Secondhand Sisters: Char Upcycles Thrifted Jeans

Secondhand Sisters helps you navigate the dos and don’ts of thrifting and upcycling. We’re two sisters — Char and Sophie — who share a love of fashion and the planet. Check out Sophie’s experience shopping secondhand online here.

For this upcycling project, Char was inspired by a design she originally saw on Pinterest. She visits the thrift store to pick up a pair of jeans, and uses denim from her old pairs to create a butterfly pattern. Follow Char’s instructions to create your own butterfly jeans, or get creative with your own design! If you have more denim than you know what to do with let Blue Jeans Go Green transform your old denim into creative new products.

How To Make Char's Upcycled Butterfly Jeans

Difficulty: 1/5

One of the most versatile pieces in our wardrobes–jeans–are also one of the most versatile pieces to upcycle. They are easy to find at the thrift store, comfortable to wear, and oh-so-fun to make into something new. Whether you have a few old pairs of jeans lying around, or are looking for a fun addition to your wardrobe without buying fast fashion, this tutorial works for everyone. 

Before you get to work ensure you have a large clear workspace. There’s no shame in working on a hardwood floor!

What You Need

• A pair of baggy or wide-legged jeans
• Scrap denim or old jeans (for design contrast, look for denim in a wash that is lighter or darker than the pair you are embellishing)
• Scissors, both for paper and fabric
• Paper
• Pencil
• Denim needle
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Fabric glue 

Directions

1. Sketch out a butterfly design on paper and cut out your pieces. To keep track of your design placement, label the pieces with letters or numbers.
2. Cut four of each piece out of old jeans or scrap denim
3. Change the needle on your sewing machine to a denim needle. Thread your machine with white or blue thread. Select the zigzag stitch and reduce the length to almost the lowest setting. Stitch ¼” from the edge on each of your upcycled denim pieces to reduce fraying. 
4. Arrange your cut out denim pieces on one side of your jeans, following the butterfly design.
5. Use fabric glue to attach your denim butterfly design to the jeans. Let dry.
6. With remaining upcycled denim pieces, repeat steps 4 and 5 on the reverse side of your jeans.