Embellishing jeans

**quiltergirl2** · 03-25-2008, 07:49 AM

My old faithful, well worn jeans finally reached the point where they could no longer be patched/repaired. So over the weekend I bought not one, but two pair of very basic (pockets in side seam) jeans. They were on sale -- came out to $7.49 each.

When I got them home I realized they were perfect blank canvases for what ever I want to do with them. I have a few ideas, but nothing I can really run with yet. I have some leftover "jean parts" from when I used to make blue jean quilts -- pockets, seams, belt loops, labels, etc. I might use some of those on one. The other pair I would like to do something either more pictorial or simpler applique with heavy beading.

What would you do if you had two pair of very plain jeans to play with?

**nuisance26** · 03-25-2008, 08:49 AM

~I had a neat pair of jeans years ago that were bleach stenciled. I bought them that way but there are online tutorials on how to do this. Mine were a floral pattern but you could use any pattern. Patterns for henna tatoos are really nice for stenciling.~

**M55FF** · 03-25-2008, 09:32 AM

Those dolled up jeans look so cute on the preteenagers and toddlers... just love the cutsie-ness to them and such a cute fashion for young girls.

**mombottoo** · 03-25-2008, 03:01 PM

Me? I kind of like non-embellished jeans, but my daughter used to love to sew sequins & buttons on hers in some of what I thought were the strangest of places. She also liked to put flower embroidery work on her jeans...

**quiltergirl2** · 03-25-2008, 10:21 PM

I'd never thought of stenciling with bleach. Will definitely look into that one.

I'm thinking of something artistic (and hopefully tasteful) -- not "cute" or "crafty." I've got a couple of ideas. Will toss the jeans in the wash before I start just in case there is any shrinkage, then just see what I come up with.

**Michelle** · 03-26-2008, 07:55 AM

If you search "embellishing jeans" on Google, you'll find many ideas.

I'd love to see pictures of what you come up with

**quiltergirl2** · 03-27-2008, 07:33 PM

I'm planning an appliqued nature scene -- something with cranes I think for one pair.

But I decided to do something fun with the other pair and decided to start with that. I have some fabric with Warner Brothers cartoon characters -- Bugs Bunny, etc. I'm using it to make my own appliques. Should be fun. And yes, I am going to wear them.