I've been collecting old denim for a while now. I just cut as many 2 1/2" lengths as I can from them and toss the heavy seams. Well, I didn't start the quilt today, but I used one of the strips.
My DS came home with a gash in the leg of his new(er) jeans. I just went to my stash, pulled out exactly the right shade of denim, and patched it.
I felt a little bit like my mother patching jeans, but hey, I can't buy him new ones every week! And he doesn't care, so, no bad!