Selfsufficientish.com

Thomzo, I used old jeans to make hanging storage for my children. I opened the inseams then restitched front-front and back-back, then cut the legs off just above the knees that needed patching, again I stitched across the bottom to make a sack. They have the pockets for smaller items and can fill the hip/leg part with bigger things.
I've been planning forever to make some for my sewing things and just random use for my husband and I, there just never seems to be the time. I think one in the van for extra sweaters, books, and toys would be a great help. I salute you on your endeavor to make slip covers, I would never finish that.

Which brings me to the point of my response, finally. Have you considered using the pockets somehow to make a place for remote controls, books, magazines, eyeglasses, dog toys, that sort of thing? I don't know what sort of shpes your covering, it may not be appropriate.

I had to experiment with how to make them hang in closets, off the backs of doors, etc. I was hanging the pants, not the kids, I swear! Although...

I don't know what they may be called in Britain, after all you have bonnets on your cars , but I am planning to make each of my kids a quick quilt using bandanas. 100% cotton square scarf type things. I have found some really interesting ones in all kinds of colors, but they have the traditional black-on-color paisleys, I'm just going to sew them together, then quilt it. I think it will have a very masculine appearance with an appropriate amount of irreverance for our cowboy culture. Any ideas how to 'man it up some' as my 9 year old would say?

sortanormalish wrote:I have never seen How to make an American Quilt, but I'll look for it.

We (my sisters and I) have figured out how to adapt a lone star pattern to make them interlock. The pattern we found, at the Quilt show in Paducah, was actually different stars that faded into each other. This was accomplished using the colors of the fabrics. We decided to use white for everything but the actual interlocking star bit. It seems to be going ok. We'll see when it's finished.

I usually machine quilt. Some people say it isn't authentic, but what is authentic, at least here in the states, is that women (and Men) used the best tools and fabrics available to them. My machine makes a much better stitch than my hand.

Wonderful that Men are quilting? HA! I told one of my friends. I thought she was going to rip the computer off the desk. She informed me, rather lustily, that she 'wanted' that kind of man, proving the point I made previously.

I also cook, clean, get up early to do the wifes breakfast and walk the dog!! It just takes me a longtime, lol.

As for the wicked ulterior motive, sorry not that devious even if I am a man. It's simply a fact that I'm too tight to put the heating on so I am tasked to make a quilt for my lovely wife to keep her warm whilst watching telly!!

...... by the way the temperiture in the house is a blistering 22 deg C and the imortal words of ....." Is it me or is it cold in here?" are often heard from my cold arsed wife..... lol.

Take care,
BA

Oh Al, my fantasies were so much better than your reality. Oh wait, a man that cooks, cleans, AND walks the dog. Any woman would be insane not to take all that!

My husband is always complaining about being cold, while the rest of us are visibly perspiring! My sympathies are with you.

sortanormalish wrote:Thomzo, I used old jeans to make hanging storage for my children. I opened the inseams then restitched front-front and back-back, then cut the legs off just above the knees that needed patching, again I stitched across the bottom to make a sack. They have the pockets for smaller items and can fill the hip/leg part with bigger things.

I made akilt like that once..... but I didn't stich the bottom up, lol... My wife wouldn't go shopping with me after that..... at least that's her excuse....

I'm coming to the end of a satchel type bag made for my wife out of jeans. Just need the strap and fastener to go on now.

A denim kilt, were you otherwise traditional, was it windy that day?
Wind or no wind, I don't blame her about not going out shopping. I'd rather see the dentist.

Duh...I hadn't even thought of a shoulder bag or satchel. Fantastic!

Brilliant idea to incorporate some remote control pockets into the covers. Thanks. I could also slide lavender bags into the pockets. That would release the lovely smell every time you sit down.

I have also made bags out of old jeans. When I work out how to post photos I'll show you. The first was made by cutting the legs off the jeans, to create shorts, then sewing across the bottom of each leg. A quick strip of fabric through the belt loops, suffices for handles.

Since then I've used embroidered denim (with the pockets still in place) to cover the front and back of hessian bags. I get the hessian bags from charity shops and health food shops but they have their logos on them. The denim covers this up. My first commission was for one of these bags.

Cheers
Zoe

Mine are not pretty, just functional. I would love to see pictures.