Upcycled Denim Patchwork Quilt

Have you ever slept under a denim and flannel quilt?   There is nothing better.  There is just something about the heaviness of the denim and the coziness of a soft flannel fabric that just seems to tuck you in and comfort you.

My sister-in-law gave my husband a denim patchwork quilt many years ago and it has been a family favorite.  We use it to throw on the lawn for a picnic, watching fireworks, or just to add some warmth to our bed on a cold winters night.

I have been saving jeans for many years with the intention of making
each one of my kids an Upcycled Denim Patchwork Quilt. I made my oldest son a
denim quilt when he graduated from high school, and planned on doing the
same for the other two kids.  Here it has been a couple of years since
my youngest son graduated, and no more quilts have been made.

This Christmas I made it happen.  I got out my bin and started cutting.

The quilt that I made was for a double/queen size bed.  I ended up cutting out 132 squares.  Whew!
One night my husband, bless his heart, helped me cut.  I opened up the jeans and marked them, and he cut.  We had quite the process going.  (He is a manufacturing engineer)!

A FEW TIPS FOR CUTTING OUT YOUR SQUARES.

1. MAKE A TEMPLATE of the size square you want.  I found about the biggest square you can get out of most jeans pant legs was a 8 x 8 inch square.  You could always make this smaller if you wanted.  I like to use oak tag paper.  Oak Tag is similar to poster board, except it is thicker and holds up better.  You will see it used in a lot in packaging of clothing, and other items.  I always save it to use on pattern templates, stencils, and of course VALENTINES!
   
2. OPEN UP THE PANTS by using this method.
3. TRACE AROUND TEMPLATE using a pen.  You can include the seam of the pants in one square if needed.  This actually gives a little character anyway.  To optimize fabric usage, butt up the edges of the square whenever possible.
4. Include a few pockets in your quilt, especially if you have a pocket with a good tag.
   
5. COUNT OUT SQUARES BY TENS and place a scrap piece of paper with the amount of squares up to that point written on it, between the layers. (That way you will not waste time counting over and over again to see how many squares you have).  I used 132 squares for a double/queen size quilt.  11 squares x 12 squares.

SEWING THE QUILT TOP TOGETHER

1. Place two squares  Right Sides Together (RST) and sew a seam using a 3/8 seam allowance.  I used my serger which works really well if you have one.  No worries if you don’t.
2. Open the two squares up and place another square (RST) and sew that seam.  Continue in this manner until you have 11 squares sewn together in a long strip.  *Alternate colors and shades of denim to give it some character.
3. Sew 12 strips.
4. Now to join the strips:  Place two long strips (RST) and sew all the way down the one edge of the strip.  (Take time to line up the seams as you go).
5. Open the two strips up and place another strip to the two already sewn together.  Sew that strip on.  Now you have three strips sewn together.  Add one more strip making a section of 4 rows of 11.
6. Set that foursome aside and build another foursome in the same manner, until you have 4 sets of 4.
7. Now to join them all together, place two of the foursomes (RST) and sew.  Do that again with the other two foursomes.
8. Now join the two pieces together and you have your quilt top.
   

This gets a little bulky sewing it all together, just take your time and give yourself some room around your sewing machine.

Instead of buying about 6 yards of fabric and having to piece it together, I have found buying a flannel sheet is cheaper and you usually get a better quality fabric.  Don’t settle for a thin piece of flannel, as you will want it to be durable.

I found this Eddi Bauer queen size sheet set at Burlington Coat Factory for around $39.00.  It came with a flat and fitted sheet and two pillow cases.  My son was thrilled to have a new bottom sheet and some matching pillow cases.  It was a good thick flannel as well.

Choose a matching yarn to use for your ties.

Throw it on your quilting frames and tie away.   I tied this quilt at the corners and one in the center.  There is nothing better than an afternoon with a friend, sitting around chatting while you tie a quilt.  That is about how long it took the two of us, 2 1/2 hours.  So enjoyable and relaxing.

Binding quilts by hand is so enjoyable to me.  I am not sure why, but there is just something about it.  It does take quite a bit longer, but I think it looks so much nicer and is good therapy.
You can use the sewing machine to bind it if you like.

I usually leave about an inch of flannel around the edge. Fold the flannel edge over1/2 inch and roll again over the denim top about a 1/2 inch and sew in place.

I like to personalize my quilts with some kind of endearing tag.

Now I have one more denim quilt to make for my daughter.  Maybe it will have to be for a wedding shower gift instead of graduation?

Have fun sewing!