Novice needs help!
 

Hi all, I'm new to quilting and new to this forum:) Please can I pick your brains. I have pieced together a quilt for my teenage son made out of denim pieces. They are all irregular shapes and odd bits of old jeans etc. I have put a border around it and am backing it onto plain denim. Hopefully you can see in the attached pic. My problem is that I am not sure how to do the quilting. My preference would be to stitch around the individual pieces and then do some sort of zigzag around the border but it will look really odd on the back. Does it matter? Does anyone have a better suggestion? Thanks!

That must be a heavy quilt with the denim. Great look for a boy though. I would mark a simple crosshatch or something similar.

I think that crosshatching or going around the squares would be wonderful and no it won't look wierd on the back

I would do an overall swirl with stars in blue (or variegated blue) thread.

Yes I agree....it is going to be very very heavy.....are you sure you want a demin backing ????????
you are going to have to use a large needle, maybe even a 100 or 120, and really take your time quilting as
your machine will be going thru two layers of demin and I am assuming batting....you will really need to
use a walking foot for sure......
If it was me, I would use a blue print cotton backing, maybe like a plaid rather than demin....just a suggestion.

To line denim with denim is going to make a very thick and very heavy quilt. Lift it, isn't it very heavy already? You might want to check and make sure your repairman (or any repairman) thinks your machine is up to this kind of work. If you haven't put the backing on you might want to reconsider and put a thinner, but still stong fabric on the back.

You will get a very heavy and warm quilt with 2 layers of denim and batting, but it will wear like iron and be a great gift for anyone. I think you could do just about any type of quilting and have it look good, with the possible exceptions of flowers since it is for a guy. Straight lines will be ok, whether in crosshatching or just along the seams and would be easier since there will be many thicker seams to cross. Make sure you use a thread designed for denim, as it will be stronger.

Man, I would LOVE to have a heavy quilt like that on cold nights. I get too hot to quilt something that heavy though. LOL

I agree that stitching around the squares or crosshatching would be fine, and it'll look great on the back, too. Just make sure you have sturdy thread and the right needle. Also be sure you are sitting at the right height and plan to take breaks because shoving that baby around under your needle is going to be a work out.

Welcome to the QB, and congrats on your quilt! It looks fantastic!

I love heavy covers. They feel so nice when it is cold outside. If you have a vintage, or heavy duty machine you should be fine. Even my little singer , which is neithr vintage nor heavy duty, can do it but you have to go slow. Walking foot would be great if you have one, if not JoAnns sells no name ones and they are affordable. Good luck, your son is a very lucky guy to get such a nice quilt. A word of advice, use a strong thread.

Welcome to the board! You are so smart to make a denim quilt for a boy...it will take anything he can probably dish out. I agree that cross-hatching would look nice. You might also consider tying the quilt instead of quilting it...just not sure if the look you are going for. I'm not sure about what type of thread would be best for tying a denim quilt...perle cotton? Maybe someone else here on the board could help with that. I've heard that a surgeon's knot is the best and that there is a YouTube video for the instructions on how to tie the knot. Your batting will dictate how far apart the knots need to be. I think Warm & Natural states no more than 10 inches for quilting lines, but I would make it closer than that for a tied quilt. Just check the packaging that your batting came in. Try to post a picture when you have it completed...would love to see it!

Welcome to the QB!

Another idea...if you aren't using batting or if you are using a batting that doesn't require close quilting, you could quilt some type of design such as a star in each of the squares. It would require a lot of starts and stops, but you would be avoiding the really thick seams, you wouldn't have to try to move the quilt as much as doing straight stitching all the way across the quilt (repeatedly) and it would look really cool on the back.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

I buy a denim thread at Walmart that will be almost invisible on the back. It blends in with any color of denim but you may need several spools because it is just a regular size spool. It is beside the gold thread for denim but the gold thread is very thick while the denim is not. Maybe you could just use it where you don't want the quilting to show and use something else for the rest.

Welcome to the board from Southern California! I love your quilt! I think, however, I would opt for a cotton backing, not denim, and a thin batting. Can you imagine the weight of the quilt when it's done, and trying to wash and dry it?? I made a purse from a denim-look cotton, and I loved it! Joann's had it and I only bought it a month or so ago. I would also make the quilting simple, say a large meander or simple cross hatching. There seems to be too many small patches in yours to go around each patch! Maybe you could pick some of the larger pieces and do a manly motif in them, but I would make it as simple as possible by a simple all-over design. I have made numerous jeans tote bags from Jeans I got at our new Goodwill store and other places, so have tons of denim scraps from the legs, I think I might attempt a denim scrap quilt as well. Let us know what you do and PLEASE post a photo she its done! Thanks!

just had another small thought....you could use fleece in the center instead of batting and then tie the quilt....use a good size curved (half circle) needle....

Welcome to the board. I agree that you may have trouble with the quilting if you have denim on the back and quilt over the block intersections. Every seam you cross means you are going through at least 3 layers of denim (assuming you have pressed the seams open) -- the intersections even more. Sewing machines do funny things when they try to sew over those big clumps of fabric -- some of them get bogged down, some jump over. With the denim top you need to reduce bulk as much as possible for the rest of the quilt.

That said, I think a nice all over grid pattern (for me it would be on the diagonal) would be nice. If you do free motion, moving a heavy quilt can be really hard on you. If you do a grid pattern with your walking foot the machine is helping you move the quilt around.

Welcome to quiltingboard.
Everyone here has given you good advise. I made a similar type quilt for my grandchildren. Used flannel as backing. And no lining, as here in Texas it doesn't get THAT cold. Did a simple diagional stitch across one and tied the other. Whatever you decide to do, be sure and show us the finished project.

No it won't matter sounds nice

If you are concerned about how the back will look, you might consider trying a "busy" fabric on the back, something a bit lighter weight as others have suggested, a print that will probably hide the quilting design.

That said, I also encourage you not to worry about the quilting "on the back" as that is a normal part of doing this work; there's not a way to actually hide it, so mostly we let it fall where it may.

Welcome here, by the way!

Jan in VA

Well, from your picture it looks really pretty. I like it! Keep going. The only way to learn is ask this board questions and make your mind up what you want to do. And then get going. Good luck. Son will love it too.

I made a denim rag quilt for my sons. I backed them with heavier LQS cotton fabric and no batting. Denim quilts are very heavy and take forever to dry when washed. They do stand up to a lot of abuse which makes them good for a kid or guy quilt. I would recommend backing with lighter weight fabric and do a very simple stitching design. You have a lot of seams to sew over---make it easy on yourself.
Looks very nice in your picture.

Chris

You might want to practice with two layers of denim...and your batting, if you are using any...and see how it feels to you and your machine. As for quilting, I would go with something simple. It won't matter how it looks on the back at all. Probably your thread won't even show if you use a navy blue. Beautiful quilt, by the way.

Dina

My very first quilt was denim using our old jeans. It was for my daughter who was in HS. It started out 10" squares. The back was a lighter weight denim and I tied it off. Sounds good, but by the end I had fought that denim, the squares were wonky, my fingers were sore from tiring with red yarn, but it looked mighty good to me! My daughter is 30 today and the quilt is doing fine. Denim will live forever and is heavy without batting. I didn't do anymore quilting until a year ago.

Wow! Thank you all for your replies - I hadn't expected such an amazing response. I have read all answers and there is so much useful information. I am pretty committed to keeping the denim backing - it's not a very heavyweight backing but I have sacrificed 4 fingernails in the process of pinning it all together! So...what I have decided to do is to make up a sample piece and have a practise with my machine to see what it can cope with. I shall arm myself with heavy thread and strong needles and see what happens. Unfortunately, I can't take up your suggestions for where to buy supplies as I am in the UK but I can probably source everything here - the internet is a wonderful thing! I am more confident of trying to quilt a geometric pattern so will probably try the cross-hatching. I'll let you know how I get on. hopefully my son will still be a teenager by the time I finish it:)

I made one for my son and used denim on the top and no batting just a good flannel on the back and it was plenty heavy and warm. I just stitched around each block and it was fine.

I made a denim quilt for my son and put a flannel back on it. It is warm and not as heavy as a denim back would be. I would just do an overall pattern like a stipple or maybe a cross hatch pattern on it for the quilting.

Remember to use a denim needle. Tks. G

Good advice above. I made those before - very heavy. Warm though. We just tied knots - no batting - light weight backing on one and heavy on another for a picnic blanket. You already have it pieced so you know about weight. As far as the sewing machine goes I have seen a bent shaft on a vintage sewing machine because someone tired to PULL something very heavy through the machine. Possibly they got a jam and then pulled something through - usually the needle will break. I used to make tents. To get heavy stuff through the machine. Put the machine on a big table or put another table next to your sewing table Roll or fold the fabric so it will go in the machine with out hanging off the table. I've even used a roller cart to put the bulk of the material on and had a helper managing the cart as fabric goes through the machine. You can re-roll to do the other side.

I would skip the quilting altogether and simply tie it with cotton yarn.

It has to be heavy. Keep it very simple. I think it will make you happy.

Why back it at all? I would treat it as a rag quilt and use it without a batt or back. You would have to be certain that your seams were solid, that's all.

my denim quilts don't have batting and I used fleece for the back and I'm STILL told they're too heavy

A nice heavy quilt will feel great in England, and your son will love it! I like your quilting ideas, and for me, I am not a fan of tied quilts, especially as they do not wash as well in my experience. This board is a great place for assistance and for ideas. Welcome. I was lucky enough to live in Suffolk for three years with my sewing machine under my bedroom window so I could watch my children play. Those were good years and I miss everything but the cold feet!!!!!

Christine

Most of the ladies I know that have made a denim quilt , do not use batting, some might use flannel in center and a cotton fabric for backing. Most tie their quilts instead of quilting. I agree with everyone else, the way you have it, it will be too heavy. Looks nice.

Hi Ely,

If it was me doing it, I would tie it, about every 4". It is going to be very heavy, and sewing through that, and batting, and the backing is going to make it even heavier. Tying it or making bar tacks on the machine will keep it together, but not add to the weight. Just my two cents... I would also back it in flannel, or cotton, not denim.

i made a similar quilt back in the 70's and when i didn't know it would be difficult. i left out batting and tied the quilt instead of trying to sew through everything. my best friend "stole it" and reports it is still going strong and both she and her grown children all love it!!

You know it sounds like your using what you have, which is what I would do as well. I think I would consider tying it as well. Machine quilting could be really hard on your sewing machine. My sisters sewing machine was never the same after she sewed a canvas tipi on it. Just thought I'd let you know. If you tie itusea surgeons knot like others have suggested.
By the way......welcome to the quilting board!

I made a denim quilt this summer, oh my... it was heavy, I used warm and natural for batting, with quilting fabric for backing, using the Turning twenty pattern. using complimentary and contrasting colors in my fabric choices did give it some pop factor. I used Perle cotton to tie, I could not imagine machine quilting a two-sided denim quilt, Personally, I was so glad to get that one done, it was so hot this summer and to have a denim quilt on my lap... Any way I vote for a non-denim backing, and tie, my fingers were so sore, o' well, any pain or discomfort associated with the making of this quilt was a labor of love, ....I gave birth to a quilt??? :p Congrats on joining us here in QB'ville. we are the best:thumbup:

Most people omit the batting and use a light weight backing and tie it with yarn.It is a very difficult thing to quilt.

If you are using denim for both the top and bottom, I would forgo the batting. When I made my denim quilt, I used regular cotton on the back and it still ways a ton. Have you thought about tying it instead of quilting?