Cucurbita’s Report Card

Written By Denim Twice
 
 

Good news - my baby, Cucurbita, has graduated with great marks! At the age of 18 months, it shows no signs of wear and tear, and is cool as a pumpkin.

What’s the story?

This pumpkin is made from reclaimed denim, because that’s what I do best.

What’s the big deal? 

It proved that it’s ready for the world.

I made Cucurbita (Latin for gourd) cushion cover in October, 2018, using the remnants of two pairs of men’s jeans and a chambray shirt.  When washed and line-dried outside, it retained a few wrinkles, but I called that a “pre-loved” look and skipped the iron. I stuffed the insert in, plopped the pillow on the white couch in the living room and let it be. 

For over a year, it was leaned on, hugged, used under a laptop, tugged, smushed, and otherwise loved daily by three regular people and their occasional guests. It endured bright sunlight, an ambivalent dog and a patio chair. It matured, and a year and a half later, it was finally laundered and dried outside again. 

And I am pleased with the result: 

  • There is no visible fading in its overall color.

  • The fabric shows no thinning around the corners and closure.

  • The seams held without ripping, and the closure is intact.

  • The fringe did not disintegrate.

  • The cushion cover did not require special care.

  • It left no marks on the white couch.

The wear & tear test was a success. Although not a scientific experiment, it validated the methods I use to ensure the quality of the soft home goods I make.

Here’s how I do it: 

I upcycle only the least worn parts of the denim garments I reclaim, thus the finished product looks and wears like it’s been made from new denim. The fabric won’t rip until worn threadbare, like on the knees or hems of your jeans. With soft home goods, this will take years. 

I reinforce the seams along the fringe to prevent unraveling. The fringe will withstand occasional combing, should you choose to style it. But don’t overdo - the more you comb, the less fringe you have left.

Before I upcycle a denim garment, it has been worn and washed many times by its previous owner. Thus there’s little chance that it will stain anything it touches. As I constantly perform wear & tear tests, I will be adding new report cards in the Notes section upon their completion. Join my mailing list at the bottom of this page and see the test scores in your inbox as they become available.

Meanwhile, I continue to upcycle a wide variety of denim washes. See what I’ve made so far and keep coming back for new items.

 
Denim Twice