Meiners - Jeans and a T-shirt: fun and fabulous upcycling projects for denim and more

G rowing up in a small midwestern town, Niki Meiners was surrounded by a modest, resourceful, and very entrepreneurial family. Her simple upbringing spurred her can-do attitude and gave her the confidence to try any challenge placed before her. She knew there was more out there than just her small town, and so she set off after high school to explore the world. It was through these travels that she discovered her love of art and her desire to make the world a prettier place. It was not until she suffered a paralyzing illness, transverse myelitis, that she realized she wanted to reconsider her corporate career as Chief Paper Pusher, and her thoughts immediately turned to her first passion, art. In 2003 she began an odyssey that would take her from product design to publication and everywhere in between. She is known for her distinctive, high-quality creations that feature a diverse mix of styles and highly creative approach to even the smallest detail. Niki is an idea architect, easily outlining every project from concept to completion. Her creations are simultaneously beautiful and functional and have been featured in the industrys leading craft and lifestyle publications and manufacturers websites.

T here are many tools and materials that I reach for again and again in my studio, and these are ones that are used in many of the projects in this book. You dont need to have all of these on hand, but they are what I consider essentials for my crafting. Each project includes a list of the specific tools and materials used in the project; refer to that list before you begin a project to make sure you have what you need. Here are my must-haves:

8-inch fabric scissors

4-inch fabric scissors

Sewing machine

Sewing machine needles for denim (16/100)

Jean-A-Ma-Jig

Needles: upholstery, assorted craft

Thread: heavy duty, denim, waxed

Straight pins

Seam ripper

Cover button kit

Fiberfill

Fusible fleece

Interlining

Poly-Pellets (weighted stuffing material)

Pillow forms

Iron-on letters

Die-cut machine and dies

Stencils

Fabric paint

Paintbrushes

Fabric glue

Rotary cutter and mat

Ruler

I am often asked what specific products I use, so I list those here for your reference, but they are by no means the only brands available. I use these brands because they are reliable and easy to find in most big box stores and online. Find what you like and what fits in your budget and use it. You dont have to break the bank to make great things.

Westcott: ExtremEdge 8" Bent Adjustable Tension Titanium Bonded Scissors, 4" Titanium Bonded Detail Cut Sewing Scissors

Coats and Clark: Dual Duty XP ThreadDenim or Heavy Weight Thread

Prym Dritz: Jean-A-Ma-Jig, Denim/Jeans Machine Needles 16/100, Straight Pins, Seam Fix Seam Ripper, Craft Cover Button Kit, Upholstery Needle, Waxed Thread, 25-Piece Assorted Craft Needles, Grommet Pliers

Fairfield Processing Corporation: Poly-Fil Fiberfill, Smooth Fusible Fleece, Stick Interlining, Poly-Pellets, Biggie Bean Bag Filler, Crafters Choice Pillow Forms

Joy: Iron-on Letters

Sizzix: Big Shot Pro, Big Shot, Baby Bib die (item #660924), Bigz Heart die (item #660789), Star die (item #A10181), Tag die (item #660280)

DecoArt: Stencils, Acrylic Paint, Paintbrushes

Beacon Adhesives: Fabri-Tac Permanent Stiffen Stuff Adhesive

Omnigrid: Rotary cutter, cutting mat, rulers in different shapes and sizes. A rotary cutter is optional but very helpful for working with denim and T-shirt material.

Some of the projects in this book use clasps or buckles, such as slide adjusters, parachute buckles, D-rings, and swivel hooks.

Cover buttons allow you to make buttons from fabric to coordinate with any project.

Grommet pliers are used to set decorative stud embellishments.

You will want a good pair of scissors, strong denim needles, and thread. Cording and a rotary cutter may come in handy, too.

A die-cutter like the Sizzix Big Shot can cut pieces of fabric in nice, even, identical shapes.

One question I hear often is, What type of sewing machine do you use? For the projects in this book, I used two machines: a Singer and a Janome. My tiny little workhorse that I take on the road is an inexpensive Singer. I think it was about $130 from an end cap at Costco. My other machine is a high-end Janome 9900 that does sewing, quilting, and embroidery. I love both machines equally. You dont need to have an expensive machine to make beautiful projects. My Janome does beautiful embroidery that has allowed me to expand what I can do in this area, but you can also hand-embroider any of these designs.

My advice is to buy the best machine that fits your budget and your needs, and then read your manual and learn how to take care of the machine, and it will last a long time no matter the price. When I first started sewing, I broke three machines beyond repair because I did not know how to use them or properly maintain them, but all the information I needed on how to take care of them was in the manuals. If you are not comfortable servicing your machine, ask for help or take it to a sewing center. If you treat it well, it can last a long time.

I m often asked, How do I take apart a pair of jeans? My answer is that it depends on your needs. Deconstructing denim can be done in a variety of ways depending on your end use. Some pants I want to use purely for their pockets, and others I want for their fabric. If you are deconstructing for later use and want to save every single piece of the jeans, there is a method to take them apart, which I will also discuss.

For some projects, such as the dog leash, you will use just the seams.

For projects like the dog leash and the coiled trivet shown on pages 70 and 66, I wanted just the outer seams. My husbands pants are extra long, as he is 6 feet 5 inches tall, so I used his jeans for these projects. I used my heavy-duty scissors to cut along the seam from the bottom to the waistband, and then saved the rest of the denim for later use.

Cut an inch or two under the pockets if you want just the pockets for a project.

If I just want the pockets, I cut the legs off an inch or two from the base of the pocket on both legs. Then I cut off the sides at the side seam and the top just under the waistband. The waistband, front pockets, belt loops, and zipper are left. You can continue to disassemble the remaining pieces and store them in zip-top bags for later use, or you can store them as is and take apart when needed. I use both methods.