Denim Circle Pillow- Tutorial, Part 1


For MORE Denim projects and ideas on how to use your RECYCLED JEANS, visit my new website:  www.InventiveDenim.com!

For Part 2, Go HERE
For Part 3, Go HERE

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Here are the supplies you will need:

1.  Sixteen- 6 ½” denim circles (*1-2 pair of 100% cotton jeans)
     *1 pair will make 12-16 circles depending on the jean size
2.  Sixteen- 4” batting squares (I use a thin, 100% cotton batt)
3.  Sixteen- 5” charm squares
4.  Thread to match jeans
5.  Spring loaded scissors for clipping seams
6.  Stiff brush (i.e. cleaning brush)
7.  Pillow form- 18”
8.  ½ yard fabric for pillow backing
9.  Spray Starch


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1.  CUT sixteen (16) - 6 1/2” Denim Circles
**If you want a variety of blues in your pillow, you will need to cut circles from several different blue jeans.

It’s important to use 100% cotton or close to it (97%, 99%).  I have a lot of trouble getting the stretch jeans to fray!
Remove both legs from one pair of jeans.  I like to cut just underneath the pockets for maximum usable yardage.

Next, cut open each leg at one seam.  Open the leg and iron flat.
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You now have two usable pieces of fabric from one pair of jeans. 
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Cutting the Denim Circles?

Options…
1.  Trace around a 6 1/2” circle template and cut out with scissors
     or a rotary cutter.
2.  Use an OLFA circle cutter. 
        *This is my preferred method.

****BIG TIP!
     -Heavily spray starch your jeans just prior to cutting, especially, if you are using the OLFA circle cutter.  This will stabilize the fabric and give you really nice perfect circles!!!
Without the starch, you will probably notice that your jean fabric stretches and changes shape as you work with it.


TRACING Method:
    I used a 6 1/2” plastic circle template to make the cardboard template seen below.
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As you see, I can “typically” get eight circles from one leg but in in cases
where the legs are especially tapered you may only get six (i.e. smaller sized jeans).
 
You need a total of 16 circles so two legs (one pair of jeans) is usually sufficient. 
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OLFA CIRCLE CUTTING Method:

You will need one Olfa Rotary Circle Cutter (CMP-3).  I
bought mine at my local fabric store.
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It works just like a compass from math class. 
It may seem a little intimidating at first, the directions on the package are not great.  However, Olfa makes a video which does a terrific job explaining how to use it.

The video can be found here (video) .  This is WELL
worth watching.  It’s just a few minutes long.   (Just scroll
down the page until you see the “circle cutter video”, click on
“English”.

They do a good job explaining how to set it up for measuring, etc.
*The cutter needs to be set at 3 1/4”.  This is because you want a 6 1/2” finished circle. 

It probably goes without saying but it is a lot more difficult to cut through denim using the circle cutter than it is to cut through quilting cotton. 
You just need to go slower and be more patient because it does work great! 

Here are my two best TIPS:
     1.  Before cutting the circles, spray starch the jeans.  The more starch you use, the easier it will be to cut a perfect circle.
     2.  Wear gloves.  I use gardening gloves.  You have to apply a good amount of pressure to cut the circles and after a while this can be hard on your hands.  With the gardening gloves, I could cut all day

Of course another benefit of the circle cutter is that there is no need to mark the circles ahead of time!
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Assembly:

1.  Once you have cut 16 circles, start by placing one
6 ½” circle Wrong Side UP on the table surface.

Align a ruler with the circle, 1” from edge.
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2.  Draw a line along the edge of the ruler.
This line will not be seen in the finished product so any
type of pen will work.
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3.  Place another circle under the one you just marked, Right Sides together!

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4.  Pin in place.
Sew along the marked line making sure to backstitch at BOTH ends of the seam.
Backstitching is very important throughout this process.  Without it, your circles will start to fall apart when washed.

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5.  Lay flat the two circles and press open the flaps.
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6.  For this next step you will need a 6” or 6 ½” wide ruler.
Using the ruler, place the 4 ½” line directly over the seam (*the black ribbon in the picture is used to highlight the position of the seam, obviously, you won’t have a black ribbon!).
Once you align the seam with the 4 1/2” ruler mark, there should be a 1” space left over.
Place another ruler next to the 6” ruler. Use this ruler to make sure this space is exactly 1”.

Important:*If you do not have a 1” seam allowance , move the 6” ruler over until you have exactly 1”.
This can happen sometimes due to inconsistencies in cutting the circles and the space taken up by seam allowances, this will not affect how your finished pillow looks!

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7.  Remove the 1” ruler and draw a line.
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8.  With Right Sides Together, place another circle under the newly marked seam line.
Pin in place and sew. Remember to backstitch at both ends of the seam!!
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9.  Press the new seam open. You now have three joined circles, you need one more
for this row. 
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10.  Starting with the most recently added circle, make a new seam line just as before…
Measure 4 ½” from the seam (black ribbon) to the edge of the circle. There should be a 1” space left over.
Place another ruler next to the 6” ruler. Use this ruler to measure the 1” seam allowance.


Again, if you do not have 1”, move the 6” ruler over until you have an exact 1” seam allowance.
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11.  Remove the 1” ruler and draw a new seam line.
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12.  Exactly as before, place a new circle under the marked one, Right Sides Together!
Pin and sew on the line, remembering to backstitch at both ends.
Press the flaps open.  Each row should have four circles.

Do this three more times.  You will need a total of four rows!
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Get ready for Part 2, you will need:
     -16 (4”) squares of batting
     -16 (5”) fabric squares (either one solid color or a mixture, your choice!)
     -four denim circle rows
     -thread, I like to use a blue that matches most denims
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19 comments:

  1. I used a June Taylor 4.5" plastic square to mark the lines. It allowed me to tell when the circle had stretched. I could perfectly center the square in the circle.

    Thank you for the wonderful tutorial.

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  2. Thank you anotherquilter for this tip! Anything to make this process easier is so appreciated!!!
    Heather

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your instructions are really clear. i thought of a 4.5 inch square template as i was reading this. It looks like your denim circles are not aligned on the nap. Would it reduce problems with stretching if you did this?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey Julie,
    Thanks for the suggestion. Could you explain more of what you think might help? :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think Julie means you should align the grains of the circles so they're both running the same directions.

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  6. You could mark your circles with a 4 1/2 inch square template.... oh gosh looks like I'm not the only one who thought of that. Great minds think alike?

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  7. Thank you for sharing your instructions, I desperately want to try my hand at making this purse but you can find me on FB no choice here for fb

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for sharing your instructions for the purse I'd love to try my hand at making

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  9. So lovely! :)
    Greetings from Finland!
    Hugs, Ulla

    ReplyDelete
  10. Loved your blog, I'm following you.
    Visit my http://tearpiaocupacional.blogspot.com.br/

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your method for marking the circles for sewing, it makes it so much easier than other methods I've seen.Thanks for sharing! --Elizabeth

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  12. I use a temporary spray adhesive on an old cutting mat to cut the denim. Works like a charm and no time starching and ironing!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ithought the grain in all materials was suppose to run same directions,am I right are wrong?

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  14. I have never made the Cathedral Window block at all and thanks to your tutorial I finally tried it out - I am hooked and plan on making a full size quilt in this pattern - one question though if I make my circles a little bigger do I still go with 1" from the edge when making the square?

    - Heather
    pumpkin422001@yahoo.ca

    ReplyDelete
  15. I always set my Japanese Folded Patchwork squares (for that is what these are) on the straight of grain which is quite easy to see on denim (just draw the lines on the straight).
    If you have problems using it the circle cutter is MUCH easier to use if you fuse the fabric onto freezer paper before cutting.

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  16. Thank you for the suggestion of fusing the fabric to freezer paper before cutting. GREAT idea! I love having multiple ideas in my arsenal! I'm going to try this!!

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  17. Im so glad "FaveQuilts" showcased this. I've been wanting instructions. I'm thinking along the lines of a quilt rather than just a pillow. I know I'll need to make adjustments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! If you'd like to purchase the pattern for the full size quilt you can also do so. You can see my patterns at: www.etsy.com/shop/inventivedenim or www.inventivedenim.com. Have fun!!

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