How to Destroy Vintage Stretch Jeans

The term "destroyed" refers to jeans that have been purposely torn and faded to look worn out and distressed. Destroyed jeans have been around for years, but only recently become stylish again and been featured in magazines and on fashion runways. Even though they look anything but new, destroyed jeans are often expensive. Most people don't like spending a lot of money on jeans that have tears in them, even if it is a fashion statement. Fortunately, you can destroy your jeans yourself without having to spend a small fortune.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Laundry detergent
• Washboard
• Fabric softener sheet
• Sandpaper
• Pumice stone
• Cheese grater
• Craft knife
• Bleach
• Plastic bowl
• Cotton swabs or washcloth

1. Decide whether you really want to destroy your vintage stretch jeans. Vintage clothing pieces are highly coveted and can be sold for high prices. If you destroy them, they will immediately lose much of their value. Give yourself a day to think about it before you start cutting and ripping up your vintage stretch jeans.

2. Hand wash your jeans with warm water and some laundry detergent. Rub the jeans on a washboard to help fade and wear them out. Wash them in the washing machine two or three times. Dry them in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. The jeans will become softer and easier to destroy further.

3. Rub the jeans with sandpaper in the areas you want to wear out. The knees and thighs are usually the first places to get worn out naturally, so start from there. You can also use a pumice stone to achieve the same effect.

4. Use a cheese grater to make small tears and to bring out the white fibers in the vintage stretch jeans. Use the finer side if you want small tears, and use the wider side if you want larger tears. Rub the grater against the fabric in the same manner that you would use it to grate cheese.

5. Use a craft knife to make small horizontal tears in the jeans. Make 2- to 3-inch wide tears about 1/2 inch apart. Try to make the tears thin and small to begin with. When you wear the jeans, the natural movement of your legs will slowly widen these tears, making them larger every time you put them on.

6. Mix two parts water with one part bleach in a small plastic bowl. Dip a cotton swab or washcloth into the mixture then dab onto the jeans to give them an "acid-washed" look.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a thick old towel or piece of wood inside the pant leg when making the tears; this will prevent you from accidentally cutting through to the other side of the pants. If you go too far and have a large hole in your jeans, simply sew them up with some thread---this will add to the destroyed look, so don't worry too much about it.

• Be careful when using the craft knife and other sharp objects to make the tears in the jeans.

References

• Denim Blog: Tips for Destroying Jeans