Blue Jeans on the Floor

A couple years ago I began collecting my family's discarded jeans. I wasn't sure what to do with them but always liked the material and that particular blue jean color. With my children outsizing their old clothes I became wistful about their growing up so fast. Recreating has become a palpable way for me to hold on to their childhood (without holding them back.)

First I cut the jeans. (see picture) I start by using a seam ripper to take out the double stitching on the inseam. My goal is to get as long of a strip as possible so I won't have to knot the jean yarn. It is possible to cut one long strip by starting at the bottom of one leg, crossing over the pant seat, and continuing down the other leg. My strip is 1/2" wide.

My first rug used nine pairs of jeans. The nine stripes show the different dyes and types of cotton used in the jeans. After a few attempts I found a satisfying way to weave the denim. If you look at the detail, you’ll see the white cotton from the gabardine unraveling. Depending on your taste for fringe on your cutoffs, you may or may not like this effect.

The second rug is made from 3 pairs of blue jeans but this time I added a golden rod colored wool yarn. These two fibers are worn pick-for-pick. I did some alternating to create a pattern.

The things I like the most about weaving blue jeans are the thickness of the rug, how flat it lies, or finding a way of using discarded, yet sentimental material.

roadrunners (close up)

illinois rug

Roadrunners

This series of "road rugs" combines my skills as a weaver and graphic designer.

I studied graphics at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland and later designed at the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, and other New York art institutions. My design training, which emphasized the development of hand skills and translations of modern signs and symbols, is reflected here in patterns inspired by identifiable lines on streets and highways.

We automatically associate these markings with hard pavement, a seemingly endless surface that only comes in contact with the wheels of our cars. By changing the context and imbuing these patterns with the soft, warm, tactile, "indoor" qualities of rugs, I hope to provide a unique aesthetic to your home or workplace.

All rugs are handmade from start to finish and woven with un-dyed fibers, natural shades of Corriendale wool. They can be custom made to fit your hallway, staircase, or any space you have in mind, with widths up to 40" and unlimited lengths. For larger dimensions, rugs can be joined and made virtually seamless.