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If you’re looking for an easy jean patch to fix up those pesky, this project is a good one to make – especially around Halloween. This monster sewing project is a great one for beginners to try, as you only need to use a few simple sewing techniques.
“Kids always seem to wear out at least one knee of every pair of jeans and trousers they own – I write from experience! Instead of recycling them, why not upcycle them by adding a monster patch to the knee. It’s really easy to do and the kids love the end result!”
Designer Jessica Entwistle
If you’re new to sewing, you might find it helpful to explore our tutorials for beginners. Check out our sewing for beginners and sewing kits for beginners guides.
Little makes for little monsters
Get the children involved with the spooky celebrations with our Halloween crafts for kids.
How to make an easy monster jeans patch
Materials
- Child’s jeans (we used age 7-8)
- Fabric scrap (orange, enough to fit the hole)
- Felt scraps (white and black)
- Orange sewing thread
- Orange stranded thread
- Basic sewing kit
- You will also need to download our Free monster jeans patch template pdf
We’ve found some fabric and thread for you to save you time!
Free jeans patch monster pattern
Cutting out
Step 1
Cut away any frayed edges from the hole in the jean knee to make a bigger mouth for your monster.
Step 2
Cut the orange fabric so that it is 2cm (¾in) larger than the hole all the way around.
Step 3
Trace around the templates from the pull-out pattern sheet to use as patterns for the monster face.
Step 4
Cut out the teeth and eyeballs from white felt and the pupils from black felt by pinning the patterns on the felt and cutting around them. You can enlarge or reduce these on a photocopier if needs be to fit the hole.
Stitching the eye
Step 1
Thread your needle with six strands of orange stranded cotton. Sew the black felt pupil onto the white felt eyeball using small straight stitches spaced evenly apart. Make sure they are of a similar length.
Step 2
With the needle still threaded, pin the sewn eye to your jeans just above the hole. Refer to the photograph for the positioning for the eye, or place it where you want it to be. Pin and then sew the eye into place using straight stitches.
Step 3
Repeat this to pin and stitch the other eye in place.
Creepy carvings
It’s not Halloween without a Jack-O-Lantern! Read our guide on how to carve a pumpkin for beginners.
Adding the teeth
Step 1
Work a machine zigzag all the way around the edge of the orange fabric to stop it from fraying.
Step 2
Work out the monster teeth placement by pushing the orange fabric and teeth through the hole in your jeans. Once you’re happy with this, sew the monster teeth onto the orange fabric using your sewing machine for added strength.
Stitching the mouth in place
Step 1
Pin the monster mouth inside the hole of your jeans.
Step 2
Tack the mouth into place to stop it moving while you stitch.
Step 3
Using six strands of orange stranded cotton, carefully sew the patch onto your jeans by working a running stitch, then working straight vertical stitches between them. Keep these stitches evenly spaced and worked to the same length.
Step 4
Remove the tacking stitches and hand your jeans over to your own delighted little monster.
Brilliant bats
Looking for a cute spooky project that kids will love? Try sewing our bat plush toy pattern.
Make to and mend with this monster sewing project
We love any opportunity to save old clothes, and this jeans patch project is a fun way of fixing those worn out knees. You can always try this simple sewing project too breathe new life into old clothes too – kids would love a cool monster tee for Halloween!
Create a kids costume for Halloween
Use your crafty skills and save on spending this Halloween with these fun and easy Halloween costumes for kids from Gathered.
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