How to Cut Knee Holes in Jeans

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Holes happen naturally happen in jeans. While they may make other types of pants appear ruined, many people see them as fashionable when it comes to jeans. You can always buy a brand-new pair of pre-torn jeans from the store, but you can save lots of money by making the holes yourself. It takes a little more than just slicing the knees open with a knife, however; knowing where to place the holes and how to fray them can make a huge difference.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Cutting a Simple Slit

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  1. Find a pair of jeans that fit you well, then put them on. Draw a horizontal line across your knee with a pen or a piece. You can do this on just 1 knee, or you can do it on both knees.
    • You can create more than 1 slit on each knee.
    • For best results, choose fitted or skinny jeans that are already faded in the knee area.
  2. Make sure that you slide the cardboard all the way down into the knee. This will prevent the craft blade from cutting through the back layer of fabric. [1]
    • Skip the cardboard if you do not have a craft blade.
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  3. Do not cut all the way from seam-to-seam. The jeans will rip further on their own and give your hole a more authentic appearance. [2]
    • You can leave more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) between the edges of the slit and the seams.
    • If you do not have a craft blade, use a pair of fabric scissors to cut the slit instead. [3]
  4. Keep the cardboard inside the pant leg. Run a nail file or a piece of sandpaper back-and-forth across the raw, cut edges. You can also run the nail file or sandpaper over the cut edge and into the hole. [4]
    • How much you do this depends on what sort of effect you want. The longer you file or sand the fabric, the more it will fray.
  5. At this point, your hole is done. You can repeat the process to make another hole on the other pant leg. It can be the same size, or it can be a little smaller/larger.
  6. Keep in mind that the hole will fray on its own as you wash and wear the jeans. If you don't want to wait, however, machine wash and dry the jeans. This will fray the raw edges and give them a softer, more natural look. [5]
    • Check the how-to-wash tag on your jeans to find out what temperature and cycle setting you should use. Most jeans will require cold water.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Square Hole

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  1. You can use any cut of jeans you want, but skinny or fitted jeans will look better. If you want the hole to look more authentic, choose a pair of jeans that are already old and faded in the knee area.
  2. The lines can be whatever length you want them to be, but they need to be equal. How far apart you make the marks depends on how big you want the hole to be. The further apart you make the marks, the bigger the hole will be. [6]
    • Use chalk for dark fabrics and a pen for light.
    • Leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space between the edges of the lines and the seams on your jeans.
  3. Spread the jeans out on a flat surface, then tuck a sheet of cardboard into the pant leg, just behind the knee. This will keep the blade from cutting through to the back of the jeans.
    • You do not need the cardboard if you'll be cutting the jeans with scissors.
  4. You can cut the marks with scissors or with a craft blade. Once again, be careful not to cut through the side seams. If you inserted a piece of cardboard into the pant leg, remove it when you are done.
    • You are only cutting 2 parallel, horizontal slits. You are not actually cutting a square hole.
  5. After you cut along the lines, you'll be left with a scrap of fabric between the slits. Use a pair of tweezers to grab the blue threads and pull them out. When you are done, you'll have a bunch of white threads between the 2 slits. [7]
    • Do not pull the threads out above and below the slits.
    • Do not pull the horizontal white threads out. This will elongate the hole. Let the threads break on their own.
  6. The threads will break and fray on their own the more you wear the jeans. If you want to see the wear and tear happen sooner, however, toss the jeans into the washer, then dry them in the dryer. [8]
    • Check the care tag on your jeans to find out what temperature and cycle you should use. Most jeans should be washed in cold water, however.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How ripped should jeans be?
    Stephanie Fajardo
    Professional Stylist
    Stephanie Fajardo is a Personal Stylist based in Portland, Oregon. Stephanie has over 17 years of styling experience in personal consulting, television, photography, and film shoots. Her work has been featured in Esquire Magazine and Portland Fashion Week.
    Stephanie Fajardo
    Professional Stylist
    Expert Answer
    Start with a small hole. If you want to cut a hole in your jeans, start small, then wash the jeans in your washer. That way, you can see how they're going to fray, and you can make the hole bigger if you need to.
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      Tips

      • Choose jeans that are already worn, or that have a light wash or fade down the front. This will make the hole look like it happened naturally.
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      • For a more authentic look, choose a pair of skinny jeans that end at your ankle. Avoid flare, boot cut, or baggy jeans.
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      • Make the hole smaller than you want it. It will become larger on its own as you continue to wear the jeans.
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      Things You'll Need

      Cutting a Simple Slit

      • Jeans
      • Cardboard
      • Craft blade
      • Chalk or pen

      Making a Square Hole

      • Jeans
      • Scissors or craft blade
      • Cardboard (if using craft blade)
      • Chalk or pen
      • Tweezers

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      References

      1. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/how-to-diy-your-denim-and-rip-jeans-at-the-knee/
      2. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/how-to-diy-your-denim-and-rip-jeans-at-the-knee/
      3. ↑ https://www.brit.co/how-to-diy-ripped-jeans-ombre-jeans-geometric-jeans-tutorial/
      4. ↑ https://www.brit.co/how-to-diy-ripped-jeans-ombre-jeans-geometric-jeans-tutorial/
      5. ↑ https://www.brit.co/how-to-diy-ripped-jeans-ombre-jeans-geometric-jeans-tutorial/
      6. ↑ http://apairandasparediy.com/2014/09/diy-distressed-knee-jeans/
      7. ↑ http://apairandasparediy.com/2014/09/diy-distressed-knee-jeans/
      8. ↑ http://apairandasparediy.com/2014/09/diy-distressed-knee-jeans/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Cutting knee holes in your jeans is a great way to give them new life and make them more fashionable. First, put on your jeans and mark a line on each leg where you want the holes to be. Then, take off your jeans, place a piece of cardboard inside each leg where the line is, and cut each line with scissors or a sharp knife. The cardboard will stop you from accidentally cutting the back of your jeans. If you want to fray the edges of the holes, rub them with sandpaper or a nail file. The holes will naturally grow when you wash your jeans in the washing machine. However, if you're worried about them getting too big, add a few stitches to either side of each hole. For more tips from our Fashion co-author, including how to cut square holes in your jeans, read on!

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