Have you tried another cycle besides Normal? Maybe Darks/Colors, which uses "low to medium speed wash action". You can also add the Stain Treat function to the D/C cycle and set the Soil Level to Light - this should give you a short main wash ( -> little agitation) due to the Light Soil Level, yet maintain a proper cleaning result, due to Stain Treat. Just a thought... BTW: Fisher & Paykel just released their version of the Oasis in Australia and New Zealand. It has a dedicated Jeans cycle. Unfortunately, the manual contains very little information about what the Jeans cycle actually does... "JEANS can be responsible for damaging other items in the wash. They should be washed separately, and require their own specific wash action to get clean. ThatÂs why we [Fisher & Paykel] have created a special cycle specifically for JEANS. The cold wash temperature helps reduce loss of colour and the fast spin ensures that your jeans will dry quickly." Alex

Hi Marti, I've been away from the forum a while,and missed your post. I love making jean quilts. I'm saving up for number 3. I don't have a picture of the last one, but here's the first one I made. I learned alot from it, most importantly, is to use the heavy duty snips like mentioned above. It'll save your hands lots of swelling and pain. After it's made, I cleaned the washing machine and dryer after each time I washed and dried, and took it outside and gave it a good shake between washing and drying. That helped with the fraying and lent. I don't have batting between the top and bottom layers. They were so much fun to make. Here's the front of the first one I made: Here's the back side: doris

Hello I just found this site and i love it.I love making originals from used items. As for jeans i have found some uses for the part i usually have left over, the top by the pocket area.i have made many stockings.i cut along the zipper to cut the two legs apart, then cut a stocking shape with the inner thigh as the toe,the pocket stays in tack for extra space, back belt loop for hanging,is absolutly adorable. i have also used this part of the jeans for paper by the phone.i just cut it flat on the bottom instead of stocking shape, fill main part with paper and pocket with pens hang by belt loop.these were both items i did with my kids jeans. Right now i just started a garden items holder. i intend to cover a large pair of mens jean overalls with pockets from leftover projects.i hope to keep my garden tools together hanging on the wall in this.i my mind its cute, i'll post a pic when its done. I also have in my minds eye to make a book/small toy holder for my daughters room with the tops of jeans cut down the sides and sewn to a opened up leg piece of jean. nice to meet fellow salvagers... i'll be lurking around...

Two years ago I made at least 30 of these to sell and as Christmas gifts. You can use liquid starch cut with water for the stiffening. To make it water proof I used a two part Resin purchased at HD. I did not use live plants in mine...used silk. sold htem for $65-$80 each. Bought the jeans, shoes, etc at Salvation Army and afew cute ideas is to stuff pockets with spanish moss with some little "creatures" (butterflies, frogs, etc.) crawling out...purchased at craft store. I personalized the one I made for gift giving by adding little thins like apples in pocket for teacher, nurse cap in pocket for nurse, etc.