I have always had a hard time tossing out old denim. A good pair of jeans carries a lot of living in it—garden rows, summer fairs, muddy porch steps, and all the ordinary days in between. This woven decorative storage basket is one of my favorite ways to give that sturdy fabric a second life, and it turns worn jeans into something useful you can set on a shelf, a bedside table, or right by the front door.
This version makes a simple 3-item basket set, so you end up with one small, one medium, and one larger basket that nest nicely or can be used around the house for socks, clothespins, sewing supplies, hand towels, or mail. If you can cut straight strips and work a basic over-under weave, you can make these. It is a patient little project, the kind I’d gladly do at the kitchen table on a windy afternoon.
Materials
Instructions
1. Wash and dry the old jeans, then cut away seams, waistbands, and thick pocket areas so you can flatten the usable denim sections. Press the pieces with an iron so they lie smooth and are easier to measure.
2. Cut 36 denim strips measuring 2 inches by 24 inches. Keep the strips as even as you can, because tidy strips make a tidier weave and a basket that stands straighter.
3. Sort the strips into three groups of 12, one group for each basket. For a more interesting look, mix light, medium, and dark denim together in each group.
4. Lay 6 strips vertically side by side for the first basket, overlapping the ends just a little if needed to keep the lengths aligned. Weave 6 more strips horizontally over and under to form a tight square panel.
5. Square up the woven panel and clip the outer edges so the strips stay in place. Sew 1/4 inch from each edge all the way around to secure the weave before shaping.
6. Repeat the weaving and edge stitching for the second and third basket panels. Make one panel about 8 inches square, one 10 inches square, and one 12 inches square by trimming the woven pieces after they are secured.
7. For each basket, cut a piece of fusible fleece the same size as the woven square and fuse it to the wrong side according to the manufacturer’s directions. This gives the basket body enough structure to hold its shape.
8. Box the corners on each basket body by folding one corner so the side seam area and bottom fold line meet, then mark across the point. Sew 2 inches across for the small basket, 3 inches for the medium, and 4 inches for the large, then trim away the excess point.
9. Cut lining fabric for each basket to match the finished basket body size, adding 1/2 inch seam allowance all around. Sew the lining pieces into simple open-top box shapes with boxed corners that match the outer baskets.
10. Cut top binding strips from the extra cotton fabric, 2 1/2 inches wide, enough to fit around the top of each basket. Join strips if needed, press them in half lengthwise, and keep them ready by basket size.
11. Slide each lining into its denim basket with wrong sides together and align the top edges. Clip around the rim, then baste the layers together 1/8 inch from the top edge.
12. Sew the folded binding around the top edge of each basket, enclosing the raw edges and stitching close to the fold. Turn the basket right side out fully, shape the corners with your fingers, and give the rim a good press.
Variations & Tips
Soft farmhouse look: Use ticking stripe or small floral cotton for the lining and top binding if you want a basket that feels a little more old-fashioned and homey. I think this is especially pretty in a laundry room or guest room.
More structure: If your denim is very thin or worn, fuse two layers of interfacing to the back or add a layer of canvas behind the woven panel before boxing the corners. Older jeans vary a lot, and a little extra body can make all the difference.
Color mixing: Combine black jeans, faded blue denim, and even a little white denim for a more patchwork-style basket. The variation in wash gives the weave extra character without adding any complicated steps.
Handle option: For a carry basket, sew two denim loop handles from strips 2 inches by 8 inches, fold the raw edges in, topstitch, and attach them to opposite sides before adding the binding. Keep the handles short so the basket still holds its shape.
Good cutting matters: Try to avoid very bulky inseams and flat-felled seams in your weaving strips unless you want a chunkier rustic look. I save those thick seam pieces for other projects, because smooth strips weave more evenly.
Best uses: These baskets are lovely for rolled washcloths, sewing notions, yarn, packet mixes, napkins, and all those small household things that need a place. I have one by my chair for mending supplies, and it has saved me from hunting for my scissors more times than I can count.