Love monstera (Swiss cheese) plants but struggle to keep them alive? This DIY denim monstera plant is the perfect solution. Made from just one leg of an old pair of jeans, this quirky upcycled craft uses simple stitching and floristry wire to create realistic tropical leaves that will live forever.
I seem to have developed a habit of turning old jeans into plants. It started with my denim flowers, then came the DIY denim snake plant, and now I’ve added another houseplant to the collection, a quirky denim Monstera.
This latest creation now sits in my husband’s home office alongside the denim snake plant. Between the two of them, the room looks surprisingly green (blue!) despite neither plant having seen a drop of water.
If you’ve read my A to Z of Denim Crafts, you’ll know I’m always looking for new ways to use old denim. I also have an ongoing challenge to see how many projects I can squeeze from a single pair of jeans. This Monstera plant is a great example, using just one jeans leg and a few basic craft supplies to create a tropical Swiss Cheese plant that will always look fresh.
The project is surprisingly simple, too. If you can sew around a line and do a little embroidery, you can make your own denim monstera leaves.
Why Make A Denim Monstera Plant?
I love Monstera plants. Their large split leaves instantly add a tropical feel to a room, and they have become one of the most recognisable houseplants around.
Unfortunately, not every room in the house is ideal for growing real plants. This denim version solves that problem. It brings all the tropical vibes without needing sunlight, watering, feeding or remembering that it exists.
The stitched leaf veins also make it a lovely slow-stitch project, perfect for relaxing with in the evening.
Materials Needed
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- One leg from an old pair of jeans
- Monstera leaf template
- Water-soluble embroidery paper
- Matching sewing thread
- Light blue embroidery thread
- Floristry wire
- Needle
- Scissors
- Pins
- White glue
- Plant pot
- Cork coaster or cork mat
Alternative Pot Fillers
If you don’t have a piece of cork, you could use:
- Sand
- Gravel
- Decorative pebbles
- Small stones
Anything that will hold the stems upright in the pot.
How To Make A Denim Monstera Plant
Step 1: Trace the Leaf Pattern: Draw or trace a Monstera leaf pattern onto water-soluble embroidery paper.
Cut a section from the jeans leg and fold it so the denim is doubled, with the right side facing out on both sides. Pin the embroidery paper securely to the denim.
Making the Leaves
Step 2: Stitch Around the Leaf: Using matching sewing thread, stitch around the outline of the Monstera leaf. You can use either a sewing machine or hand-stitch the outline.
I chose to stitch mine by hand, and each leaf took roughly twenty minutes to complete. Once sewn, carefully trim around the leaf shape, cutting close to the stitching line.
Don’t forget to cut out the holes in the leaves.
Step 3: Add the Leaf Veins: Using a lighter blue embroidery thread, stitch the leaf veins following the pattern markings. These embroidered details are what really transform the denim cut-out into a recognisable monstera leaf. Leave a small opening at the base of the leaf where the wire stem will later be inserted.
Step 4: Wash Away the Embroidery Paper: Place the finished leaf in lukewarm water and gently rinse the embroidery paper away. Once the paper has dissolved, leave the leaf to dry completely.
Step 5: Add the Stem: Insert a length of floristry wire through the opening at the base of the leaf and guide it up through the centre. The wire provides the leaf’s structure and lets you bend and shape it later.
Step 6: Wrap The Stem With Denim: Cut narrow strips of denim approximately 1cm wide. Starting at the base of the leaf, wrap the denim strips around the wire stem, securing them with small amounts of glue as you go. This is the same technique I used when making my denim flower stems, and it creates a much more realistic finish than exposed wire.
Step 7: Make More Leaves: Repeat the process until you have several leaves. I made five leaves in total, varying the size and vein patterns slightly. Real Monstera plants don’t have identical leaves, so a little variation helps the finished tropical plant look more natural.
Assembling The Plant
Step 8:Cut a piece of cork to fit snugly inside your plant pot.
Make a small hole in the centre and insert all five stems through the opening. Arrange the leaves by bending the wire stems until the shape resembles a real Monstera plant.
If you’re using sand or pebbles instead of cork, push the stems into the filler and arrange them as desired.
Displaying Your Denim Houseplant
This faux tropical plant works well on shelves, desks, side tables or bookcases. Mine has taken up residence in my husband’s home office, where it sits next to the denim snake plant pretending to be part of a thriving indoor jungle.
You could also display it in a hanging planter. If you’d like to suspend your denim houseplant from the ceiling, have a look at my tutorial for an upcycled hanging plant holder. It’s another easy project that pairs perfectly with handmade plants.
Conclusion
This DIY denim monstera plant is a fun way to turn an old pair of jeans into something completely unexpected. It adds a splash of greenery to a room, uses only simple sewing techniques, and, unlike the real thing, doesn’t mind being ignored.
If you’re enjoying these plant-inspired projects, you might also like my recycled plastic bottle mini monstera, printable paper houseplants and faux denim snake plant. Together, they’re proof that you don’t need a garden centre to fill your home with greenery.
Although judging by the growing collection of handmade plants around the house, I may be slowly creating my own craft version of one.
How To Make A DIY Denim Monstera Plant
Learn how to make a faux monstera plant from old jeans. Simply stitch and embroider denim leaves, add wire stems wrapped in denim, then arrange them in a plant pot. This easy recycled denim craft creates a tropical houseplant that stays green all year round.
Materials
- One leg from an old pair of jeans
- Water-soluble embroidery paper
- Monstera leaf template
- Matching sewing thread
- Light blue embroidery thread
- Floristry wire
- Plant pot
- Cork coaster or cork mat
- White glue
Tools
- Needle
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine, optional
Instructions
- Trace the Monstera leaf template onto water-soluble embroidery paper.
- Cut a section from one leg of a pair of jeans. Fold the denim so it is doubled, with the right side of the fabric facing out on both sides. Pin the embroidery paper to the doubled denim.
- Stitch around the outline of the Monstera leaf using matching thread. You can sew by hand or use a sewing machine.
- Cut out the denim leaf, trimming close to the stitched outline.
- Use light blue embroidery thread to stitch the leaf veins, following the pattern on the embroidery paper. Leave a small opening at the base of the leaf for the wire stem.
- Wash the embroidery paper away with lukewarm water, then leave the denim leaf to dry.
- Push a length of floristry wire up through the centre of the leaf from the base opening.
- Cut 1cm-wide strips of denim and wrap them around the wire stem, glueing as you go.
- Repeat the process to make five Monstera leaves in slightly different sizes or patterns.
- Cut a piece of cork to fit inside the plant pot and make a hole in the centre.
- Push all the wire stems into the hole and arrange the leaves by bending the wire into shape.
- Use sand, pebbles or gravel instead of cork if preferred.
Notes
Varying the size and vein pattern of each leaf makes the finished faux tropical houseplant look more natural.
