siss

thanks oksewglad, i will check it out.

siss

sorry to be a pest. any suggestions on what approx. sizes should we make.
as you can tell i am still in the planning stages.
i know it will also depend on the size of jeans we get.
could we make them rag with just one layer of denim and no backing. we we will be trying to make them quickly and keep the cost down but want them to be of good quality.
has anyone made them this way or should we put on a backing.
thanks again everyone for your help.

Billie G

siss--I have made levi "tarps" for years. The first one I made I was a good little girl & cut all the old jeans the same size. BIG mistake-as now you have 4 layers of denim to sew thru. Even with a jeans needle, I broke quite a few. So finally it dawned me to cut the hems off-using siccors cut along each side of the leg seams, -(just a little)-now rip the legs up towards the pocket. I than cut off the leg from around the top. Sometimes the pockets come out also.
Now back to the cutting board.-I line up one ripped side on a line & than cut the long strips of levis into the same length. I do 10" as it is a nice round number. I than use my serger & go around each piece. I than sew the 10" sides together-as long as I want. (Have been known to lay them on the beds to measure). Do several strips & than sew the strips together.OOOPS forgot-I usually use a 1/2" seam, but it doesn't matter.
If one length is too long just cut it off & serge the cut edge. When I sew the seam, I than fold the serged edges to one side & sew on the serged stitches. No pressing involved!!!!

The beauty of doing it all this way, is you have different widths & not all of your corners are a 4 corner match. I think it is like a brick design. These hold up really good & are VERY heavy. Mine have been used to lay under tents, over coolersto help insulate them when camping, on the grass for picnics, on the cruddy tables @ picnics, on the muddy ground as a tarp to change tires, on the fishing bank to keep the stickers out of your britches, as well as whatever else you can think of!!
To clean them up- you just shake them out, & was & dry. If there is a hole on one of the pieces, just sew on an applique!!!
Good luck!!

siss

thanks billie g, all great suggestions. good to know that they are durable and easy to make. i have a serger, if only i can get it threaded again. i broke the thread a week ago and can't seem to get if working properly. will have to go back and watch the video on how to thread. it drives me crazy.

Prism99

Most sergers require threading in a specific order. If you break a thread, often you cannot just re-thread that one thread because it comes before another one. It is often easiest to pull out all the threads and just re-thread from scratch in the correct order. My serger has the threading order printed on the side panel so I know exactly which thread has to be done first.

I have seen denim quilts that were serged with bright red thread -- very cute!

Toni C

Heavy VERY heavy. Some can't be thrown in washer because when wet it hurts the washers tranny.Have to take them to laundrymat.Ask me how I know LOL

Sheila Elaine

Hey Siss, glad to hear you've kicked around lots of ideas & hope you'll get going on the making of the charity quilts. It's such a help for those who will receive them. All of you have a big heart and will be rewarded for your generosity. TTUL

siss

thanks prism 99, toni c, sheila elaine.
i am looking forward to getting this going, but it will probably be another couple of weeks before we get started, so i am still open to any other suggestions anyone has.
i just wish i was more organized.
i hope i am up to the challenge.

deedum

I did one twin size quilt, oh my gosh, it was heavy! It was difficult to work with, I went thru rotary blades much faster and serger blades. It was neat when it was done, I have plenty of blue jeans to make more, but not high on my list. I wouldn't advise beginners to start out on blue jean material. At all!

siss

just wanted to thank everyone for replying to my questions. all replys were very helpful.
unfortunely not enough were interested at this time, but i will try to make a few on my own, or at least one.
maybe i can get them interested after they can see it, i hope so.
i am not giving up, i will try again in the new year.
once again thank you everyone.
sharon

sorry took so long to post, i still hoping to get more interest.