How to Make Denim Quilts
If you can't bear to part with that beloved pair of denim jeans, there's a way to put them to good use. Give those old jeans a new life and use your basic sewing skills to turn them into a quilt. A quilt constructed from recycled jeans can cover your bed and keep you warm, yet will be sturdy enough to toss in the car and take along to picnics or camping trips.
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Things You'll Need
- Several pairs of used denim jeans
- Matching thread
- Sewing machine
- Sharp scissors
- Long quilting ruler
- Rotary cutter
- Rotary cutting mat
- Quilt batting
- Backing material, either sturdy cotton or cotton flannel
- Yarn needles
- Strong embroidery thread or cotton yarn
Instructions
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1
Use a pair of sharp scissors, and cut the zippers and seams off the denim jeans, leaving flat pieces. Cut away any worn areas. Press out any wrinkles so the denim is flat and smooth. Lay the denim pieces on a rotary cutting mat or a flat surface, and, using the quilting ruler as a guide, cut the denim into 4-inch squares.
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2
Decide how large you intend to make your denim quilt and cut out enough denim squares ahead of time. You can arrange different colors randomly or you can devise a pattern.
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3
Sew the squares together into long strips the desired length of the quilt, then sew the strips together. Make your seams at least 1/2 inch, which will create sturdy seams. Although you can take the time to carefully match the seams if you prefer, squares that are slightly staggered will eliminate the bulky seams and will be easier for your sewing machine to handle.
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4
Lay the backing material on a flat surface and carefully put the batting on top of the backing material. Make sure the backing material remains flat, and that no bumps or wrinkles are created. Create a "sandwich" by laying the denim quilt top over the batting. Baste the quilt sandwich together using very long stitches.
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5
Tie the quilt together using a sturdy needle, and either cotton embroidery thread or cotton yarn. Push the threaded needle down through the sandwich, and then pull it back up through the top, about 1/4 inch away. Cut the yarn and tie it in a secure square knot. Put one tie in the center of each square.
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6
Use the rotary cutter to trim evenly around the denim quilt, then zigzag around the entire circumference of the finished quilt. Zigzagging twice will add extra strength.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're new to quilting and don't own quilting supplies, you can use a regular ruler and scissors for cutting the denim squares. You can also make a template out of a sturdy piece of cardboard. Trace around the template and cut the denim squares with sharp scissors. However, if you plan to continue quilting, a rotary cutter, cutting mat and quilting rules are a must-have. If you're an experienced quilter, you may want to sew a border around the finished quilt. On the other hand, if you want to make your denim quilt even easier; don't worry about batting and backing. The seams will fray, but this will add casual charm to the finished quilt.
