Today I’m excited to share with you my good friend Amy Barickman’s new book, Dimensional Denim. Amy is the founder of Indygo Junction, a sewing pattern company. She also is a fabric designer and has recently released 5 additional colors for her Crossroads Denim line.
Amy was inspired to write Dimensional Denim after noticing a prevailing trend in home decor products of adding texture through fabric manipulation. She loved the look and started creating dimensional techniques using her Crossroads denim as well as recycled denim.
Denim is a perfect fabric for this kind of project. Because denim is woven, it doesn’t have a right or wrong side – they can both be used. Also, denim rips nicely, leaving a softly frayed edge that can be used as a design element. In this book, all the techniques are created by ripping instead of cutting.
Many of Indygo Junction’s patterns include an option for using recycled materials, and Dimensional Denim is no exception. There are 2 projects in the book that specifically use recycled denim, but any of the projects can be adapted to that material. The book includes instructions for the best way to cut up your old jeans.
The other projects in the book use Amy’s line of Crossroads Denim. The projects in the book showcase the original 14 colors, but she recently added 5 new gorgeous colors to the mix: Cactus Pink, Wisteria, Mushroom, Ice Blue and Pistachio.
Today I want to share with you the tutorial for the Strip N’ Stitch technique that is featured in the book. This technique can be added to any project to create a textural element. For instance, you could use it as a border on an A-Line skirt, create dimensional quilt blocks, use it for a chenille “fur” effect on stuffed animals, or simply add it to a pillow or table runner for some added Home Decor interest.
1. Measure and mark at least two 1” widths on the selvedge of your fabric. Make a small cut at each mark, through the selvedge into the fabric.
2. Tear the strips the width of the fabric. Cut off the selvedge edges of each strip. The strips will tend to curl, so iron them flat. Next, cut a square of background fabric that will be used to attach the strips.
3. On the RS of the background fabric, draw a diagonal line from the left top corner to the bottom right corner with a chalk or soluble fabric marker. Be sure to test the marker on a scrap of fabric before marking on your fabric. Continue to draw diagonal lines on either side of the first line that are at least 1” apart. If you want to see more of the background fabric “peeking” between the strips, space your lines accordingly. We chose to leave about 1/8” between our sewn strips.
4. Line up the left edge of each strip with the marked lines. Pin the RS of each strip to the RS of the background fabric down the length of each strip. Use plenty of pins since the strips will be stitched on the bias grain of the background fabric which can have a tendency to stretch. Trim each end of the strips 1/2” longer than the outer edges of the background fabric – they will be trimmed again after stitching.
5. Use a medium width machine zig zag and sew down the center of each strip to secure. Trim the strips to match the outer edges of the background fabric.
6. Different effects can be achieved by using wider strips and also by sewing the strips closer or farther apart.
7. Remember that the spaces between the lines can be no closer than the width of the strip or the strips will overlap. Experiment and see the possibilities!
Amy is giving away copies of Dimensional Denim, as well as a grand prize pack of the book, Crossroads fabric and Crossroads patterns. To win, click here and leave a comment to win. You can also purchase Dimensional Denim at 30% off using this code DDBT14 at checkout.
What a fun looking book! I love the idea of working in colorful denim!
Liked book so much I ordered it
I love the textures!! I must get this book and try these!
Wow!! That is such a cool technique! I love it and I’m not usually into such modern styles, but this has me excited to try it! I’d love to win the book and get more ideas.
I love the ideas shown here!
This book looks like is is full of innovative ideas.
Nifty!
I love denim and these colors and projects are fantastic!
This is so interesting!I haven’t ever worked with denim and would never have thought to cut it in strips and use it this way. It creates a new look for lots of different projects.I also didn’t know denim came in colors..
This looks so awesome, kind of simple but a great look when finished!
I’d love to have this book and learn how to create in this way.
This looks like fun!
This book looks so fun! The wall flower is so great. 🙂
Love the tutorial on the Strip N Stitch technique. It looks so simple. The new colors of the Crossroads Denim are lovely. Can’t imagine that they are actually made in denim! Would like to use those in an all denim quilt!
I love all the samples that each site has put out. The many different ways to use denim is amazing.