By following these easy steps, you can transform an old pair of jeans into stylish and functional Denim Coasters DIY.
These cuties will not only add a touch of rustic charm to your home but also give you a fantastic opportunity to provide a second life to an old garment you can’t use anymore.
Using materials like recycled denim not only reduces waste but also allows you to express your creativity in beautiful projects like this one. So, gather your materials, embrace the blue jean spirit, and enjoy this fun DIY coasters project.
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My friend, I can’t begin to tell you how long I wanted to make this project.
I have had this pair of old jeans in my “pending projects” bin forever. But I finally got a break to make my oh-so-wanted upcycled denim project.
These beautiful DIY denim coasters will be your next favorite kitchen project for this summer. If you ask me, these are going to be my patio coasters. The ones I bring out whenever I want to make a dinner party outdoors with my family and friends.
I am even thinking about making matching denim placemats. But that will be for another tutorial.
So, if you are ready to begin this project, let’s gather our materials!
Denim Coasters DIY
This project is one of my favorite no-sew crafts. It is so simple it won’t take more than an afternoon of your time. Let’s start by gathering your materials. Remember that all the fabrics and garments you use must be previously washed and disinfected.
Materials
List the materials needed for making denim coasters:
- Old pair of jeans (preferably with intact seams)
- Fabric Scissors
- Hot Glue Gun
- Hot Glue Gun Sticks (this is the 200 pack I buy)
- Fabric glue coating (optional) I used the OilCoat brand.
- Decorative elements like buttons, patches, or embroidery floss (optional)
1. Preparing the Jeans
For this project, we’ll use only the seams of your jeans. This will give us the thick material we need to roll out and make these gorgeous DIY coasters. But if, for some reason, your jeans don’t have enough seam material to make your coasters (this happened to me), this is what you will do.
We all know that ladies’ garments have all sorts of problems. Am I right? I mean… do we even have to mention… POCKETS?
No, no… we don’t. Not today, dear me, not today.
Anyways. Another problem with ladies’ garments- specifically ladies’ jeans- is that they don’t usually don’t have reinforced flat felled seams. Though these days, most jeans use lapped seams; we will have none of these two.
My jeans, for example, had reinforced seams only on the crotch, inner legs, and back panel. Which, let me tell you, is not enough to make this project. That is why I took it upon myself to make “filler strips” of fabric with the legs of these jeans.
Fistable, it’s important to choose a section of your old jeans for cutting. Look for areas that are relatively in good condition or have minimal wear or distressing.
The best places to get the seams are the legs. If your jeans don’t have enough seams to create the desired number of coasters you want, then cut strips from the leg panels that are about 1 inch wide. You can use these strips to supplement the coaster-making process, ensuring you have enough material to craft a big enough coaster for your glasses.
Once you’ve selected the section of your seams, carefully cut out the original seams using a pair of scissors. Follow the fold lines of the seams without cutting over the thread. You can achieve a clean and even edge by using these folds as a guide.
2. Creating the Coasters. No-Sew Method
There is no need to sew things up for this project. You will only need the help of your favorite glue gun and hot glue sticks. These are amazing to work with denim DIY projects like this one because they will bond and hold the fabrics together.
To start the coaster, I rolled up the first seam strip on itself and put some glue dots every few inches so the shape of the spiral stayed put.
What I did to make the coaster look with the seams and regular strips combination was to alternate each time I started with a new strip. That way, it looks very proportional from the top. With the strips that aren’t seams, what I did, was fold them in half (so they had more thickness), and I put one with the raw edge on top and then one with the folded edge on top.
You can do two things during this process to ensure a neat result. The first one is to trim the threads as you go. The tiny threads of the woven will start to pull out, that’s normal, and if you like the distressed look, you can leave them like that. But I prefer a cleaner look, so I would use my scissors to trim every small thread falling out the coaster.
When you get to your last strip, cover the coaster with your last “seam strip” so it can have the double needle seam showing on the edges.
3. Adding a Top Coating. How to Make Fabric Coasters Waterproof?
This step is entirely optional. But I find that it’s handy to preserve the shape of denim coasters. You will also protect them against stains of food or tinted beverages (cuz I’d be lying if I told you I wouldn’t be using them to hold my wine).
For the coating, I used this new product I found on Amazon: OdiCoat Waterproof Gel.
This gel is a glue coating that creates a protective film against stains and humidity. In fact, if you use two or more coats of this gel, you can turn your fabric waterproof. And that is precisely what I did.
To apply it, use a sponge or a brush and spread a light coat over the surface. Wait 24 hours for it to dry, and then apply a second and a third coat if you see fit.
That’s it!! Now you have an excellent set of denim jeans coasters!!
Denim Coasters DIY Conclusion
Now you know how to turn denim jeans into beautiful coasters. This is definitely a small project, but even so small can significantly impact reducing waste.
By repurposing old jeans that would otherwise end up in landfills, we contribute to many sustainable practices. Also, having a way to make these crafts is a great way to boost your creativity.
I would love for you to share your creations with us and inspire others to follow your steps into this green-friendly life. Make sure to tag us with the #mygoldenthimble so we can share your projects on Instagram!
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