Repurposing

The boys have gone through a RE-diculous amount of jeans at school this year.  Between outgrowing them and destroying the knees, I have a stack of about 10 pairs of  "not-so-gently used" jeans.  Some of them I know I will be making into shorts... the others are just too small or ripped to live again as shorts.  What to do?

I started looking online and there are tons of tutorials on making skirts, purses and hats out of used kid jeans... none of which the boys would be all that interested in.  I decided to try making cases for their hand-held games that they got for Christmas.  I had been waiting to buy the cases because they were $15 a piece!!

Here's how you do it...

I deconstructed a pair of jeans, including the elastic and buttons from the waist.  I kept the backs of both legs.  These pockets didn't have flaps, so I removed flaps from another pair of jeans which I will keep around for "spare parts"!

I wanted to use the pockets to hold the game cartridges, so I sewed the flaps on first...

Next, I attached part of the elastic from the waist on the inside of the pocket side and then used fabric and a very thin layer of batting (or felt!) to line the back side of the pant leg.

Once they are sewn in place, I folded the leg up to the to (right-side in), so that I just had to sew the sides. 

Once that's done, turn it right-side out and trim the threads.

I sewed the button from the waist to the back of the case, so that the elastic can attach in the back, keeping the game secure.

Finally, I used some appliques to decorate the cases and give them a little more personality.  But mostly so that I can tell the cases apart!

All done!  One pair of jeans, and two game system cases!!  Oh, what to do now?!!?