What to do with ripped jeans?

…and a calm day?  And an urge to do a project? Well…let’s see…make cute homemade pin cushions?  Yep.  That’s what I did.  While Hannah was playing with her new intuos4 tablet I was busy sewing…and watching her create graphics.  Then later, while Chloe creamed me in a game of Upwords, I finished sewing the details on to my little pillow pin cushions.  Which, by the way, my Elijah has decided makes very fun stacking toys.

Here’s the story:  Caleb comes in with ripped jeans.  I quickly grab the scissors and cut off the bottoms.

old jeans = 

cute shorts

…then using a cd as a guide I cut out a circle from both the front and back of the jeans (which were clean).

first cut

…then I found a cut contrasting fabric and did the same.  That’s an old computer game cd.  When Hannah and Chloe were little they loved to play that game. I can still hear the soundtrack.

love this fabric

…now I’ve got two circles.  I sewed them inside out leaving a two inch opening.  And a new pair of scissors.  Those first ones disappeared.  I think one of the boys decided to do his own craft project.

two rounds sewn together

…after sewing I filled it with poly fill.  It needed to be stuffed tightly.  Also: note to others…inform your two year old that polyfill is NOT something yummy to eat.  Elijah had to be told that several times.

polyfill

I found some cute buttons to add once I started sewing.  I got these two jars at a garage sale for 25cents each.  I’m hoping to go back this year and find some more.  She had jar after jar of buttons.

my buttons

Last step was to sew a knot on the bottom, use a large sewing needle (I used the one in my stitch kit for ballet shoes) and sew bands of thread through the center and out the sides.  Finally, just add a cute button in the center.   As you can see…I didn’t just make one.  Which are your faves?  I love the green one with the pink button.  The picture doesn’t really show how cute the button is…some day I’ll invest in a better camera!

 pin cushions

old jean scraps = new pin cushions

Not a deep post.  A fun post?  It’s just a little peek into my eccentric life. It’s kind of like the spilled milk post.  I guess I’ve just started to take moments that could be frustrating…like a newer pair of jeans sporting holes in the knees…and make them into something good.  🙂