A Project, an Injury and a Satisfied Client

Last week I took a book out of the library called Ready Made. The book contains projects that allow you to “reuse” items that may have been winging there way to the trash. Two projects stood out  -- one a dog bed made out of recycled jeans and the other making a messenger bag from fused plastic bags. Each project has a very clear picture followed by a short set of instructions. Having a surplus of jeans and a very outspoken puppy-princess demanding a new bed… I decided to try the jean bed. On the page, the project looked very easy – however, one very sore finger later and three pairs of jeans later I can attest that the instructions were not very good. I did manage to finish not one but -- TWO beds and I have tips to pass on.

1. Make a  straight tube from each pant leg.  Cut the triangle fabric at the but section
2. The bigger the jean, the bigger the tube, the happier the puppy.
3. It’s easy to overstuff the bottom and cause the puppy not to fit into said bed.
4. Cut out the big seams on the jeans before sewing the tubes together.