The Start of New Things Isn't Always Pretty

I had an idea for a new project last week. I was very excited about it. I’ve been trying to figure out what I could do with some narrow strips of leftover jeans fabric. They're big enough to use some how but not big enough to use pieced together (the material is too thick to have too many seams close together). I thought that maybe I can piece the jeans material with flannel since the weight of the two fabrics is closer than quilting cotton would be with the jeans.

I had the brilliant idea and for a few days happily treated that as enough. I planned to start doing something with my great idea but instead procrastinated by cleaning off my sewing area and worked on other projects while “cleaning.” I did that for four or five days because I didn’t know how I was actually going to do what was in my head. I was procrastinating because I didn’t want to be disappointed.

Today, I finally touched my jeans strips. I found some leftover flannel strips that seem like they’ll work with the jeans. I made a rough sketch of a pillow front that I’m thinking of and tried very hard to get in the mindset of just playing and seeing what would happen when I started sewing jeans and flannel together. Unfortunately, I’m so NOT impressed with what has come together so far.

The creative process isn’t always smooth and doesn’t always work. I won’t get better ideas based on experience unless I actually start working with my materials. I have an idea of what to do next which makes me happy. I’ll know more whether I like how the project’s going after this next step. If the idea of using jeans and flannel this way doesn’t work, it’s not a big deal. Both are scrap fabrics that I’m trying to repurpose rather than toss. Experimenting with a new idea with them is a good thing to try.

Have you ever had a great idea and then worked through the challenges to make it come to life?

Reuse and Create Anew

I quilt a lot and have been quilting consistantly over 25 years. If you count the quilted pillow I did in high school - with calicos - the only quilting fabric available, and the quilt I started in college, it’s been about 40 years. That’s a lot of time playing with color and fabric! I love playing with new fabrics to see how I can use them with different patterns but I also enjoy extending the life and use of scraps and repurposing fabrics in new ways.

Many years ago, I saw an exhibit of the Quilts of Gee’s Bend and was inspired by some of them that had used cut-apart jeans and garments to create the quilt tops. They must have been incredibly heavy and hard on the hands to sew.

I collect worn and used jeans (cotton is the best), and cut them apart to get flat fabric again. I save the side seams and inseams too. Eventually I will make a coil rug with them when I have enough. I love the variation in shade of denim in a pair of jeans but also in my collection.

When I think I have enough variety in shade of blue, I come up with a pattern that I think will work for an all jeans quilt. The pieces and blocks are bigger than than what I use with quilting cottons. The seams are wider and the whole quilt is heavier too.

Progress of my current jeans quit

I spent some time on my current ongoing jeans quilt today. I have wide bands that I think of like bricks in a row that are separated by narrower bands of bricks set side by side with their narrow ends facing out. Most of the wide brick rows have been made. Now I have a lot of cutting of small squares ahead to make up the narrow rows.

I love this process of laying out fabric and auditioning and seeing if all the colors and shades are balanced. Working on the jeans quilt had me thinking about how much I enjoy the creative challenge of repurposing and reusing fabric that many would toss. It’s environmentally kind but it’s also satisfying to have, use and touch these fabrics which have had lives and experiences and group them together in pleasing ways for another adventure.

What do you like to reuse and repurpose?