Material Witness

Check the jeans first for the stretch kind and throw them out. I have done a lot of cutting before realizing that they were stretch. You dont want to have to deal with that when sewing. Aovid the front panel knees because even if they are not showing wear, they are most likely stretched out. If you need more, try going to a thrift/resale shop and ask for any that can't be sold. I have gotten many pairs that had one leg ripped while the other was good, or the hems ruined but the rest were fine. Also, if you have some left, two legs and a waistband make a great bag.

quiltingshe

I made a ragged jean quilt and I really like it. I used both dark and light jean material and appliqued a few stars on it. I used red plaid flannel for the backing. The biggest problem with a ragged jean quilt is washing it after you get all the cutting done. I was afraid that laundry-mat might fine me, it made such a mess.

Rosewood9

My daughter and I made a jeans quilt for her dorm room bed. It was heavy but it wears like iron. Now that she is out of school and has a family of her own she uses it as a picnic blanket!

flhomeschoolmom

I too collect jeans for quilting, and have discovered that an entire denim rag quilt is extreamly heavy. Now I tend to use my denim for accents, sashings, or borders. One thing you might could do is decide what size squares you want in your quilt and cut your strips accordingly. Then find other co-ordinating fabrics that will fray nicely to alternate with it. That would decrease the heavy weight of your quilt by half.

My sister had me make her boys winter quilts for their beds from denim and bandana's. Cody's bed was done in denim and red bandana's and his brother Dalton's was done in denim and blue bandana's, he was a blue fanatic. They were very cute. We just made some pillow cases by sewing bandana's together, and she paired them with solid colored sheet sets in red and blue.

Sadiemae

I cut along the seams on jeans, then I rotary cut my squares or rectangles.

w7sue

I have made four or five of them - one larger than the rest (my first) and the others were more lap size. The first one is just denim (single layer) and my son keeps it in his car - great for the beach and river. The others have flannel stitched on the one side of each block and I flip-flopped them when I sewed them together so they look like giant checker boards. For me, the flannel was a great way to use up scraps and on one of them, there really are no matches so it is truly scrappy. I used decorative stitches to stitch down the seams (some of flannel was strip pieced to make blocks). It was a fun way to test out stitches. I also used up all my extra bobbins with different colors and that added some fun to the quilt and used up all those little bits of thread left on bobbins from other projects. They wear forever! I have a 66 quart container full of jeans and my summer project is to get them cut up into squares - not necessarily sewn up, but reduced to a size and readiness. Then, I can use the container for something else. Have fun making your quilts.

w7sue

On the one I posted pictures of I used the same flannel on one side and scraps on the other side - on others I have used scraps on both sides -- I also found that you can use the stretchy jeans if you are going to "stabalize" them with another fabric on the other side - so far I have not had any problems with them when I have done this.

bigbrownowl

I used cut up Jeans to make slippers last Christmas, for all the kids in the family. They turned out brilliantly. I also used them to make handbags for all the grownup ladies! They were well recieved and everyone loved them. I am sure other people could give you other ideas on how to use Jeans material.

I can't give you advice on rag quilts, because I have never made one - I don't really like the look of them! However, I must admit that the ones shown here look fantastic! I am sure that whoever you make them for, will be delighted.

ShabbyTabby

I made one for my son. Used about 12 pairs of jeans. I cut the inner leg seams, flattened them out and then cut strips. I used the flat feld seams as decoration on some of the blocks. I aso used some of pockets on the blocks. I made all my blocks 10" by using the strip method. Didn't matter what sized strips just as long as the final block was squared to 10". I used a light weight fleece for the backing. No batting for as everyone else has said it will be a heavy quilt. Also follow suggestion about taking it to the laundromat! My son loved it. I think that will be my one and only as it's a lot of strain on the old hands.

leggz48

This was good information; I've been saving old jeans for several years with plans to make a rag quilt. Thanks for sharing!