How to Make Dirty Denim Distressed Cut Off Shorts

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 16, 2021 Tested

If you have an old set of jeans and want to get ready for the Summer, turning them into a set of cut-offs is a way to reinvent your wardrobe without costing a dime. Because jeans are so compatible with a DIY approach, bleaching and fraying your new denim shorts will give them an edgy, fashionably worn-out look. This is relatively easy to do at home, and because you're doing it all yourself, the "distressed" appeal of your cut-offs will be authentic.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Cutting the Jeans

1
Find an old pair of jeans. Find a pair of jeans you won't feel bad about cutting up. If you have a decent-sized wardrobe, chances are you'll have a set of jeans you don't normally wear anymore. Rather than throw them out outright, you can reconfigure these old jeans into something new. If your wardrobe doesn't have a suitable pair used jeans can be purchased very cheaply at stores.
- If you're not willing to let go of jeans you already own, you can find old pairs at discount clothing shops and consignment or thrift stores. These discount jeans aren't usually fashionable on their own, but they can be reworked into a thing of beauty with a DIY approach.
- A friend of yours may have jeans she doesn't use anymore. Provided you're the same size, you may consider asking her to donate them.
2
Cut your jeans using existing shorts as a template.^{[1]
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Research source} If you have another existing pair of shorts, straighten out your jean legs and place the shorts overtop. This will give you a visual template of how short to cut your shorts. Make sure the shorts you're using to guide your cuts with is roughly the same size as the jeans you're cutting.
- Cut an inch below the shorts template mark. This will give you material to make your frays and slits with.
- Cut your jeans with the side seam facing you.^{[2]
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- Keep the pant pockets in mind when you cut. You don't want to cut so high up the leg that the pockets are cut as well.^{[3]
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- You can use garment chalk to help trace your cutting line properly.
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3
Fold your jeans in half and cut the other leg equally.^{[4]
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Research source} It's generally easier if you use the shorts template for one leg. After that, fold the jeans over in half, and use the cut leg as a template for the uncut leg. This helps ensure that your legs are both the same length.
4
Make chalk marks where you want slits to be.^{[5]
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Research source} Take a piece of garment chalk and plan out where you would like your cuts to be. It's better to use chalk before confirming your decisions with scissors or a knife. That way, you'll be able to "erase" mistakes you decide you don't want. Get a visual idea of the distressed shorts you want. Do you want them fashionably worn, or tattered to bits? Planning out your cuts will give you time to think before you take the final plunge.
5
Make slits and holes. Take scissors and cut into the fabric wherever you marked it with garment chalk. Make your incisions, and try to make them rough and chaotic. Clean cuts will look awkward in the context of distressed jeans. Slits can be as abundant as you would like them to be, but holes should be kept to a minimum. Going overboard on full-blown holes may destroy the cut-offs completely.
- Make sure not to cut through both sides of the pant, unless you were meaning to in the first place.
- You can also fray the denim by scraping a knife against the fabric.^{[6]
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Tweeze out threads.^{[7]
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Research source} Take a set of tweezers and pull out errant strands of thread you see. Pulling out individual threads will cause a reaction throughout the surrounding area of denim. This is a perfect way to make your jeans look naturally frayed. You should put special focus on the areas you cut. This will make the holes look like they occurred from natural wear and tear.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Treating the Cut-Offs

1
Bleach your shorts.^{[8]
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Research source} Bleaching shorts will brighten their look and simultaneously make them look more worn. Bleaching shorts is a common technique, and can be done by applying a water-bleach solution to your pants. Put on rubber gloves and dip your jeans in the solution to bleach them. As soon as you begin to see the jeans' colour lighten, remove them.
- A 1:1 ratio of bleach to water works well for bleaching jeans with.
2
Dirty your shorts. Making your shorts permanently dirty will give your cut-offs an edgy, devil-may-care appeal to them. To give the shorts a yellowed or faded look, you can stain them with mud or coffee grounds. Try one of these four methods:
- Mud water method: To get the mud water, put some loose clumps of dirt in a bucket, fill the bucket with water, slosh it around, and pour the water off into another bucket big enough to hold your shorts folded up. Don’t just mix dirt and water together; the dirt will settle out. Keep checking on the shorts until they are stained enough. Remember, the shorts will be a lighter color when they are dry.
- Coffee ground method: This method will last longer. In a bucket, use about two cups of coffee grounds and enough water to turn them into a liquid. The more water you add, the lighter the stain will be. Place the jeans in a bucket and let them sit overnight.
- Running over method: A "quick and dirty" way is to place the cutoffs on muddy ground and drive over them a few times with a car.
- Motor oil method: While working on your car or bicycle, or in your garden, wipe your hands on the shorts. Stains from dirty motor oil or from the bicycle chain are practically impossible to wash out.
3
Allow your shorts time to dry.^{[9]
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Research source} If you've bleached or dirtied your shorts, you should allow them a few hours to properly dry. If you're trying to go for a natural, authentic look, it doesn't hurt to have it dry in the open air.
4
Sew on a patch.^{[10]
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Research source} A patch is the ultimate way of making a piece of fabric look worn and unique. A patch can be taken from any other piece of fabric and sewn on. This results in an off-kilter look, but it works well with a hole-ridden, distressed style.
- Band patches are a great way to show off your individuality. If other people share your musical taste and see your patch, you may end up making a new friend.
5
Run your cut-offs through the wash.^{[11]
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Research source} Running your cut-offs through the wash will further solidify the changes you've made to your clothing. Use cold water and no detergent.
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Give your shorts a test-wear. You'll only be able to know how a pair of cut-offs really look when you're wearing them. Put them on an check yourself out in the mirror.^{[12]
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Research source} If there's anything you'd like to change about them, you can make the modifications after the fact.
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Look at other distressed DIY designs. Because DIY fashion is available to virtually anyone, you should look online to see examples of other peoples' creativity. If you end up making distressed cut-offs again, you'll be able to use their innovations to further your own designs.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make holes in shorts?

T. Chinsen

Top Answerer

Reference the wikiHow article Make Distressed Jeans. It provides details on how to make holes in denim fabric; the same method can be used for any other type of fabric.

Warnings

Don't butcher a pair of jeans that you're not sure you want to sacrifice. The cut offs may be fashionable by the end of it, but shorts are generally less versatile than a good set of jeans.

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Although you can buy distressed clothing at a department store or fashion boutique, the idea of buying artificially worn-out clothes can make you look like a poser. On the other hand, making the frays yourself will make your cut-offs completely unique to you.

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