handmade hot pad from upcycled denim jeans

EcoCrafting: Upcycled Denim, Hot Pad from Jeans Inseams

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My latest crafting passion is upcycling denim jeans. I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile now but didn’t have a sewing machine capable of handling the thicker fabric. I also don’t have much in sewing skills but I’ve never let me stop that before. 🙂 I recently purchased a used, almost vintage, Bernina sewing machine and really love it. It was a great buy, sold to me by a woman I met at a weekly craft group I attend who really just wanted it to go to someone who would use it and enjoy it. Well, I’ve done that and more. I’ve been playing around with the machine a lot and came up with this fun, thrifty and eco-friendly hot pad.

My final hot pads are approximately 9″ by 9.5″ and use inseams from four or five different jeans. Please note, my instructions are not designed to be presented as a professional pattern. I am a beginner sewer and therefore just explaining the steps I used to make the hot pads.

handmade hot pad from upcycled denim jeans

Prepping inseams: Turn the jeans inside out and cut out the inseams leaving 1/4″ of fabric from the inseam. Save the rest of the jeans for another project. Press the raw edges together with an iron. Seal the raw edges of the inseam with a zigzag stitch along the edge using a matching thread. I did two rows of stitching, all the way down and then back up over the same stitches to really seal in the ends and prevent fraying. Trim any loose ends. I used Coats and Clark all purpose thread color #4660 Denim. This color seems to blend in fairly well with most jeans. Once the seams are sealed, cut into 10″ strips and press again to completely flatten and straighten out any curves.

upcycle denim jeans prepping inseam
Seal in ends with two rows of zigzag along raw edge.
eco craft upcycle jeans inseam
Trim any loose threads.

Supplies:
12-13, 10″ inseam strips from four or five different jeans with different colored threads prepped as mentioned above.

2, 10″ by 10″ denim squares. If necessary, sew two smaller scrap pieces together to use on the backside of the hot pad.

10″ by 10″ batting/insulation. I used pieces of an old, damaged, felted 100% wool sweater sewn together to form a 10″ by 10″ square but you may also use quilt batting, old mattress cover, a few layered t-shirts sewn together, or anything that will give enough thickness to insulate from heat.

Contrasting thread, I used a golden brown.

Steps:

First, line your prepped inseams side by side on one of the 10″ by 10″ denim squares. I used clips to hold in place. With a matching thread, run a quick stitch across one end to secure them to the denim square. Then using a straight stitch, stitch down the middle of each seam.

upcycle denim jeans using inseam for hot pad

Second, layer your second piece of denim square with wrong side facing, then the batting/insulation, then the top piece with the attached seams, right side up. Your batting/insulation should be sandwiched between the two denim pieces with the right sides facing out. Clip together. Trim any pieces that are too long. Make sure all edges are flush.

upcycle denim jeans hot pad from repurposed materials

Third, using zigzag stitch and a contrasting thread, sew around the perimeter of the hot pad securing all three layers. I went around three times I believe.



Last, Enjoy!

Note on the jeans I use to upcycle: I buy thrift store damaged/clearance items and rarely pay more than 99 cents per pair. I use all types of denim, most have a mix of cotton, spandex and some with polyester. If my project requires it, I will add interfacing to prevent stretching. My goal is to use as much of the jeans as possible including the inseams, hems, waistbands, zippers and pockets.

crocheted container for plastic cutlery

Crocheting can renew the spirit and calm the mind.

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Yarn and crocheting with cat on porch to calm the mind and renew the spirit.

Crocheting can renew the spirit and calm the mind.

It is late summer and in the southeast and that means thunderstorms with threats of severe storms and tornadoes. More often than not, the threat is just that, a threat and we only have a mild storm with a brilliant show of lightening high in the sky. I look forward to rainy days and often find myself sitting on my screened-in-porch during these thunderstorms. I turn on my twinkle lights*, put my feet up, crochet and listen.

I relish the sound of the rolling thunder in the distance and when the rain comes, the sound as it falls through the trees. My cat joins me on the loveseat, curls up next to me after receiving her mandatory three minutes of petting, and falls fast asleep surely dreaming of the yarn just out of her reach. The sounds of her purring and the rain, combined with my silent counting, calm me and quiet my mind. All the stresses of the week fade away and I lose myself in the repetition of the stitches.

It is in these peaceful and meditative moments that I am able re-center myself and restore my energy for the busy weeks ahead. Like the trees and all the natural beauty that surrounds us, I, too, am renewed by the rain.

Before I know it the rain begins to subside and the summer bugs and birds return to their songs. I’ll hear the muted television from inside where my husband is on the couch most likely sleeping through a televised sporting event. And I’ll hear an occasional laugh as one of my sons plays video games online with a friend, and the chink of weights while the other son is working out. Now I am not just renewed but full of love and thankfulness for my amazing family.

I have spent many weekends on my porch crocheting and working on new designs. It is the one place where I sit and am able to concentrate on my projects without the distractions of dishes in the sink or paperwork next to my computer. Many of those weekends have been spent listening to not just the sounds of the rain but the neighborhood as well; grass being mowed in the distance, an occasional dog barking and the abundance of wildlife with buzzing cicadas, birds singing their mating songs, squirrels chattering and leaping through the trees, and the deer rummaging for food while crunching the leaves beneath their hooves.

I am so very thankful for these peaceful moments in my life. It is precious time to reflect and time when I can stitch my designs with love and happiness in my heart.

Happy Crocheting,
Darleen

*If you keep clear holiday lights up year round they are called twinkle lights.

Sock Monkeys Beware!

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Zombie Sock Monkey Crochet Hat Pattern by Darleen Hopkins

RUN, Run for your LIFE!

They are cute, cuddly and bring a warm and cozy feeling of nostalgia-the sock monkey. I love sock monkeys. And they are everywhere-even slippers and pjs. Popular sites like Etsy are covered with adorable sock monkey items. But what happens when a cute and cuddly sock monkey encounters a zombie? Well, I suppose this happens: Zombie Sock Monkey crochet hat pattern by Darleen Hopkins

Why a Zombie Sock Monkey hat? Why NOT!  Maybe I read one too many Stephen King novels as a young teen or perhaps I got too much enjoyment out of Halloween dress up while growing up. But what I do know is everyone needs a Zombie Sock Monkey Hat and because every zombie needs fresh meat, the pattern also comes with instructions to make a sweet, cute and cuddly sock monkey (BRAAAAIIINNSS!!!!) sock monkey hat pattern

The Zombie Sock Monkey / When Sock Monkeys Attack crochet hat pattern is available as an instant download on Ravelry for $4.50 (and ETSY too!)  The pattern includes two sizes to fit heads with a circumference of 19″ to 22.5″ (average child/tween and teen/adult) Instructions include how to make the hat with or without earflaps.  Also included are instructions on how to make the cute, adorable and cuddly sock monkey hat.

Ravelry is free to join but you don’t have to join to purchase the pattern.  BONUS!  Every pattern purchased at Crochet by Darleen Hopkins on Ravelry comes with a free copy of the Crazy Frog Hat, how cool is that?  (Frog Brains, Yummy!)Crazy Frog Hat crochet pattern FREE with any Crochet by Darleen Hopkins pattern purchase

Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Ravelry

Using Felted Sweaters in Your Crochet Projects

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Felting Old Sweaters and Crochet

Hard to believe but we are already into September.  It’s still hot, really hot, where I live but soon the leaves will start to change and the gift giving season will be upon us.  Homemade gifts are gifts from the heart.  Combining the gift giving season with crochet is something we crafters can look forward to all year.  And if you enjoy repurposing as much as you enjoy crochet then I have a question for you.  What do you get when you combine an old wool sweater, a washing machine and a little imagination?

Answer: Anything!

A few years ago I discovered felting (I believe it is called “fulling” when a wool item is already made and then fluffed up but it’s often referred to as “felting”). I had a beautiful partial wool sweater that I just could not wear. Even with a cotton turtleneck underneath, I was bothered by the itchy wool. But I loved the colors in the sweater so I held onto it. One day I decided I wanted a tea cozy. Rather than purchase one, I felted my sweater in the washer. This created a really nice thick fabric. I cut it to shape, sewed the two pieces together and lined it with an old dish towel on the inside to keep the wool fuzzies from getting in my drinks. Now I have an adorable tea cozy and enjoy my beautiful sweater every day!

Snowflake Ice Scraper Mitt

Snowflake Ice Scraper Mitt

Felting is fun and easy and can repurpose just about any wool fabric into something new. So, what does this have to do with crocheting? Well, you can make a fantastic Ice Scraper Mitt by felting an old sweater, cut two pieces to size, embellish with an adorable crocheted snowflake, sew together and voilà! , you have a beautiful handmade gift.

Pizza! Pizza!

Pizza! Pizza!

Back of pizza

Back of pizza

 

I use felted wool sweaters to back my Pizza! Pizza! hot pads to protect my counter tops from hot items. Crocheted coasters can be backed to add additional protection from condensation. Or cut appliques from the fabric and decorate crochet hats or purses.

Felting isn’t just for old sweaters. You can crocheting anything and then felt it. Follow a pattern using a hook one or two sizes bigger than the pattern calls for (remember, the item will shrink as it felts), then felt it and enjoy the results. Here is an example. I crocheted this adorable Christmas Tree Stocking Decoration in a hook two sizes bigger than the pattern called for and then felted it in the washer. I love the result, what do you think? (Note, I added some white roving and needle felted it on the rim)

before feltingafter felting

Great! How do I do it?

Well, it’s easy. Place your item to be felted in your washer. Turn it on and relax! That is essentially it. It’s best to place the item in a mesh delicates/lingerie bag and wash with your towels, sheets or other items you would normally was in hot. You can also use your cold cycle if you only wash in cold as the agitation of the items in the washer will also felt the fabric. After ten minutes or so, check and see if you have the desired effect. If not, keep it in until you do. Lay your item out to air dry. If you have a front load washer, never fear. Just use the shortest cycle as you will get to a point where you won’t be able to open the door to check on your fabric. You may need to run it through a couple of cycles to get the desired amount of felting.

Felting is fun but remember, once the items has felted (shrunk) you cannot undo it. Take your time, check your item a couple of times during the wash cycle and start with something small that would be OK if it didn’t come out perfect.

Important notes:

  •  The more you felt an item the tighter the fabric and the less the individual stitches will show
  •  Very thin fabrics may stick to themselves and they would be best not felted in the washer
  •  Only animal fibers will felt (wool, alpaca, cashmere)
  •  Synthetics and plant-based yarns will not felt (cotton, acrylic, bamboo)
  •  Most feltable fabrics/yarn will shrink 20-30%
  •  Should be at least 70% animal fiber to get a good felted result
  •  Superwash wool has been specially treated to NOT felt.
  •  You CANNOT go backwards, so go slowly!