A while ago I did a video and article entitled 15 Tips for Sewing With Denim and I got a number of requests for the pattern for the quilt that was pictured. Originally, I didn’t do one because it was an improv quilt. However, I decided to go ahead and come up with something for it because I got such lovely feedback. Here is my freeform denim quilt pattern.

There is a part of me that doesn’t really want to call this a pattern. It’s more like instructions or guidelines.

As you’ll see, this quilt is made up of 3 different units, a larger half square triangle, smaller squares and some rectangles. These units are then turned into rows of equal lengths that then get sewn together. Other than that, the layout is up to you.

It’s fairly easy to make, although it’s a thick and heavy quilt, so you’ll want to make sure you are using tools and techniques that are good for sewing with denim.

*DOWNLOAD THE FREEFORM DENIM QUILT PATTERN PDF HERE*

One of my favorite things about this quilt is the movement that the various shades and types of denim give it. I have saved a lot of blue jeans over the years, and it’s so much fun to make useful projects out of them. Side note…I had no idea how many dark pairs of jeans my family had!

Freeform Denim Quilt Video Tutorial

For visitors who like to watch video tutorials, I made one for this quilt.

Quilt Specs:

• Finished quilt measures approximately 56” x 72”
• 1/4” seam allowance is used
• Backing used was fleece
• Binding used was 100% cotton
• Batting used was a lightweight cotton

Things to consider:

• This is a heavy (about 7 pounds) and warm quilt, so you may not want to include batting, especially if you are using a fleece for the back.
• The quilt is thick to sew through.
• Because this is an improv quilt, the amount of fabric needed can vary, depending on which types of units you plan on using.

All amounts and cutting instructions given here are based on the layout shown.

Fabric Needed

• Denim: Pieces totaling about 4 ½ yards, no piece smaller than 4 ½ inches square, and some as large as 9 ¼” square
• Backing: 4 to 4 ½ yards – Based on fabric with a 42″ width of fabric. Adjust according to width of fabric you will be using.
• Batting (optional): 4 yards
• Binding: As needed, depending on your method of binding

Other Supplies Needed

• Strong sewing machine needle, good for sewing through denim
• Heavy duty scissors for cutting through denim
• Larger rotary cutter

Tools That May Be Helpful With This Quilt

Assembly

Cutting

• 39 rectangles cut 4 ½ inches by 8 ½ inches
• 62 squares cut 4 ½ inches by 4 ½ inches
• 28 squares cut 9 ¼ inches by 9 ¼ inches

My instructions for taking jeans apart will help you get the most fabric out of them.

Make the Half Square Triangles

First, make the half square triangles. To do this you will need the large squares measuring 9 ¼ inches.

Draw a diagonal line on the back (wrong) side of one of the squares. This will be your sewing guide.

Line up the square with the drawn line on it on top of another one, with front (right) sides facing each other.

Using a ¼ inch seam allowance, sew along both sides of the diagonal line drawn earlier.

Cut down the center, along the line that was drawn earlier. You will have two blocks that now need to be pressed open. Because you are working with denim, I suggest pressing the seams open to reduce bulk.

Trim the blocks down so they measure 8 ½ inches by 8 ½ inches.

Repeat with other pairs of the large squares. When finished, you should have 28 half square triangles.

Layout and Sewing

Lay out the blocks in a way that is pleasing to you. There are nine rows in this quilt, and when sewn, the row should measure 56″.

Within each row, sew together the smaller pieces first, so that the units are all the same height. Then sew the row together. After you have sewn each individual row, join the rows together.

The diagram below gives you an idea of how to place the various blocks.

I tried out various layouts before I found one I was happy with. I took pictures of different ones to see what looked best.

Finishing Up

As noted before, I used batting and fleece for the back. You could change things up however you wish.

This was machine quilted and I have to admit that I did go through a couple of needles. This is tough to quilt, not only because of the weight, but also because of the denim, especially at the seams.

To finish it off, I went with a 3″ wide strip of fabric to make my binding because of the thickness. Normally I use a 2.5″ wide strip of fabric.

Sewing Tips:

• Stay organized: Once you find a look you like, it can be easily mixed up if you aren’t organized. Label your rows and keep the pieces in the row in order. The nice thing about this quilt is that it is forgiving if there is a mix-up.
• Consider Sewing Tools and Techniques: Denim is different than regular quilting fabric. It is much thicker, so use tools and sewing techniques to help you. For example, you may want to use a stronger needle that is made for sewing denim. This video on 15 tips for sewing with denim may help.

My Final Version of the Freeform Denim Quilt Pattern

This is such a fun and eco-friendly way to make a quilt. I used up a lot of old jeans for it (with plenty of small pieces left for other projects). It’s definitely not a lightweight quilt. In fact it weighs about 7 pounds. I think it would nice as a picnic blanket in the summer.

I used the fleece backing, and included batting, because I wanted something nice and toasty for our cold winters. That may not be to everyone’s taste. However you decide to make this, have fun.

Happy Quilting!