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Distressed jeans can be pricey, but with just a little effort, you can make a pair yourself. All you need is a razor and a sketch of what you want your jeans to look like. By making a few cuts along the knee and upper thigh of a plain pair of jeans, you can add a stylish pair of distressed jeans to your wardrobe.
Steps
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Put on your pair of jeans. Marking where you want to distress your jeans will be easier when you're wearing them. You can also get a feel of where the jeans would wear down naturally, like around your knees. [1] X Research source
- Any pair of denim jeans will work, as long as you don't mind altering them!
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Use a washable marker to mark where you want to distress. Draw lines to mark where you want the top and bottom of the holes you want to make. Focus on areas that would wear down naturally, like the knees, over the front and back pockets, and the upper thigh. [2] X Research source- The size of the holes you make is completely up to you.
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Take off your jeans and place them on a flat surface. This will be your workstation. You can use any kind of sturdy surface, like a shoebox, a small footstool, or a table. [3] X Research source
- Don't try to distress your jeans while wearing them or you could hurt yourself with the razor.
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Put a thick magazine inside the jeans under where you’ll be distressing. A thick magazine will help prevent you from accidentally cutting other areas of your jeans where you don’t want slits or holes. The magazine will also help keep the denim taut, making it easier for you to cut. [4] X Research source
- If you don’t have a magazine lying around, a thick notebook or a piece of cardboard should also do the trick.
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Use a razor blade to carefully make slits where you’re distressing. Add the first slit where you want the bottom of your hole to be. Then add horizontal slits at 0.5 in (1.3 cm) increments until you reach the top of where you want the hole to be. Make the slits as long as you want the holes to be. Do this for every area you want to distress. [5] X Research source
- Be very careful when using a razor blade so you don't cut yourself. You might want to wear a pair of thick gloves for extra protection.
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Pull the threads of the slits apart to create natural-looking holes. Once you’ve made slits with your razor blade, use some tweezers or a bobby pin to open the slits wider. Use your fingers to pull apart threads that become exposed. Keep pulling the threads apart until you get holes that are the size and shape you want. [6] X Research source
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Fray pockets and other areas with a disposable shaving razor. Move the disposable razor back and forth to scrape the area you want to distress. Keep scraping until you get the look you want. A disposable razor works great on the zipper area, waistband, pockets, and the hemline. [7] X Research source
- Use caution when using a disposable razor.
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Wash and dry your jeans twice. Washing your jeans will help clear out any loose threads hanging around. Washing and drying them twice will also help make the new holes look more worn. After this step, your new, stylish distressed jeans will be ready to wear! [8] X Research source
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Finished!
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I make a high-low crop top?Community AnswerTake a shirt that is a little too big and put it on. Mark with a pen where you want to start cutting (say, just above the navel), making sure you allow an inch for stitching the hem. On the back, make a mark where you want the shirt's lowest point to be. Take the shirt off, use the pen to sketch the rest of the hem to make sure you cut the fabric evenly, and cut along your lines. You can also simply cut a line between the two marks you made, but you will likely have an uneven hem.
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QuestionWhat can I make using jeans?SiluniCommunity AnswerYou can cut the jeans into any size you want, and make stylish shorts by adding some accessories to them. You can also make purses or wallets out of old jeans.
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QuestionMy new jeans have a big hole in them. What should I do?Community AnswerFirst of all, when buying distressed jeans or any denim, don't go for the cheaper stuff. Buy high quality; if you don't, it will get ruined and look tacky after a few washes. To fill the hole, you could try adding a creative patch underneath. Simply pick out a patterned fabric (should be a more heavy-weight fabric for best results) and then sew it underneath the hole. This will give your jeans a creative, chic look. Don't be afraid to experiment, as this could be a fun experience and could turn out great!
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Things You'll Need
- Jeans
- Razor blade
- Disposable razor
- Thick Magazine
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about sewing, check out our in-depth interview with Shaelynn Haning .
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy4WnVa2dzQ
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/07/distress-jeans-how-to
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/07/distress-jeans-how-to
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/07/distress-jeans-how-to
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/07/distress-jeans-how-to
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/07/distress-jeans-how-to
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/fashion/a58592/5-easy-tricks-for-distressing-your-jeans/
- ↑ https://fashionista.com/2016/07/distress-jeans-how-to
About This Article
Article Summary
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Distressed jeans can be pricey, but with a little effort, you can make your own pair at home. Start by putting on your jeans and using a washable marker to mark where you want to distress them. Then, take them off and place a thick magazine or piece of cardboard inside the jeans where you’ll be distressing, which will prevent you from damaging your table or floor. Use a razor blade to make horizontal slits. Then, use tweezers to gently pull at the threads to make it look more natural. You can also run a disposable razor back and forth over areas to give them a worn look. To make the distressing look more natural wash and dry your jeans twice before wearing them. To learn how to decide where to distress your jeans, read on!
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