denim/flannel quilt project in one post (hopefully) [Archive] - AmityMama.com

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BonaDea
09-10-2001, 03:58 PM
links to two different sets of directions:
cruise them both for ideas
this one is the most like the one I did:
http://www.piecefulacrepatterns.com/Too%20e-z%20denim%20quilt.htm]http://www.piecefulacrepatterns.com/Too%20e-z%20denim%20quilt.htm
this one is simmilar but is more involved (uses batting) and suggests different fabric:
http://63.210.199.176/content/projects/projectsDisplay.jhtml;$sessionid$2LRNNFIAAEE2MP4SY 5FRHOR50LD2UEPO?articlePath=/content/projects/static/new/ragged_quilt.html]http://63.210.199.176/content/projects/projectsDisplay.jhtml;$sessionid$2LRNNFIAAEE2MP4SY 5FRHOR50LD2UEPO?articlePath=/content/projects/static/new/ragged_quilt.html

now that you have an idea of where we are going
let me tell you what I did:
gather fabric beg, "borrow", clean out, find old jeans/denim and flannel items. put the
word out. (my mom even called my dad on the cell
phone on the way to donate a bunch of stuff and
made him go through it before passing it on.... lol the
man who was taking the donations laughed as said
"someone must be a quilter", then a week later my mom
didn't like the condition of the jeans my dad had on and
made him take them off and give them to me (roflol)
dads still saying how mom made him take the pants off
his body to donate to this quilt.
for the flannel: think baby blankets, flannel sheets,
lumberjack shirts, flannel pants.... if all else fails do
what I did, for under $10 at WalMar I was able to get a
Twin Sheet Set in a natural color flannel. I didn't end up
using it but Bethan is, and depending on the size of her
quilt I may still end up with enough to back another quilt!
IMO you can't buy the fabric this inexpesively. If you
don't like things that don't match up on then don't go
with the different plaids, it will drive you nuts!

wash & cut I choose to wash everything that
wasn't already in my possession in HOT that way
all shrinking would be done.
cutting: I've cut the squares 6x6. I'd reccomend no
smaller than 5x5 but you could go larger if you are so
inclined. At 6x6 I averaged 16 squares per pair of jeans.
The big deal is make all the squares the same size.
You will need one denim for every flannel.
NOTE: the easiest way to do this project would be to
stick with one color denim and one color/pattern of
flannel. it will not be as interesting but it would be
the easiest imo.

sewing notesScarlet found notes that someone
wrote on this project reccomending to use 1/2" seam
allowance. I was not going to do that but when I sat
down to the machine it turned out that the 1/2" was
the best size to use.
I used a shorter stich length that I usually use,
something near 1. The reason for that is to assure
that the quilt will stay together. Granted I tend towards
over kill on stuff like this. With all the fraying I'm afraid
that it might fall apart (not likely but hey, I can worry
about stuff like that if I want to)
Don't forget that you are working with denim and you
will most likely want to use a denim needle
(size 16 I think it is) you could try with a smaller needle
if you don't have any on hand but in case of problems
switch to the correct needle. My guess is one denim
needle should get you through the project.

thread color: whatever it won't show. if you are
concerned about strength then go with a heavy duty
thread that is design for jeans. I didn't bother, the way
it is constructed and there will not be alot of pull on the
seams imo so it shouldn't matter.

quilt size:
depending on the size of your squares and the seam
allowance will depend on the 3 of squares needed.

Here are the demensions I use if trying to make a
specific size quilt. This is from one of my many quilt
books and I'm taking the info from a cheat sheet that I
have in my sewing box.
Crib Quilt: Small: 30"x45" Large: 40"x60"
The rest of these demensions include a 9" pillow tuck
and are 13" deep. (so if you have a thicker mattress
make it bigger)
Twin: 65"x97" Double: 80"x97" Queen: 86"x102"
Queen/Double: 54"x100" King: 104"x102"
We have a Cal. King and I've just made the reg king
size but never use the pillow tuck so it works out fine.

When you have sewn all the blocks together and
completed a final seam along the outside edges to keep
everything together then it is time to wash the quilt.
The best hint I read/heard from the above links is to
do it in a commercial washer.
Our washer drains into a utility sink and it over
flowed due to all the lint. Be careful.

Here are my picts of the completed project.
Yes, they are dark but my camera doesn't have a flash.
http://www.amitysworld.com/dcf/User_files/3b94665020d845c4.jpg http://www.amitysworld.com/dcf/User_files/3b9466a120fd8254.jpg

and here are my final notes:
This was a super fast and easy project.
A great idea for a first quilt.
And it can be free depending on the stuff
you can get from family and friends.
You will notice that by using a plaid flannel
sheet for the back, the lines don't match up.
Personally, that is really bothering me.
I would reccomend using something with
a small repeated print or a solid so you don't
run into that problem. OR useing different plaids
so there is no way they can be expected to match up.

Hope that covers it.
Please post or ask, if I missed anything.
And thanks to whoever said they were going to
do thow pillows out of this. I think I'm going to do it.



http://www.amitymama.com/images/icons/cool.gif<font color=purple>Jennhttp://www.amitymama.com/images/icons/cool.gif
BF, CD, FB, TN, UC.
J 4/98, Jules 5/00</font color=purple>
BonaDea@SanClemente.comBonaDea@SanClemente.com</a>
Live, Love, Learn, Laugh<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by BonaDea on Mon Sep 10 09:15 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

RocketScientist
09-24-2001, 01:53 PM
OK, I'm a slowpoke. But I want to try to make this project, and wanted to fix one of your links first 'cause it doesn't work for me.
http://www.piecefulacrepatterns.com/Too%20e-z%20denim%20quilt.htm - hope that one works.

I'm now hitting up everyone I know for denim - I already have tons of flannel that's been sitting in my "stash" for years.

Margaret
Blessed with four, one in heaven

Click here for my FEEDBACK (http://www.amitysworld.com/dcf/DCForumID9/12.html)

http://206.55.236.194/~gibbsm/star.gif

Shari
09-24-2001, 03:16 PM
Here's my best tip on where to get fabric for this
project...especially denim! I went to one of our local
thriftstores, explained that I was doing a quilt and asked
if they had any old jeans or flannel shirts that weren't in
a re-sellable condition. They gave me an entire box full
of jeans! Most had rips and tears, but for this project
that didn't matter one bit. </P>

I did get a bit carried away after my denim windfall and I
ended up to my eyeballs in denim and flannel squares. LOL
I have enough cut to make throw type blankies for each
of my three kids and possibly enough leftovers for a
fourth! I'm sewing them together right now. I'm gonna
stash the blankies away and give them to my children as
part of their Christmas.


Shari

Shari
09-24-2001, 05:09 PM
Why does my above post scroll to the right so far! Is
there anything I should be doing to prevent that?</P>

Just editing in to say:
Ah-HA! I just figure it out. *sigh* I'm so proud of me. :)



<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by Shari on Mon Sep 24 05:20 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

BonaDea
09-24-2001, 09:26 PM
I *think* it is my fault.
The original post has some HUGE links and I think that's what set this post to be that big.
I deliberatly edited to make the writing small so we wouldn't have to go back and forth the read the orginal post.

Just a guess.

http://www.amitymama.com/images/icons/cool.gif<font color=purple>Jennhttp://www.amitymama.com/images/icons/cool.gif
BF, CD, FB, TN, UC.
J 4/98, Jules 5/00</font color=purple>
BonaDea@SanClemente.com
Live, Love, Learn, Laugh

BonaDea
06-20-2002, 12:28 AM
bump and a note that I still have tons of denim squares and it is this silly quilts fault that I'm in love with denim patchwork now :P

Lydiasmomma
06-20-2002, 06:48 AM
Ooooh that rocks! The pics aren't working anymore Jenn, can you repost them?

BonaDea
06-20-2002, 05:27 PM
Originally posted by Lydiasmomma
Ooooh that rocks! The pics aren't working anymore Jenn, can you repost them?

:( nope... I don't have them anymore and my quilt ... the hunking king size that it is... has been banished to my grandmothers cabin ... since it is perfet for the rusticness of the cabin and it thrills my gma that it fits the king up there.

I'll post a request for others picts of theirs.

mamabear
06-21-2002, 07:15 AM
POLAR fleece scraps...the project page (first link) says you can use denim and polar fleece. If so, I am IN! I have zilch as far as cotton scraps for rugging...most of mine are knits and fleece! I have 3 milk crates full of polar fleece scraps! Sooo....if this would work I think I will try it...heck, why not! It sure will be warm. :)

RocketScientist
09-23-2002, 01:44 PM
Little bump, 'cause I'm still gathering old jeans for this project. :)