Wisdom for cutting blue jeans for quilts
#2
Well, honey, I must say that I have to pace myself because those suckers are thick and if your blade is not sharp, it is a LOT of work!
I usually open most of the seams (sometimes leave the double stitched one for decorative effect) because it will give me at least another inch in width, and sometimes a nice colour variation. But there is really no way of making it any easier than to keep a sharp blade and just do a bit at a time. That is why I rarely do rag quilts from denim--just too darned thick and hard to snip!!
I usually open most of the seams (sometimes leave the double stitched one for decorative effect) because it will give me at least another inch in width, and sometimes a nice colour variation. But there is really no way of making it any easier than to keep a sharp blade and just do a bit at a time. That is why I rarely do rag quilts from denim--just too darned thick and hard to snip!!
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 649
p/s...Natalia Bonner has a great tutorial for a denim quilt. Check it out here:
http://www.pieceandquilt.com/2010/01...-tutorial.html
http://www.pieceandquilt.com/2010/01...-tutorial.html
#7
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Thank you for all your quick replies. I have never been a part of anything like this so I appreciate your help. I was wondering, lynnie, when you use a rotary cutter what do you put inside the pant leg to cut against? Or do you? Or quite how do you use the cutter? With the scissors I cut up the seam or just next to it so as to gain the most fabric.
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Be very careful when cutting blue jeans. It can put enough stress on your hands to induce damage (in my case, arthritis).
I have an electric scissors for cutting apart blue jeans, and I highly recommend them. Mine are very old and I haven't researched new ones, but this is similar in looks to what I have:
http://www.amazon.com/SKIL-2352-01-3...dp/B001B64ZEE/
The electric scissors make cutting the blue jeans apart ***enormously*** easier! You still have to subcut with a rotary cutter to get the shapes you want (an electric scissors is probably not accurate enough for this; I know mine is not), but at least your hands will be in better shape for that. Aside from making the job a lot easier, the electric scissors is also much faster than using a scissors or rotary cutter for getting the flat pieces.
I have an electric scissors for cutting apart blue jeans, and I highly recommend them. Mine are very old and I haven't researched new ones, but this is similar in looks to what I have:
http://www.amazon.com/SKIL-2352-01-3...dp/B001B64ZEE/
The electric scissors make cutting the blue jeans apart ***enormously*** easier! You still have to subcut with a rotary cutter to get the shapes you want (an electric scissors is probably not accurate enough for this; I know mine is not), but at least your hands will be in better shape for that. Aside from making the job a lot easier, the electric scissors is also much faster than using a scissors or rotary cutter for getting the flat pieces.
#10
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
I agree with Prism99 -- electric scissors. Ripping works, but denim is harder to rip than qulting cotton.
These are mine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRITZ-Premiu...item337abf58a2
These are mine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRITZ-Premiu...item337abf58a2
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06-10-2011 03:13 AM