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How to make a Recycled Denim Waistband Cushion

A passion for recycling jeans often leaves me with a pile of waistbands that I am not sure what to do with. This denim cushion cover is inspired by the variety of tones of colour in the waistbands. It is such a shame for any part of old jeans to go to waste.

DIY Denim Cushion, Denim Cushion cover made with old jeans waistbands

Make fun & unique denim cushions with a pompom trim. These denim cushion covers are a really lovely way to upcycle old jeans! Make the most of your old jeans by repurposing the waistbands.

Make fun & unique denim cushions with a pompom trim. These denim cushion covers are a really lovely way to upcycle old jeans! Make the most of your old jeans by repurposing the waistbands #denimcushionDIY #Denimcushioncover #DIYcushion

DIY Denim Cushion, Denim Cushion cover made with old jeans waistbands

I love working with old jeans – Are looking for ideas for what to do with your old jeans? Check out my 25+ craft ideas for old jeans

How to make a Recycled Denim Waistband Cushion

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES:
  • 12 Pairs of jeans
  • 16” zip
  • Bobbly ball of wool
  • 16” Cushion Pad
  • Unpicker
  • Scissors
  • Paper
  • Ruler (quilters)
  • pen
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine – with a walking foot if you have it
  • Tape measure
  • Tailors Chalk

Start by unpicking the waistbands of the jeans. Ensure you have removed any loose threads remaining from this process. You may find it easier to unpick with the ballpoint of the unpicker inserted into the jeans waistband.

Create a square paper template measuring 15” square – a quilters ruler is useful for ensuring right angles. Do up the buttons of your waistbands, lay out in order onto your template. Cut the waistbands in half so they lay flat. Ensure you place your buttons so they are not directly beneath each other as this will be too thick for your sewing machine to cope with.

Pin the waistbands so the top of one waistband covers the bottom of the next waistband. Stitch in place – use a denim needle with long stitches to help your sewing machine stitch through the layers. If need be trim away the back of the waistband to reduce bulk.

Place your paper template on top and trim the sewn together fabric to size.

Cut out two denim trouser legs create two pieces of denim 8 by 16”. Straight legged jeans are best so the fabric lies flat when opened out. These form the back of the cushion cover.

Fold and press the long edge of each piece of denim. Place and pin along the edge of zip. Stitch in place to secure. If your zip is too long trim to the correct length and holds the teeth in place by stitching together at the point you have trimmed the length. Repeat for the second edge, creating the back square piece of the cushion.

Using a ball of bobbly wool create a trim for the cushion. Stitch one edge of the bobble to the front of the denim cushion, at the seam edge (1cm in from the edge), gather the bobble into a ball by stitch the yarn (as it comes out of the bobble) in the same place. Repeat along the seam allowance every 2.5cm approximately. You may wish to mark your seam allowance with tailor’s chalk to give guidance for the location of the trim.

Unzip the zip halfway. Place the front and back of the cushion right sides together. Pin along the seam allowance then stitch all around the square of the fabric.

Trim the fabric at the corners of the cushion taking care not to cut into the stitches.

Turn the cushion right sides out and insert your cushion pad.

Make fun & unique denim cushions with a pompom trim. These denim cushion covers are a really lovely way to upcycle old jeans! Make the most of your old jeans by repurposing the waistbands #denimcushionDIY #Denimcushioncover #DIYcushion

Top tip – If your sewing machine struggles with the layers of fabric trim away as much as you can on the back. A walking foot can help the machine cope with the variance in heights.

Sign up to my monthly newsletter, which provides access to my resource library. The resource library includes a hints and tip sheet for sewing bags, these tips are perfect for sewing through layers of denim.

Sewing through so many layers of denim is not quite to the liking of some sewing machines – this denim chevron cushion is a little kinder to your machine! I have many denim tutorials on the blog, why not check out the tutorials page for further inspiration. Don’t forget to pin for later.

Or alternatively, I have yet more fun DIY pillow cover patterns to share with you.

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South Riverside Nha Be

Friday 7th of December 2018

Love the use of the waistbands, the cushion looks fabulous.

Bliss Brand Store

Friday 27th of July 2018

Hii,

I really like it ,Love the use of the waistbands, and reuse it and make a beautiful cushion. please sharing the types of post. Thank you Bliss Brand Store

Sara

Monday 23rd of July 2018

Lovelly! I´m seeing this in a clutch or the front of bag... Congratulations Vicky!

Jessica

Thursday 19th of July 2018

Nice Idea , It Looks Great

Claire

Sunday 15th of July 2018

Love the use of the waistbands, the cushion looks fabulous.

Vicky

Monday 16th of July 2018

Thank you Claire, love my Bernina - not sure my modern Janome would have coped!

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