How to Make Distressed Jeans

[bw]

How to Make Distressed Jeans

Dying to get in on the distressed jean trend, but not willing to shell out major cash for ripped designer duds? Here's how to turn even the oldest, most unfashionable pair of jeans into bohemian-chic attire.

Steps

Place a block of wood (or some other solid surface that you don't mind possibly damaging) within the pant leg or denim region you want to distress.
Rub a steak knife vertically or horizontally against area of denim that you would like to distress. Rub gently for mild distress; rub longer and more vigorously to create more visible distress (such as holes and tears).
Fray jeans by rubbing sandpaper around pockets, knees, hemlines, or any other area of denim that you would like to have a soft, worn appearance.
Dampen a sponge with bleach and rub it around the outer edges of holes for a faded look.
Wash your jeans.
Wear your newly stylish distressed jeans.

Alternative Methods

Take the nail file and start filing away at one area. Some jean "lint" will come off, and it can get quite annoying. Peel it off the nail file as well as the jeans every couple of seconds. Keep filing until you get the desired size of hole. After a little bit, the white threads will appear. Once this happens, do not file the white threads. This will result in them ripping and then you are left with a complete hole and not a wear mark.
Another great way to make your jeans look distressed without completely ripping them to shreds is to use a cheese grater around areas that show the most wear and tear (knees, behind, around the pockets, etc). Do this with a light hand, or else you might go through the fabric.
Also think about different stains; paint, oil, and bleach work well. Don't go overboard on the stains. This is one area where less is more.

Tips

Work on a less visible area of your jeans (such as the bottom hem) until you get the hang of the process.
Work outside to minimize bleach odor and mess.
If you don't have any old jeans to work with, you can find cheap pairs of brand name jeans at Goodwill for about $5.

Warnings

Always wear gloves and other appropriate attire when working with bleach or other stains.
Never work on jeans while you are wearing them.

[bw]

How to Rip Your Own Jeans

Aren't you sick of going to stores and seeing these awesome ripped jeans and wishing you could have them, but they are just too expensive? You could get the same pants without holes for half the price. Here's how you can get the cool look for a lower price.

Steps

Buy a pair of comfortable loose pants, or use a pair that you already have.
Prepare to cut them either while wearing them or with them off. It's easier if they are on you, but be extra careful to avoid cutting yourself.
Find the way the lines are going and rub the blade of the knife against the lines. For example, if the lines are horizontal, do it vertically (and vice versa).
When you have created a slit, take the pointy end of the knife and rub it against the edges until you see the white strings going in the opposite direction. Keep doing this until you have the desired hole size. Repeat this until you have a good number of holes in the pants.
To cut a knee hole, cut the knee in the desired location as far as you want the hole to extend, then rub the edges with the knife so that they get fuzzy and messy.
When the jeans are finished, throw them in the water with a little bit of bleach to age them a bit. Then dry them. The washing will also fray the cuts and make them look better.
Voila! You have just created your own unique ripped jeans - take that, name brands!

Tips

Most jean companies seem to place the rips in spots on the jeans where they normally wouldn't get ripped by day to day activities.
Try not to make too many holes. That just looks tacky. Around 3-7 is a good number (depending on the size).

Warnings

If you are wearing the jeans, try not to cut yourself.

Things You'll Need

A sharp knife with a pointy tip
A pair of jeans

[bw]

How to Bleach Jeans

It really depends on how badly you want to bleach. There are three zones: really bleached, kind of bleached, and hardly bleached.

Steps

Take a plastic bucket, large enough to hold your jeans folded up.
Fill it about 3/4 of the way with water.
Add the bleach according to how much you want. (warning: no more than maybe a 1/4 cup (Edit - 1/4 of a cup is only enough to clean the jeans, to get rid of some of the dye, use between 1 and 2 cups) of bleach, we aren't trying to make the ozone hole bigger)
Put on some rubber gloves and get going. Bleach a little at a time, and don't let it just sit, or you'll get some seriously white jeans.
After you're finished, take the jeans out and mashine wash them, alone. Ta-Da bleached jeans.

Tips

If you just want some bleached parts, or splatters, cover a table with plastic, and use a paint brush; again don't forget those rubber gloves.
You can also twist each leg of the jeans (maybe get someone to help) and then tie them together in a knot and then place in the bucket of bleach and water but keep a close eye on it. This will give you a lovely effect.
You can also hang your jeans from a clothes line and use an old paintbrush to spatter the jeans in spots with the bleach solution, but make sure the dog and cat are out of the way first!

Warnings

Bleach burns and whitens everything, so be very careful.
Those gloves are really important so don't forget.

[Arlene]

I remember I used to wear new jeans and wear them out and then buy new ones and do the same thing.. now people are paying so much for jeans that I threw out ahhahaha

[silkifyre]

I can distress jeans just by wearin'em! The snaps are too tight. The zipper's too tight. I can't bend in them. I can't breathe in them. So... it ain't just the jeans bein' distressed... it's ME!!!

[Arlene]

;D ;D ;D


I have "fat" jeans for days like that or I did.. now I wear my "fat" jeans now and the others are too tight

I switched to relaxed size last year.. still try to get in my regular ones and even try to wear them but I feel like I can;t breath, move and my blood is not circulating in the lower half of my body ;D ;D and I walk like a darn duck ahhhhaaa ;D but am losing a teeny bit at a time. no time to sit in front of the tv and eat anymore man I sure miss that ;D hahahha

I notice that since I have to get in and out of the car up to 20 runs a night I am losing the bottom part of my but and my thighs .. hahha. they are actually smaller! and my jeans feel funny now.. like tight around the belly and almost baggy at my butt hahahha ;D

[silkifyre]

LOLOL That's so funny, Ar! But congrats on the loss. I actually lost like 25 lbs since Bob moved in back in the beginning of June, and I dropped 2 jean sizes! YAY!!! I still have quite a bit I want and need to lose, but I'm slowly getting there.

[Arlene]

congrats!!