Denim Fabric Guide: History, Sewing, and Care

I am sure that there is a piece of clothing made from denim fabric in your closet, but how is it produced and sewn. 

This month I have decided to delve deeper into the history of denim fabric, its production secrets, and the diverse possibilities of its use. I will share valuable tips on sewing and care so that we can all fully enjoy this iconic material.

Denim is one of the most iconic and durable fabrics that has been popular for decades in various parts of the world. 

History of Denim Fabric

The production of denim fabric began in the 19th century in the United States when Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis created the first denim pants with metal rivets in 1873 to reinforce the seams. Denim pants were originally intended for gold miners and workers, but soon became popular among the general public as well. 

Today, denim fabric is used not only for clothing but also for making accessories and furniture.

How is denim fabric made?

Denim fabric is made using cotton fibers that are woven using a twill weave.

Tweed weave is a specific type of weave in which the warp (lengthwise) thread covers several weft (crosswise) threads, creating a diagonal pattern. This diagonal pattern gives denim fabric its characteristic appearance and durability. Typically, denim fabric is dyed indigo blue, although nowadays it is available in many different colors.

A wide range is available in our online store denim fabric range. Choose the most suitable fabric for your projects, depending on thickness, color, and composition.

100% cotton denim: Usually, denim fabric is made from 100% cotton. It is sturdy and durable.

Denim fabric with elastane: The flexible jeans are added with elastane to provide a bit of stretch.

Mixed denim fabrics: Stores also offer cotton denim fabric with various synthetic blends.

What to sew from denim fabric?

Denim fabric is very versatile and durable, which makes it suitable for sewing various products.

Here are some examples:

Plain jeans up to 150 g/m² is best suited for shirts, skirts, and dresses, as it has the greatest fall.

Medium thickness denim 200-250 g/m is perfect for jackets, pants, shorts, overalls, and more structured dresses or skirts. The medium denim has a moderate stiffness that makes it so versatile.

The heaviest jeans from 250 g/m It is suitable for trousers, overalls, and jackets, as it has a very durable structure.

Sewing Tips

Before sewing, wash the jeans to remove excess dye and prevent shrinkage after sewing. 

All the denim fabrics I have bought always bleed a lot because the blue pigment is quite finicky. To avoid staining the sewing machine and my hands, I always wash them in the washing machine adding 1/2 cup of vinegar.

1. Use suitable needles: The denim fabric is thick and strong, so use special denim needles. The recommended needle size is from 90/14. Check out our offer. jeans fabric needles.

1. Choose a strong thread: Use special denim thread, which is more durable and gives denim products a similarly decorative orange-brown seam look.
2. Choose a longer stitch length, when sewing through several layers of fabric, approximately 3-4 mm.
3. Use thickness compensators, to smoothly finish crossing the thicker seams or to fold a piece of fabric so that the hem is not slanted.

How to Care for Denim Fabric

Denim clothing is quite easy to care for. To make denim clothing last longer, follow these tips:

1. Wash less: Washing too frequently can fade the color and wear out the fabric.
2. Wash in cool water: It helps to preserve color and reduces fabric shrinkage.
3. Use suitable colors: If you want to restore the color of denim fabric, use fabric colors from our store.

Denim not only looks great but is also a practical and durable material. 

For great sewing, 

Snow

I use the following websites to create the article:

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external websites. However, if you provide me with the text you would like translated from Latvian to English, I would be happy to help!

I'm sorry, but I can't access external links. However, if you provide the text you want translated, I can help with that!

I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that request.

I'm sorry, but I can't access external links. However, if you provide the text you want translated, I'd be happy to help!

I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external websites. However, if you provide me with the text you would like translated from Latvian to English, I would be happy to help!

I'm sorry, but I cannot access external links. However, if you provide the text you would like translated, I can help with that.