How to Distort Jeans
If you want to give your ordinary jeans an edgier look, try distorting them. Distorting your jeans gives them a distressed appearance by either creating some holes, frays or discoloration to the denim fabric. Distorted jeans can be achieved at home, but be careful to not distort the jeans too much, or else you could end up with raggedy clothing.
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Instructions
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Fit one pant leg of the jeans over an ironing board, so that the cushion of the board is inside the leg. This helps to ensure that you do not distress both sides of the jeans, when you really only want to distress the front. Work on one leg at a time.
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Wet a piece of medium-grit sandpaper with water. Begin sanding the jeans with the sandpaper, going back and forth in one direction. Perform this motion vigorously so that it causes the denim to wear and turn a lighter color. You have the choice to continue sanding the denim until you make a hole, or you can stop sanding once the denim achieves the ideal bleached-like color.
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Use a razor to shave some of the fabric of the jeans. A standard shaving razor is ideal for fraying the hems of the pant legs, for instance, or areas around the belt loops.
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Leave the jeans outside in direct sunlight for two days. Direct sun exposure discolors the denim, which may be a look you are going for when it comes to distorting the jeans.
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Wash the jeans and dry them in an electric dryer after you are finished making all the frays and tears. The tumbling action and heat of the dryer will cause the frayed fabric to become stringier to accentuate the distorted look.
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Tips & Warnings
You also can distort a pair of jeans by sewing or gluing patches onto them. Ideas include patches of your favorite rock band or panels of plaid fabric that contrast with the jeans.
References
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