How To Make A Blue Jean Rug -16 Unique Ways

Besides the beautiful shades of indigo, one of the best things about denim is that it is hard-wearing. This makes it a great fabric to repurpose into a blue jean rug.

Making rugs from old denim is one of my favourite ways to upcycle fabrics.

There is more than one way to make a blue jean rug. I have rounded up some cleverest and unique ways to make an upcycled denim rug.

Some involve sewing; others are a denim no-sew upcycle. There are rug tutorials that use the entire jeans, some just the waistbands, legs, or even just the seams.

16 Clever And Unique Ways To Make a Blue Jean Rug

If you keep your family’s old jeans to repurpose and recycle like me, I’m sure you will find a denim area rug tutorial that’s just right for you.

You’ll need a few pairs of jeans if you use old jeans’ legs to make your upcycled denim rug.

However, making a rug from the waistbands and seams will require many more pairs. There is even a tutorial that uses the pockets from old jeans, which will require a lot of old pairs.

The last two tutorials for denim rugs (numbers 13 and 14 in this list) show how to make denim yarn from the legs of old jeans.

There is a clever way to cut up jeans to make long continuous strips of fabric yarn. These posts have great step-by-step tutorials showing you how to do this.

I have two denim rugs in my home the jeans waistband one and the Chevron denim rug. They look great on my wooden floors, and I’m happy with them.

I’m making one of the woven rugs below to add to my collection.

The Denim Rug Tutorials

1. Waistband denim rug – Pillarboxblue

Sewing denim can be tricky, especially with the thick parts such as the seams and waistbands. This tutorial gets around this by showing you how to make a no-sew blue jean rug.

This denim rug also happens to be an IKEA hack. It is one of my favourite things I’ve made from old jeans and looks great on my wooden floors in the lounge.

I’ve also used denim waistbands before to make a planter for a repurposed felt succulent garden.

2. Blue jean woven rug – liljanlumo.blogspot.co.uk

This beautiful rug involves making denim yarn from the legs of jeans and then weaving it. This denim rug would look great in a hallway.

3. Sewn denim rug – A Beautiful Mess

The hexagons give this jeans‘ rug a beautiful shape. I’ve used denim hexagons before to make denim patchwork chairs, but I think I’ll try a rug next time.

I think hexagons are a lovely way to showcase the different shades of denim. I used this same pattern effect when making an upcycled denim fabric pinboard. You can also make cute mini denim mug rugs with hexagons.

4. Large round blue jean rug- ohohblog.

I love the shape of this gorgeous denim rug. It looks like a large ray of indigo sunshine! This rug is made mainly with the legs of old jeans. I would estimate about six pairs were used for this blue jean rug upcycle.

5. Giant braided denim rug – notjustahousewife

This large braided jeans rug was a labour of love. It may have taken a long time to make, but it was relatively easy. The circular pattern is lovely.

6. Woven denim mat – Thecountryfarmhome

Another woven denim rug, but this one is slightly different, with excellent instructions.

7. Crochet jeans rug – juststringingalong

Turn all your old jeans into yarn, and then crochet your rug. You will need an extra-large crochet hook, though.

8. Denim rag rug – communingwithfabric

This is an unusual way to make a rag rug, but the look is very effective.

9. Traditional denim rag rug – craftypantsmcgeeii

A denim rag rug made the traditional way. Great project for using up denim scraps from other projects. And a sustainable way to repurpose un-donatable clothes.

10. Woven diagonal blue jean rug – Feltmagnet

I love the diamond checkerboard effect of this blue jean rug.

11. Handmade Chevron Rug -Pillarboxblue

This lovely handmade rug shows all the shades of indigo you get with denim. The tutorial is very straightforward, with step-by-step photos.

12. Denim Seams Rug – Nordic Crafter

You will need a lot of denim seams from old jeans to make this gorgeous woven jeans rug. Estimated the seams from 50 pairs of jeans were used to make this rug.

I’ve used the seams of old jeans to make a denim tabletop lampshade before; you don’t need quite as many seams for this project.

If you have any seams left over, try one of these no-sew denim coasters, which are like mini rugs for your mugs!

13. Colourful Denim Rag Rug – Mypoppet

This gorgeous denim rug is made by cutting the legs of old jeans into fabric strips. These strips of denim are then rolled and crotched together with colourful yarn to make the rug.

This method is very similar to how recycled cotton rag rugs are made. The yarn adds another dimension to the ru by adding some lovely colours.

14. Crochet Denim Rug- Cappers Farmer

Another great tutorial shows you how to transform old jeans into denim yarn easily. It is very similar to the way that you transform t-shirt yarn.

Then, using a large hook, this denim yarn is crocheted into a large jeans rug. Using denim from different pairs of jeans in shades of indigo patterns can be created.

15. Denim Pocket Doormat – Vickymyerscreations

Vicky has cleverly used old jeans pockets to make this unique denim doormat. I also love how the mat has been trimmed with the jeans waistband.

This is an easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorial with lots of photos.

16. Denim Rag Rug

This has to be the easiest denim rug to make. There are no sewing, glue or complicated crochet stitches involved. Just weaving and wrapping denim yarn around the rope. Anyone could make this rug.

I recently made some gorgeous upcycled fabric placemats using denim and felt scraps. These placemats could easily be made into rugs by adding to them.

Even my hexagon denim placemats I made could also be upscaled into a fabulous rug.

I have also made a beautiful felt rug out of recycled sweaters my mum gave me. The denim rugs are lovely, but I have to admit the sweater rug is more colourful and softer underfoot.

You can repurpose jeans in your home decor in so many other ways. Denim is a great fabric to upholster furniture with. Also, check out these denim pear doorstops, they would look great next to one of these rugs. Don’t forget to check out my denim page.

These denim rugs featured in the alphabet of denim upcycles under the letter R.