for sewing (& quilting) with recycled - inventive denim · for sewing (& quilting) with...

1 Heather Banks, Inventive Denim, 2012 (rev 2/8/14). http://www.inventivedenim.com

My

BEST TIPS

for

SEWING

(& Quilting)

with Recycled


Starting at the base of one leg, use a sharp, strong pair of scissors to cut through the hem and into the leg approximately 1-2” deep. Make 5 or 6 clips ½” apart. Basically, you’re simulating the cuts in a rag quilt. Wash and dry the jeans as you would your quilt. After drying, you’ll have a really good idea of how the jeans will fray in your project. Sometimes, poly/cotton jeans will fray well and other times they don’t fray at all. This is an easy way to find out to find out if you will like the results! Another hint- see Chapter 12- “Skip the dryer, Use a hard bristled brush”…


Denim Fact:

Over 200 pairs of jeans can be made from one bale of cotton! 2


Hand Wheel

Caveat (Warning or Caution)… *I should add here that there is a point where a home or domestic sewing machine will resist sewing through denim. If going slow, smacking seams with a hammer and using a denim needle isn’t working for you, you may want to consider a semi-industrial or a true industrial sewing machine.

Every once in a while I run into someone who is sewing on a very small, lightweight, inexpensive machine (often but not necessarily purchased at a discount store). In such cases it IS possible that the motor in such machines will not have enough “oomph” to continuously sew over denim without overheating or jamming up. You won’t know until you try out your own machine!


References: 1 http://sewing.about.com/od/fabricsindex/ss/denimweights.htm 2 http://www.beembee.com/2010/10-interesting-facts-about-jeans

3 http://fashion.about.com/cs/jeans/a/allaboutjeans.htm 4 http://www.magforwomen.com/did-you-know-these-facts-about-denim/ 5 http://zsuzsybee.hubpages.com/hub/Sewing-Machine-Needles-An-Illustrated-Guide-to-the-many- Types-of-Sewing-Machine-Needles 6 http://olahinc.com/denim_survival_guide/facts-about-denim/ 7 http://levistrauss.com 8 http://www.babylock.com/inside-scoop/nancy-zieman-tips/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.inventivedenim.com/

http://www.magforwomen.com/did-you-know-these-facts-about-denim/

http://zsuzsybee.hubpages.com/hub/Sewing-Machine-Needles-An-Illustrated-Guide-to-the-many-Types-of-Sewing-Machine-Needles

http://zsuzsybee.hubpages.com/hub/Sewing-Machine-Needles-An-Illustrated-Guide-to-the-many-Types-of-Sewing-Machine-Needles

http://olahinc.com/denim_survival_guide/facts-about-denim/

for sewing (& quilting) with recycled - inventive denim · for sewing (& quilting) with...

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