The inside scoop on re-purposing blue jean inseams

I like re-using old blue jeans, maybe because I like wearing them so much. Rugged and stylish, a good pair of jeans takes on the character (and shape) of the wearer. I still remember my favorite button-fly Levis from high school. Putting them on felt like pulling on a second skin.

So when I work with a pair of previously loved jeans, I try to  re-use as much material as I can. The legs become bags, with zipper, pockets and belt loops as embellishments. That leaves the seams. What to do with the seams?

It seems criminal to waste them. I'm talking about the top-stitched seams on the inside of the pant legs. (For the non-tailors out there, these are called "flat-fell" seams. And here's how to create them.) So fancy, so James Dean cool. They must be good for something.

In a previous post, I described Rita Re-Doll, made out of old jeans and burlap. I used inseams for her hair. They made her look good, but I wanted something for me. Which usually means jewelry.

A braided denim bracelet

My first experiment was simple -- just braiding 3 inseams together. I sewed them together at both ends. 

And you're right, these aren't from blue jeans. The spring green strip is from some kids cords, and the striped ones come from a skirt. Here's what the competed bracelet looks like.

It's cute and easy to make, but not my style.

A denim cuff

I'm more of a cuff gal. Could I make a cuff out of seams? Yes, I could.

I used 3 seams again. I connected them by sewing them to part of the hem. 

The result is closer to what I had in mind. If I'd used all blue jean seams, the cuff would have more edge. But this one took more effort -- it also ate one of my sewing machine needles. Those seams are thick!

Beaded denim bracelets

I have tons of seed beads (doesn't everyone?) so I thought, let's sew them to the seams! First I edged both sides of a seam with some earthy colored beads.

I didn't have enough to repeat the same pattern on both sides. But I think that's ok. It took me about 20 beads to figure out how to get them to lie flat. I like the finished bracelet.

Humble, petite -- just like me! Ha. But it is my style. The second version is fancier and more work. But I like it too.

Side-by-side comparison

Here are the different versions. What do you think? Which would you wear, if any?

Update

I made 2 more bracelets, shown here.