by Texas Homesteader ~
I was looking to find repurpose ideas for RancherMan’s worn jeans. I know, maybe I can make cute no-sew denim coasters from the pockets. I love the rustic western feel of using them…
(Note, we often sell these authentic Texas Rancher-worn denim coasters in my e-Bay store)
It’s a great way to support this blog so RancherMan & I THANK YOU!
It’s no secret to those who know me that I love denim. It’s about all I wear here on the Homestead. RancherMan too!
But even when those jeans finally wear out, I hate to throw away that beautiful blue dungaree cloth. It’s so rustic & heavy. And it begs for another purpose.
Repurposing Various Fabrics
Y’all know I have an environmental bend. I’m big into repurposing things that have reached the end of their current purpose.
Take holey socks for instance. I’ve even found ways to repurpose clean but no-longer-wearable socks to many other helpful Homestead purposes.
From an elastic hair tie, kitchen rag, scrubbing-textured cleaning cloth to cast-iron oiling cloth, and shop rags. There are lots of ways to put that terrycloth to additional use.
So if I can put holey socks to good use, you just know I’ll be able to do something good with this denim.
So what will I do with these worn jeans? The fabric is so beautifully worn, and so rugged. Surely I can put it to another good use.
Repurposing Denim
I’ve always been a blue jean girl. Now that I live and work full time on the Homestead, the only time you’ll see me in anything but denim is on Sunday morning in the church pew. And even then, it being a country church and all…
We go through lots of denim because it’s basically all we both wear every day. And our blue jeans have different levels of western-wear.
Whether our nicer meeting-customers work jeans, our out-&-about play blue jeans, and even our grungy chute-side work jeans. All categories of denim blue jeans are worn very frequently.
Until they’re just DONE and looking for their next purpose.
I’ve seen many cute denim repurposing ideas and I really like some of them. But here’s my (not-so) secret confession: I don’t sew.
Now I don’t mean I don’t like to sew fancy things, or that my sewing ability is novice. I mean
I.
Don’t.
Sew.
Repurposing Worn Blue Jeans
Recently RancherMan wore though the knees of yet another pair of his Wrangler jeans. He’s a hard-working man, and those knees take a beating when he’s kneeling at a fence line fixing another broken barbed-wire strand.
Now I may be the only wife in the world who gets happy when her hubby wears out the knees of his jeans. But to me it just means there’s some of that heavy denim for me to play with.
I often use those worn blue jeans to make something country-styled yet functional to decorate our home. When those jeans aren’t fit to wear anymore I always make drink coasters out of the pockets!
Rustic Texas Cattle-Rancher Feel
There’s just something about that authentic Texas cattle-rancher patina, the worn places where he keeps his pocket knife in one pocket & his cowboy wallet in the other as he goes about his daily chores. It’s so real, so rustic, so TEXAS!
Making No-Sew Denim Pocket Coasters
And you’re not gonna believe how easy it is to make these coasters. I simply start by cutting out a pocket, leaving a small flap of material on the top of the pocket.
But we enjoy iced tea in those hot summer months and the condensation from the glass always creates a mess. So I like to have something waterproof to stop any moisture from our glass from soaking through the two layers of fabric and onto our wood furniture.
But that’s an easy fix too. I cut a waterproof plastic sheet to the exact size to fit inside these pocket coasters. I’ve used various thin flexible water-proof materials to fill this need. Heck I’ve even used a chip bag cut to size to fit the bill!
I slide this moisture-proof material into the pocket so any moisture would be stopped after that first layer of cloth.
Finally I tuck the top flap back in and give it a quick ironing to crease it so it stays tucked in. Sometimes I’ll add a little hot glue to the flap. But sometimes not.
Just flyin’ by the seat of my pants, y’all! (see what I did there??)
Putting together these denim pocket coasters was not only no-sew simple, but fast too. And now I’ve got brand new coasters that didn’t cost me a penny. But not just any coasters:
DENIM COASTERS!
I love them. And I didn’t sew anything. Not one stitch.
I love these coasters so I have them all over our home. There’s one on each of our nightstands in the bedroom for morning coffee. And there are a couple on the end tables in our living room for iced tea.
Why, there’s even one at each place setting at our dining room table.
And the beauty is that if one gets too stained from dribbled coffee or other drink, there are no worries. I’m always gonna have a steady supply of these country-chic coasters since I can make them in just minutes.
I always get lots of compliments on these simple coasters displayed in our home, and I’ve even given them as gifts to a cowboy acquaintance. He loved them.
That’s a lot of mileage for a pair of jeans with rips in the knees! Plus it suits my rustic Texas ranch décor and my eco-friendly mindset as well as my lack of sewing skills. Oh, and they look great too!
~TxH~
This post categorized in 
Wanna See Other Repurposed Denim Crafts?
- Repurposed Denim Dish Carrier
- Pocket-Sized Hand Warmers
- Repurposed Denim Pocket Coasters
- Game Bags Made From Repurposed Denim
- Repurposed Denim Baskets
Easy Beginner’s Crafts & Projects We Love
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- Repurpose Greeting Card Into Small Gift Box
- Old Barnwood Wall Photo Feature
- Arrowhead Collage In Wooden ShadowBox
- Rustic No-Sew Denim Coasters
- Upcycled Fingerless Gloves
- Quick Pocket Hand Warmers
- Make Your Own Clothespin Apron
- Cute Repurposed-Denim Baskets
- Diaper Wreath Baby Shower Gift
- Light & Beauty – Affix Lace Directly To Window Glass!
- Lavender-Scented Hand Scrub
- Decorative Pillows From Flannel Shirt Fabric
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- MYO Beeswax Wraps
- 1882 Barbed Wire Wall Crosses
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…And Much More
See All Make-It-Yourself Posts
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The pocket coasters also make for great gifts.
I cut up milk cartons and vinegar jugs to line my coaster pockets. Just make the milk cartons and vinegar jugs are well washed out good
What a fun idea! I love that it’s no-sew. Even though I know how to sew, I realize many others don’t and don’t have the time to sew, which is what makes and idea like this great. It gives the denim another purpose so it isn’t tossed out!
What a fantastic idea! I love that I don’t have to sew to make these. I’m like you and don’t/can’t really sew. Don’t worry I’ve got a sewing machine in case I ever get the urge to try, but Hubby has used it far more than I ever have. This makes me want to go see if I can scoop up some old denim from a thrift store to make these. Thanks for posting on the #sustainablesunday link up!
Denim pockets and empty chip bags – brilliant!
Ann
I love these. And to think I just threw away a pair of jeans that had a big rip in the crotch, darn it! I held on to them for the longest time, but just couldn’t think of an easy way to repurpose them.
Thank you for sharing on the Homestead Blog Hop.
Ugh, I hate when that happens Bonnie, but keep it in mind when another pair of jeans bites the dust. I have these denim coasters scattered around the house in various places guests may set down drinks, and even a set at our supper table for RancherMan & myself. Love them! ~TxH~
Very creative, clever, and resourceful. I’m not much of a sewer either.
Thanks for sharing!
The chip bag! What a great idea!
So simple! So useful! And it never even occurred to me . . . THANK YOU!!!
Oh. My. Goodness. You are so incredibly creative!!! This is a fantastic idea. I will never throw away another pair of jeans. 🙂
Visiting from Thursday Favorite Things.
Thanks Anne – Let me tell ya I can be incredibly creative if I’m looking for ways to NOT sew! LOL I think these coasters turned out super cute and we have them now in several locations around our home. ~TxH~
Love it! Now I know what to do with all my boys’ jeans that are too torn up to pass down. Thanks for sharing with Simple Lives Thursday! Hope to see you again this week.
That is brilliant!
I’ve always wanted to make me one of them jean purses but it’s just one of them things that I didn’t get around tuit but I have made me an apron from an old pair of black colored jeans.
I’m still using my old sewing machine that hubby got for my birthday the first year we where married; 45 years ago last month.
Great idea. Great re-use. I am here in Texas too. Nice to meet you neighbor.
Well Howdy Neighbor! 🙂 ~TxH~
A gal after my own heart……Recycling. The pockets are also great for putting your silverware in when having a gathering or just eating out on your back porch. Has the country, rustic feel……. Jean pockets used for holding your silverware as well as using as a coaster and then bandanas used as napkins of which I use all the time. Hobby Lobby has a nice variety of colors of bandanas and there’s No Sewing as the edges are already finished. :}
Great idea! For some reason I really like coasters, not because I’m all that worried about my old furniture, I just think they’re cute!
This is such a great idea and good use for denim. I definitely think they are adorable, and we already know they will hold up to what you put it through.
I love all kinds of re-purposing and denim coasters is really a cute idea!
Great idea. I’m pinning and I am a new follower.
Very clever to put plastic in the pocket to stop the water from going through. I love no sew anything. I may have to blog about my no sew sailor costume.
Such a cute and easy idea! My neighbor takes all of our old denim and makes quilts, but I think she throws away the pockets! I will have to keep the pockets from now on. Thanks for the idea!
That’s awesome! I can’t believe I haven’t had these coasters around the house for years. The other kinds of coaster all get picked up along with the glass due to the condensation – even the ones made of stone. I love these! ~TxH~
Simple and cute! I love it:)
That is an awesome idea! Pinning this!
–Gena
What a creative and fantastic idea! Wow! Good for you ~ Great photo too!
This would be especially nice for the patio or deck and you could set your patio table with bandanna napkins and have lanterns for table lighting. There’s so much you could do with this.
that is such a cool idea and I am so doing it…I just have find some old jeans…
No sew…2 of my favorite words. Great job and a great re purpose 🙂
Brilliant idea!!!
I think it is so funny that we both have a post about this!
I guess “great minds think alike”
: )
What can I say…great idea! ha!
Indeed Gail! I think last week I just had a lightbulb moment and couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought about using these pockets before given that I’m so very sewing-callenged! Now I’m eyeballing the rest of the denim for ideas. Hummmm…. 🙂 ~TxH~
Great and ez idea! My dad uses a denim pocket to store a magnifying glass so it won’t get scratched in a desk drawer.
Diane, I am now making a complete set of these cute coasters for our house. The idea of using the pocket to keep an item from being scratched is good too. So many uses! ~TxH~