I am obsessed with all things denim. You can never own too much denim, am I right? In fact, I dream of owning an oversized couch upholstered in denim or wallpapering entire walls with upcycled denim. I have a denim duvet cover and pillows in my bedroom, and I own countless pairs of jeans, denim hats, denim bags, and jean jackets. The cover on my Big Book? Denim.
Both of my parents are incredibly skilled when it comes to crafting. My dad crochets, and if you missed my post about the custom crochet tablecloth we worked on together, you can read about it here. As for my mom, she is the master quilter of the family. While scrolling through Pinterest one fine day, I saw a patchwork quilt made out of up-cycled denim jeans, and I knew it would be my next project. And by “my next project,” I mean my mom’s next project. I never really learned how to sew, but I have mastered the art of asking my mom (and dad) to craft me things. Seems like a great mother-daughter activity, right? I’ll cut, and she can sew. We’re the perfect crafting pair!
First things first
The first goal was to cut up enough pairs of jeans to create an oversized lap blanket. I also knew I wanted it to have color variations of denim blues and creams. Probably, I could have sacrificed more of my jeans that haven’t fit in a while and saved myself some money. But I’m holding out hope that those jeans will one day be able to pull up over my hips again or zip up without laying down. So, I bustled down to the local Goodwill and scored several pairs of jeans in various colors and textures for under $30.
Pleased with my purchases, including scoring a vintage Esprit tote bag for $0.99, I returned home and eagerly asked my mom what the next step was. Patiently, she explained I would need to cut up all the jeans into 4.5″ x 4.5″ blocks. I went to work using my mom’s fancy cutting table with a a measuring board and fabric cutter that looked like a pizza cutter. This is when I learned not all denim was created equal. Some pairs of jeans were much easier to cut than others. Crafting can be hard work sometimes. It’s a good thing I’ve got so much energy since I don’t spend my days hungover anymore.
One to two hours later, I was done playing Edward Scissorhands and found myself surrounded by tall stacks of denim squares in all directions. “Now what happens?” I asked my mom. She explained that my next step was to create the pattern I wanted with the blocks. “My pattern is not to have a pattern.“
Rolling her eyes, she explained I still needed to decide how the blocks get laid out before she went to sew them together. “You have to make a plan, Alysse.” My mom then had me pull out her large felt quilt board that holds fabric as if it were magnetized. She explained I needed to carefully lay out where I wanted each block to go, take breaks, step back to see the big picture, and review my progress. “Keep an open mind and allow yourself to make changes,” she stated.
It turns out that making a denim quilt is a lot like being in long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol. You need to have a general plan, keep an open mind, and be able to step back, view the big picture, change your mind, or pivot when things don’t go the way you think they should.
While cutting the blocks, I noticed some pairs were very smooth and worn in, while others were stiff and rough. I compared the textures of these fabrics to the feelings I now have due to living a sober lifestyle—so many feelings…all of the time. Even my feelings have feelings. I’m getting better at managing them, but before getting sober, I only wanted to have two feelings. Feeling great or not feeling at all. And although I did (and do still have) a flair for the dramatic, I wasn’t a crier before getting sober. Anything and everything makes me cry now.
Sometimes, having emotions still feels rough and not very bendy, similar to some of the denim blocks that just haven’t worn in enough yet. With time, I trust they’ll soften. Feelings make me uncomfortable. Creating a denim blanket to curl up into when I feel uncomfortable seems like the perfect pairing. I own two Boston Terriers, so we can’t have nice things. Everything is constantly covered in dog hair and drool. Fingers crossed, this denim blanket should hold up to their wear and tear.
As I stepped back to admire my block placement, I kept thinking over my mom’s choice of words. “Keep an open mind and allow yourself to make changes.” This statement could be one of my recovery mantras. I can’t tell you how many things I’ve done over the years to work on myself and my recovery. From being an active member of a 12 step program, having a sponsor, being a sponsor, group therapy, art therapy, hypnotherapy, life coach, and more self-help books that I can count. I attended church, did countless hours of service work, worked out, did yoga, and learned to pray and meditate daily. I’ve tried and done it all, and really, the only way I could get through some of that stuff, especially the things I didn’t think I’d like, was to keep an open mind and let myself change things up.
Once the pattern—which wasn’t really a pattern—was established, it was go time. My mom started sewing the blocks together, and I ran out to the fabric store to get a soft cream flannel fabric for the backside. She even recommended using some of the pockets off of the upcycled jeans and placing them in strategic places on the blanket. My mom is SO CLEVER! EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH POCKETS! This blanket has enough pockets to hold the remote, snacks, and iPhone.
I love my denim quilted blanket. It keeps improving with time (and frequent washings, thanks to the drool.) I love that my mom and I worked on this together. It’s also heavy AF, so it’s the equivalent of a weighted blanket. I didn’t plan it that way, but it is helpful for naps. Give me 10 minutes with this blanket; I’m out like a light! And the pockets! The pockets are an epic addition. Did I mention that my mom is so clever? Sometimes, I’ll even hide dog bones in the pockets and see how long my furry friends take to find them.
To close, if you find stacks of denim that are no longer being worn, up-cycle them into a quilt or drop them off at your local thrift store if someone else can use them. You’ll be happy you did! (and let’s all do our part to keep clothing out of landfills, ok?) The real-life lesson in this project was the reminder that when you are too close to something, step back and take a look from a different angle. Sometimes, just a simple change in our perception can change everything.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
Dr. Wayne Dyer
CURATED CRAFTS: The Art of Crochet – The Story of a Handmade Crocheted Tablecloth
CURATED CRAFTS: Progress, Not Perfection In Art Form – Learning How To Paint During Covid By Sober Curator Ashley Sunderland
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