It was fun buying the old jeans at thrift shops then cutting them up all at once. YOu can even use the pockets for purses etc. I had all colors so could match to a fabric like the red in the red hat one.
Browns, red, blue, black, green, etc. Jeans come in all colors. The older ones look more "used". New denim just doen't do them justice.
With the smaller pieces I can't use, I make eye patches for the rancher next door to glue on the eyes of his cows that get pink eye. SO sometimes, with the stained pieces , etc. I make 50-75 eye patches for him. SO use all the denim and no waste.