Jeans and a T-shirt: Fun and Fabulous Upcycling Projects for Denim and More

Meiners (365 Days of Crafts) provides all sorts of suggestions for “upcycling” jeans and T-shirts in this mediocre guide to making the most of used clothes. “All it takes is a little ingenuity and basic sewing skills,” writes Meiners, who spends little space discussing tools and materials up front and jumps right into 45 “budget-friendly and eco-conscious” projects that include a wine cozy, a laundry bag, and a few different kinds of place mats. Most are easy, such as a bean bag and burp cloths. The tank top tote may be the easiest of all: “sew along the bottom in a straight line” and that’s pretty much it. Other projects are advanced, such as the crocheted rug and the stitch and slash purse. Some of her projects use more energy than is justified by the reuse of fabric, as when she turns the seam of a pair of jeans into a dog leash. The director’s chair and hammock cover, both made from denim patches, are bizarrely specific. While upcycling old clothes is a worthy sentiment, Meiners’s guide does little to convince people it’s worth the effort. Color photos. (July)