can put your fingers right into the pocket, so no slipping when you’re lifting a hot casserole dish.
Hmm, now that I see from your tutorial how easy these would be to make… a great idea for Christmas gifts in a hurry, for those few people who always seems to get forgotten off the list! (I’m thinking piano teacher, nephew’s girlfriend, neighbours who drop in with gifts you weren’t expecting…)
Love recycling jeans! WTG!!!
Great, innovative idea. Linked it in my blog!
what a creative idea! i need to make one too..
I love it. I have so many pairs of old jeans I could supply a store. WOW!! Now I know what to do with them. Thank you for the tute
Country girl at heart, I am. Love your patterns using old blue jeans. My daughter gave me a set of potholders using just the pocket lined with red handkerchief material. Like your pattern better. Thanks for sharing.
This is a great idea. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it. I’ve got about a bizillion pairs of jeans. Just for you embroiderers out there. Put a little design on the pocket before you sew it on.
Blessings
This is so cool!
I’m going to make a few potholders
with my old jeans.
Thanks for the idea.
Marie
I think your items are great! Someone who is not an expert may be better able to help those of us who are also not seamstresses.
Thank you so much!!!!,
Melinda
I’m at the very beginning of learning to sew with a machine, and this pattern along with the oven-mitts seems like a good place to start — all in all that is. Thank you very much for the tutorial, even I could figure it out. (In our family the Swedes tell me I need it to be Norwegian-proof, and the Norwegians tell me if I do something well that its “pretty good for a Swede”. hahahah We specialize in Ole and Sven jokes. Hopefully my sewing will not be a joke. Peace out!
Gregory – So glad I was able to help you with this recycled denim potholder project. Best wishes with the project and please contact me back should you have any questions.
Made a large pot holder from a leftover block of the denim Around the World quilt I made for a son. Used 2 layers of an old towel I had for the inside; do recommend thicker toweling). Top stitched around the squares to finish it off. Have been using it for years. Friends and family bring me their old jeans for my sewing/quilting. Am now making grocery tote bags from old denim.