The jeans quilt I did , I cut the legs off at the crotch, Then opened the cut off legs at the seam, so they would lay flat for cutting. Do note some jeans the pockets are positioned so the bottom is below the crotch, so if you want to save or use the pockets .. just becareful to cut below to give your self seam allowance.
I sorted the large pieces into light fade, med and dark. So I ahd a good idea of what I had for a pattern. I had lots of med not much in dark and light.
I had this idea of making a quilt of just pockets ...