What's the best way to get denim? Should I buy it from the fabric store or take jeans apart? If I take jeans apart, how do I get enough matching to make a rag quilt?

Thanks

If you want it to all match, purchasing at the fabric store is the best bet, but the scrappy look you get by cutting apart worn jeans makes a rag quilt more interesting, I think, and you can cut them so that you can put a pocket in one square if you want, or leave some of the flat felled seams across some of the blocks to add some character.

I'd go with old jeans because the fabric is softer. New denim, I find, is like sewing cardboard.

I like the variances in using old jeans :D:D:D

My mom collects old jeans. As ours wear out or get holes, we give them to her. If they still have lots of life and are just too small, we usually donate them.

She also buys them when the thrift stores offer $0.99 jeans days. She looks for the older ones and larger ones. You can cut a lot of squares from size 52 jeans!

If she sees denim on clearance at the fabric store or as remnants, she buys that, too.

You could post a wanted ad on Freecycle asking for worn out jeans, holes okay. Lots of people just throw them in the trash.

Or, just ask around to everyone you know. You would be surprised how fast the jeans accumulate once people know you want them. :)

Do not forget to use a JEANS or denim needle!

I've made two denim quits from old jeans. They meant more because the fabric came from the family and then given to the family! And the quilts look great. Or course being made from denim, they are very durable and will most likely be in the family for years. good luck!

Collect jeans and take apart.The variance in colors makes the quilt more interesting I think.ne denim quilt I made was backed with old flannel shirts.Son took to college and it is still being used. pab

i like old jeans because they dont match

my mom stocks up on denim when our local thrift shop has a dollar a bag sale. I like the worn look better. I prefer using jeans than buying denim.

usually when people cut up jeans for raggy quilts they do not worry about (matching?) the different degrees of fading and different colors of denim are what make the quilt flow and work. it is certainly much less expensive to hit yard sales and thrift stores to pick up old jeans than to go by yardage of denim.

I love working with old jeans! They make very interesting quilts or bags or whatever!

I use old jeans too. Last year SIL saw I was making a denim quilt and brought me a big bag of her old jeans, lol!

For a rag quilt, I vote for jeans as well. Maybe it's because I have 30 or 40 in my stash just waiting to be used :-)