bearisgray

At one time, I thought denim was denim.

After acquiring about 50 pairs of jeans and making four rag quilts, I learned a few things about "denim."

It comes in different weights and slightly different weaves.

It comes in stretch and non-stretch.

It comes in different colors.

Some of the jeans had been cut off-grain and/or the fabric had been processed off-grain. If it was on-grain in one direction, it was off-grain in the other.

I started to "bundle" all the pieces I cut from one pair of jeans. I liked to make a pattern of sorts on both sides of the rag quilts, so it was helpful to put the "same" in one bundle or bag.

I decided I did not want to use any stretch denim in those quilts, so they went in a give-away pile.

Some of the denim was almost as light-weight as ordinary quilting cotton. Some was almost heavy enough to use for sails.

I bought a Heritage Cutlery Rag Sniips - well worth the money - and used that for cutting through the waistband and around the zipper and through the thick seams.

Prices asked for jeans at yard sales vary considerably.