Starting with a properly selected, old pair of good jeans that are properly prepared for your Becky Bags needlepoint project is the quickest way to prepare for success.
Each model is unique and selecting jeans that meet its requirements is critical to achieve the proper results. See the requirements listed in the eBook for your model to confirm its requirements and always begin with repurposed jeans that match those requirements. Colors are important in creating an attractive accessory. Refer to the eBook to get the colors suggested for the jeans and the needlepoint threads before deciding if the jeans will combine with the threads to make the complimentary accessory you want and adapt either or both according to your personal tastes.
Being old is not necessarily good when the jeans are so worn that they are threadbare in all the wrong places. Refer to the eBook for the specific dimensions of the pattern pieces for the model to determine if the jeans will accommodate the non-threadbare requirements of all pattern pieces.
Wash the jeans by following their care label instructions before beginning any cutting. When in doubt about the tendency for the jeans to fade, strive to set their colorfast by soaking in a vinegar and water solution followed by a rinse. Repeat the soaking and rinsing process until the rinse water is clear. Any inability to get clear rinse water should be a sign that these jeans will likely fade onto your needlework and should not be used. Needlepoint thread should also be colorfast.
Never use a soil or water resistant spray or rinse on the jeans because they will damage your needlework.
Personal tastes should serve as the final guide in selecting the jeans and threads for your accessory creation, so take all the time you need at this point to feel confident that these will work for you. After that, stitch away and create the accessory you will be pleased to use.
