Upcycle Jeans and Make An Oven Glove
This oven glove has a lovely gingham lining and thermal battling will be used to reduce heat and save your hands. Summer is just around the corner and any man would be happy toting this over the bbq too. We put in a loop to hang and magnets if you want to hang it off your metal oven (this is a feature we love!)
What You Need:
– Thermal batting 80 x 15cm.
– Contrasting fabric 85 x 19cm
If you prefer a neater finish, you can use bias binding on any or all of the raw edges. RS = right side of the fabric -ie the outside, patterned or darker sideWS = wrong side of the fabric –iethe inside, unpatterned, or more faded side. The ‘yellow stitching’ referred to, is the original stitching usually used in making jeans & other denim clothing. In some cases, this stitching may not be yellow.
This apron uses the bottom of the 2 legs of a pair of jeans. Either the 2 fronts or the 2 backs can be used.
Place the 2 pieces together, right sides facing & sew up the length of them on one side( I used the 2 inner leg seams to go up the centre of my apron, but the students may choose the have the yellow stitching up the centre of theirs –just ensure they realise this would mean they have a plainer finish to the outer edge of their apron, with no yellow stitching). Fold over the outer edges & sew to create a neat edge. (You can add a loop at the side, by making a loop out of ribbon, & sewing on, approx. 8cm from the top, as they sew up the sides),
Step 1
Cut the 2 back pockets off a pair of jeans, keeping approx. 2cm all around, plus the stitching above them, towards the waistband (approx. 6 or 7 cm above pockets). Cut a plain piece of denim approx. 48cm long by 19cm (This width needs to be the width of the pockets plus 4cm)
Step 2
Place the denim & the and the constrasting fabric RS together.
Step 3
Cut a piece of ribbon (at least 2cm wide) 22cmlong. Fold in half & sew the 2 long edges, to create a tube.
Fold the ribbon in half & place it half way along the denim & fabric so the main part is hidden inside & the 2 raw ends are sticking out. Pin in place.
Turn RS out. Feed the thermal batting down inside this ‘tube’.
Step 4
The 3 layers of fabric; denim; & batting need to be kept together, so the batting doesn’t move over time / when washed. You may choose to do some lines of stitching, or some decorative stitching for this purpose. (this has a pleasing ‘quilting’ effect) But remember that both sides are visible on the end product, so both need to be equally neat! We simply did 3 stitches over the top of each other, & tied them off –at 4 places along the length of the oven glove.
Finally, fold in the last short end & sew closed, & iron.
APPLIQUE:
Use felt as it doesn’t fray at edges. Draw the design onto the felt (you can use tailors chalks, or vanishing fabric markers), you can simply cut out shapes to sew onto the denim, or embroider onto the felt. Cut out the shapes & sew onto the denim –using blanket stitch around the edges.
EMBROIDERY
You can come up with their own designs. Among the simplest stitches are running; back; chain; & French knots. Bear in mind that an upcycled project is likely to look less ‘neat’ than one using new materials, due to the nature of ‘undoing’ the original. But this can add to the unique feel of the project.
