How I made 9 crafts from one pair of old overalls
Ever had that pair of old overall that your little one simply outgrew, that you were debating if you should throw away, store in case of another child, or donate? I’ve had that plenty. The dilemma gets bigger when the style is outdated or if there is something broken on it (such as snaps), making it harder to sell or donate. My solution? Add it to the scrap fabric stash!
Today, I’m going to share with you how I used a single size 12 months pair of old overalls in NINE craft projects – and I still have some left!
Some of these projects use little bits as you can well imagine, and for some the denim is the main component. The bottom line: those little bits of jeans came to the rescue for each of these, making it worth the save.
I’ll share a little bit about each of these crafts below, and you can click on the image or title for the full tutorial. I know I’m going to be making more crafts with it, but I figured I’d just share what I have so far for now. Maybe someday I’ll update it, but for now, you can search my blog for “denim” at any point to find new ones.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
I also do plan to share another list in just a few days of denim crafts – those will focus on crafts that are more denim-centered. These are just to showcase just what can be done with a single pair of overalls, and how to use the different parts to make cool things.
Tip: if you don’t have old overalls, you can sign up for Schoola, an online clothing thrift store that benefits schools. You’ll get $20 free credit (and they often have free shipping too) – so be sure to pick up some overalls to upcycle there!
9 crafts from one pair of old overalls:
I used the seams of the old overalls to make some fun denim bracelets! It takes a few minutes and looks like I sewed it, but of course, it already was sewn…
Stretches of plain denim were perfect for Minion themed crafts, especially with the release of the new Minions movie. I made this pillow usng scraps of cheap felt and of course a chunk of good ol’ overalls.
Both of my favorite crafts from old overalls use the pockets. The trick on this one was cutting it out with the fabric backing it. I turned it into an adorable, simple purse for my niece to use for play.
For these, I pulled out another pair of old overalls – not because I didn’t have enough fabric! I just wanted to add some variety in the shades of denim used. It’s one of the easiest, and also a favorite. Just add a bit of burlap ribbon for a fun, shabby-chic look! I even used one of the buttons from the overalls in the center.
These super easy Minion-inspired puppets are perfect for making with kids. I even photographed them on the background of the overalls (before they were totally butchered. They used a small patch of plain jeans.
My sensory board was fun while it lasted, and a great idea for fun trips. But whichever type of board you make, adding a buckle that your tot can open and close makes it that much more fun! I just snipped off a portion of the strap, added the section with the button, and voila! A favorite fine motor activity for my baby!
I used another pocket to make an adorable no-sew patriotic tee for my toddler last year. It looks sewn because the stitching is intact, and was a huge hit. The tee is an old, stained Onesie, spray dyed red for a weathered look.
I used a swatch of fabric to make a sensory Passover book for my toddler. You can use this in any sensory book you create, on any theme, where you want different textures. The rough denim contrasts nicely with soft felt and other fun fabrics.
Once again, little bits of denim from the old overalls came to the rescue on an old onesie upgrade. I made the clouds out of denim, “grounding” the rainbow and turning it into a cute top.
But I’m not yet finished with these!
I’ve still got plenty more…..
Yep, as you can see, I’ve got some more good stuff to work with. Any ideas what I should do with the rest? I’m thinking maybe of doing a little bit of denim embroidery or making this cool statement necklace. What do you think?
Do you throw away old children’s clothing or do you repurpose? What would you suggest I make out of these old overalls?
Looks like the whole thing would make a neat little bag to use as a purse or for kids toy travel bag.
Yes! That sounds lovely! Next pair of overalls that my kids outgrow…