When it comes to collecting recycled denim I have become quite good at it. Let me share a few of the ways I have grown my collection.

• Worn Out Jeans
  Even though I patch and repair jeans to extent their life, we still generate our own “ready to recycle” pile of denim. ( Here is a basic repair tutorial, DENIM REPAIR 101. More repair tutorial will follow.)

• Yard Sales & Second Hand Stores
  Yard sales can be a great way to get recycled denim. People often save their denim with the idea that one day they will do something with it. Yard sales often encourage people to clean house and the stash goes. I have also purchased denim from second hand shops.  Most shops have a discount section where clothing that hasn’t sold in a timely fashion are placed.  I look for good deals on denim in these sections. If you don’t see a section like that in a second hand store ask the store manager. It could be that they just get rid of those kinds of items another way and they may be willing to save them for you.

• Friends and Acquaintances
  You will find that most people have a stash of well loved denim. They, like you, have seen what those jeans can become so they save them for “someday”. When those people find out you actually create things with it, they frequently want to donate their pile to you. Another idea is to just ask your friends if they would save their old denim for you. Friends love to help friends!

As my collection of denim has grown, I have become a little more picky about what I will spend money for when it comes to denim. I tend to look for unique items, whether it be in color or construction details.

If you need some good reasons for collecting denim  click here...5 reasons I love creating with DENIM!

AND  then visit here often for inspiration as I grow this site with IDEAS and TUTORIALS on creating with DENIM!

One last word of ADVICE: Even when denim is cheap… make sure there is enough usable denim in an item to make it not only worth your MONEY but also your TIME messing with it!