How to Make Distressed Jeans

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Purchasing distressed jeans from a store can get pricey. Luckily, you can turn a regular pair of jeans into distressed jeans with a shaving razor or pair of scissors . It's fun and easy to turn even the oldest, most unfashionable pair of jeans into distressed jeans. Mark the areas you want to distress. Then, cut horizontal lines with the razor and remove threads with a pair of tweezers. When you're done, you'll have your own pair of distressed jeans.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Laying Down the Groundwork

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  1. You can distress any type of jeans. Choose a pair of jeans you do not mind ripping or fraying. If you've never distressed jeans before, you may want to opt for old jeans you do not mind damaging.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Distressed Jeans
    The easiest way to see where to distress your jeans is to try them on. Jeans fit everyone differently, so there is no precise rule of thumb regarding where, say, your knees will fall in the jeans. Try your jeans on and mark the areas where you want holes using a pen, marker, or piece of chalk. [1]
    • Jeans are commonly distressed at the knees, back pockets, upper thighs, or at the sides. Mark which area you want to distress. For example, if you're distressing your upper thigh, think about where you would want the rips to show when wearing your jeans. [2]
    • If you've never distressed jeans before, it is not advised that you distress the sides. Side seams are necessary to hold the jeans together so these areas can rip easily. If you do distress along the sides, only make a few tears.
    • If you plan on distressing your back pocket, it is probably not necessary to try the jeans on first.
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  3. You should have a flat work station with good lighting. For example, distress your jeans at the kitchen counter. You should also lay something down, like a tarp, to catch any fabric scraps while you're distressing your jeans.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Distressed Jeans
    Sanding the jeans will make cutting and tweezing easier, so sand jeans if your jeans are very thick. Also, sanding can create a faded look. If you want faded colors on your jeans, use sandpaper to lightly sand the areas you're distressing beforehand. Only sand the areas a bit, until the color is just faded and the fabric is worn down slightly. [3]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Distressed Jeans
    Take a piece of cardboard and cut it until it fits into the pant legs of your jeans. Insert the cardboard into your jeans. This ensures you do not accidentally cut through to the backs of the jeans.
    • When distressing your back pocket, you can put a deck of cards or block of wood in the back pocket to protect your jeans.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cutting the Jeans

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Distressed Jeans
    Use a shaving razor or a pair of scissors to distress your jeans. If you want clean holes, cut horizontal lines across your jeans. If you want white threads to show, scrape the edge of the blade across the jean to expose white threads. [4]
    • Keep your cuts half an inch to three quarters of an inch apart (about 1.3 to 2 centimeters). [5]
    • Remember, only make a few cuts if you're distressing the sides of jeans and stay away from the side seams.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Distressed Jeans
    Once the cuts are made, pull away excess fabric with tweezers until the holes are covered by bare strands of thread. Pull out as many threads as you can, only working in the areas where you cut. Try to remove all the colored threads so only white elastic threads are spread across the holes. [6]
    • You will not be able to remove all the colored portions of the thread. There may be some fuzz leftover around the edges of holes when you're done as well. However, these come out in the wash, so do not worry if your jeans are not perfect the first time.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Distressed Jeans
    There is usually loose fabric and thread on the jeans after you cut and tweeze them. Take a lint roller and roll it over the areas where you distressed the jeans. Roll the lint roller as many times as you need to remove excess fabric.
  4. Washing the jeans right after distressing will help remove any more debris and thread. Use a cold wash to protect your jeans. Warm or hot water should not be used on distressed jeans. You can dry the jeans as you usually would before wearing them. [7]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Mistakes

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  1. Not all jeans will hold up during the distressing process. Denim jeans come in different weights, starting at six ounces (about .3 pounds). In general, opt for denim jeans that are at least 20 ounces (1.25 pounds) when distressing jeans. These jeans will stand up better to the distressing process. [8]
    • The weight should be written somewhere on the label.
  2. Distressed jeans are more prone to damage in the wash, so read their label carefully first. Make sure you know any special care instructions for your jeans. Follow these closely after washing them. [9]
  3. Most jeans do not need to be washed very often. Distressed jeans especially should be washed infrequently to prevent tears. Strive to wash your jeans no more than once a month. [10]
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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

  1. ↑ http://theeverygirl.com/diy-distressed-boyfriend-jeans
  2. ↑ http://blog.ae.com/2014/10/10/do-a-distressed-denim-diy/
  3. ↑ http://theeverygirl.com/diy-distressed-boyfriend-jeans
  4. ↑ http://stylecaster.com/how-to-make-ripped-jeans/
  5. ↑ http://theeverygirl.com/diy-distressed-boyfriend-jeans
  6. ↑ http://theeverygirl.com/diy-distressed-boyfriend-jeans
  7. ↑ http://theeverygirl.com/diy-distressed-boyfriend-jeans
  8. ↑ http://blog.ae.com/2014/10/10/do-a-distressed-denim-diy/
  9. ↑ http://blog.ae.com/2014/10/10/do-a-distressed-denim-diy/
  1. ↑ http://blog.ae.com/2014/10/10/do-a-distressed-denim-diy/

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  • Question
    Why should I wash the jeans after?
    Community Answer
    It helps make the slit look less clean and the edges will fray faster.
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  • Question
    Can I do this with jeans that contain spandex?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but don’t cut where the spandex is; this could ruin the stretchiness of the jeans.
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  • Question
    Can I cut it anywhere?
    Community Answer
    You can, but I suggest you only cut the legs, not too high up and not too large.
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      • Give it time. Once you've made the initial holes, jeans will become more ripped over time. Start with only a few slits and your jeans will naturally rip more as you wear them.
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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to make your own distressed jeans, try the jeans on and mark where you want them to be distressed. Lay your jeans on a flat surface and insert a thick piece of cardboard into your jeans so you don’t accidentally cut the other side. If your jeans are very thick, rub them lightly with sandpaper to make them easier to distress. Next, use a shaving razor or a pair of scissors to scrape or cut horizontal slits in the area you’re distressing. Pull out individual threads with tweezers, then clean them up with a lint roller. If you want to learn more, like how to wash your jeans after you distress them, keep reading the article!

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      • Keith Trussell

        Jan 1, 2019

        "Made distressing my jeans much easier, and gave helpful tips about what to be careful not to do. I'm doing my ..." more
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