DIY Network

Campfire Kit Campfire Kit From "Ask DIY Decorating & Crafts" episode DADD-111

Q: My husband is taking our two sons camping for the first time. I'd like to make them something special for their adventure. Do you have any ideas?

A: (Ask DIY crafts expert Debbie Stapley) I've got the best idea ever. What would camping be without roasting marshmallows by the campfire? So why not make this cute marshmallow campfire kit using a pair of old jeans. It's a great project that will hold the skewers, marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers -- all the ingredients that any child on a camping trip would love. Here's what you'll need for this project:

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Materials:
One pair of men's old denim jeans
Sewing machine
Thread

Steps:

1. Cut one leg of the jean to fit the campfire skewers, leaving extra for a 2" overlap on the top edge and fringe at the top and bottom of the bag. If you want your bag to be 30" long (finished) and you want 2" of fringe at the bottom and 10" of fringe at the top, you'll need to cut the leg to a 44" length.

2. Using a very sturdy stitch, sew across the bottom of the leg, 2" up from the bottom edge. If you don't have an extra-sturdy stitch on your machine, just plan to straight-stitch across the edge several times, remembering to backstitch at the beginning and end. Handle denim as you would any other firmly woven fabric

   Denim Tips: For heavyweight denim use a larger sewing-machine needle (size 16 or 100) and a longer stitch length (10 stitches per inch). For lightweight denim use a smaller needle size, 11 or 14 (70 or 80), and 12 stitches per inch. Adjust the presser foot pressure so the fabric feeds evenly. Test the sewing-machine stitching on a double thickness of fabric before starting to sew. (Source: University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Cooperative Extension Service)

3. Cut the bottom edge of the pants leg, creating fringe (you decide how wide you want to make it).

4. Turn the top edge of the pants leg to the outside (12" for a 2" overlap and 10" fringe). Using a very sturdy stitch, stitch all around the top of the leg, 2" from the top edge, and cut the excess into fringe with scissors.

5. Using a decorative stitch on your machine, stitch around the top edge of the pants leg. If you don't have a decorative stitch on your machine, try stitching on some cute buttons or appliqués.

6. Create a handle for the bag by cutting another long piece of denim from the other leg of the pants. Cut it about 36" long and 5" wide. Fold in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch along the long side, leaving the short ends open. Turn right-side out.

7. Attach the handle to the bag by sewing each end to the inside of the bag on opposite sides of the bag. Be sure you use a sturdy stitch here too. Place at least 2" of the strap inside the bag and sew in place in four places: along the top edge, about 1" down from the edge, and finally connecting those two lines of stitching to create a rectangle of stitching lines.

8. Cut the excess denim on each end of the strap into short fringe.

9. Fill the bag with a box of graham crackers, a box of chocolate bars, a bag of marshmallows and the campfire skewers.

Don't forget, you can find this project listed online right now so you can print out the instructions. It's great for helping you remember all the steps that go into making this cute campfire kit. This project is fun to do and would also be a great gift for all the campers you know -- even the ones who just pitch a tent in the backyard. Have fun making it!