Inspiring handcrafted how-to’s for your home, life and well being. Our Made By Hand series features distinct DIYs made with a little love and a lot of creative spirit. Today's post comes from Lindsey Crafter.
Distressed denim is a staple in my capsule wardrobe. As a crafter, the worn look helps hide paint splatters and rips that are inevitable. Although worn-in denim may not fly in your office or work environment, there is a way to get the well-loved look without alerting the HR department. This season’s “unhemmed” denim trend is perfect for school or work and also happens to be an easy DIY you can accomplish at home. See how to convert this Summer’s cropped ankle jeans into this Fall’s everyday denim below.
What You’ll Need
- Dremel Tool with Sanding Bit ORan
- 80Grit
- Sanding Block
- Seam Ripper
- Fabric Scissors
- Ankle Cropped Jeans (Cotton, not stretchy)
- Iron and Ironing Board
When choosing denim, remember that by letting out the hems you’ll be increasing the full length of the jeans by at least an 1 1/2”. Opt for shorter cuts to achieve an unhemmed length that will hit at the ankle.
Here’s How:
Step 1 | A dremel tool is a handy multi tool that happens to be perfect for distressing denim! Use a sanding bit on a low speed to rough up the bottom of the jean hems just enough to see visible color change and a little bit of texture. Don’t apply too much pressure or you’ll sand through the fabric! If you don’t have access to a dremel tool you can pick up a sanding block from a local hardware store and distress your hems by hand!
Step 2 | Use a seam ripper to carefully pick out the hem stitch around the leg opening of the jeans and pick out the stray threads.
Step 3 | Iron the bottom of the jeans to flatten the hems before adding a little extra wear along the raw edge with the dremel tool or sanding block. Use sharp fabric scissors to cut off threads that hang too long.
A fifteen minute transformation goes a long way! I love how the inconsistencies of the fabric dyeing process shows up the hems . Pair your distressed denim with a fresh fall colored moc and welcome the season in style!
For more fashionable DIYs and crafts with panache, visit me over at Lindsey Crafter.
About:
Lindsey Crafter is a crafting and DIY decor brand focused on teaching true skills to new makers--with an emphasis on sustainability. Her colorful website combines easy craft tutorials with an online shop housing her handmade jewelry, fine art and vintage.