If you are looking for an easy way to modernize or customize a pair of shorts, you might want to consider wearing down the edges or a portion of the fabric. There are several techniques you can use to wear down a pair of shorts. Read on to find out what these different techniques are.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Method One: Light Wear
Step 1. Cut off the hems of your shorts
Use a pair of zigzag scissors to cut the bottom hems of your shorts, cutting just above the bottom edges of each leg of your shorts.
- In order to wear down your shorts, you will need to create rough edges. To achieve light wear, you should only cut the edge, without also cutting the seams that hold the edges together. For more pronounced but still light wear, cut just above the seam that holds the bottom edges of each leg of your shorts in place.
- Keep in mind that you can cut as much material as you like. Just remember that frayed shorts tend to get shorter as the edges deteriorate.
- Zigzag scissors reduce wear and tear. These scissors have serrated or serrated blades and, when used, create a zigzag pattern on the material instead of a clean cut. This pattern helps to limit the length of the frayed edges.
Step 2. Put your shorts in the washing machine
Put the cut shorts in the washing machine and run a normal cycle. The cycle can be long or short to your liking but should still include a spin cycle.
- Before this step, the wear may not be noticed. Afterwards, the frayed edges should be much more noticeable.
- The centrifuge shakes the fabric and thus helps to give a very natural look to the frayed edges.
- For a more pronounced effect, just put the shorts in the washing machine. If you wear them with other clothing, you may limit the effects of the spin cycle.
- You could take the opportunity to put some detergent and then wash the shorts but it is not necessary for the procedure.
- Dry the shorts in the dryer or in the open air.
Step 3. Apply darning glue to the edges
Carefully apply some darning glue to the frayed edges, where the tears meet the intact fabric. Let the glue dry before putting on the shorts.
The darning glue holds the fabric together, reducing future wear on the fabric in the future
Method 2 of 4: Method Two: Higher Wear
Step 1. Trim the hems of your shorts
Use regular scissors to cut off the bottom hems of your shorts, just above the seams that hold the hems of your shorts together.
- If you make the cuts below the seam, you will limit the worn effect and this is not what you want to achieve with this procedure.
- This first cut should be parallel to the bottom edge of your shorts.
- Use normal scissors instead of zigzag ones to maximize the worn effect.
Step 2. With scissors, make some neat tears at the edges of your shorts
Use the tip of your scissors to rip the ends of the freshly cut shorts.
- Use the scissors all around the perimeter of the shorts.
- These rips help the fibers fray from the frayed ends of the fabric.
Step 3. Make a series of horizontal cuts starting from the bottom
Use a utility knife to make small horizontal cuts near the bottom of the pants, in front of or behind the fabric.
- Each set of cuts should be 2 to 7 centimeters long. Make six to twelve cuts for each set.
- The shorts should be lying flat on a flat surface as you make these cuts.
- Be careful not to make cuts on the pockets.
Step 4. Put the shorts in the washing machine and run a wash cycle
Put the shorts in the washing machine and run a normal cycle, with or without detergent. Regardless of the duration or temperature of the wash, you should choose a wash that includes at least one spin cycle.
- The centrifuge shakes the material and causes the cut ends to fray.
- Only wash the shorts, to maximize the worn effect.
- You can dry the shorts both in the dryer and in the open air.
Step 5. Let things take their course
For a greater worn effect, do not try to slow down the wearing process of the shorts. Just remember that the shorts will continue to fray over time and as you wear them, thus becoming shorter and shorter.
Method 3 of 4: Method Three: Wear Under Control
Step 1. Remove the hem from your shorts
Use regular or zigzag scissors to cut the hems of your shorts, making cuts parallel to and just above the long seam that holds the hems of each leg together.
- You can cut as much fabric as you want but the cut should always be parallel to the original hem.
- Use regular or zigzag scissors. The normal ones will create a more ruined effect immediately while the zigzag ones will limit the worn effect at the beginning. Since you will have to use other systems to limit wear, zigzag scissors are not of vital importance.
Step 2. Make tears along the edges
Use the tip or blade of the scissors to rip the fibers of the jeans around the perimeter of each frayed edge.
By doing this, the scissors will help to further fray the fabric of the jeans around the edges of each leg
Step 3. Sew a seam near each of the cuts
To reduce wear and tear, use your sewing machine and sew a series of stitches about 2.5 inches from the frayed edge of the shorts.
- Take note that if the frayed fabric has already reached this length, change the position of the stitches accordingly, just above the frayed edge of the shorts.
- You could also sew by hand but doing it with a sewing machine will make the seam more solid. Also, sewing machines are faster than manual sewing.
- This seam prevents frayed edges from stretching too far. It acts as a new hem, practically, preventing the material from fraying further.
Step 4. Wash the shorts in the washing machine
Put the shorts to wash in the washing machine and give them a spin on the spin.
- You can add detergent or not. The choice is entirely up to you and will not affect the effect you want to create.
- Similarly, you can dry the shorts in the dryer or in the open air without making any difference to the frayed fabric.
- For best results, when you wash these shorts for the first time let them wash with a few other garments or alone. By doing so, you will maximize the effect of the spin cycle and the worn effect on the fabric.
- Keep in mind that this is the last step. No darning glue is needed - the seam should prevent the fabric from fraying further.
Method 4 of 4: Method Four: Wearing a Portion of Fabric from the Shorts
Step 1. Draw a shape
Use a fabric pencil or piece of chalk to draw the outlines of a shape you like on a portion of the fabric of your shorts.
- This works well if you intend to give a particular shape to the damaged portion of fabric. If you don't want to create a specific shape, then you don't need to draw a template or use darning glue around the edges.
- Some possible shapes are hearts, stars or initials.
- Consider the idea of drawing a particular shape on a pocket. If you place it on the fabric in contact with your skin, you risk creating cuts that could show your underwear when you put on the shorts.
Step 2. Trace the outline with darning glue
Apply a light but consistent layer of darning glue to the outlines you just drew.
Darning glue prevents worn edges from fraying further. If you don't use glue along the contours of your figure, the design will lose shape once you wash and wear it
Step 3. Cut the vertical threads along the contours
Use a utility knife to make cuts along the vertical strands around your figure.
- Just make cuts on the vertical strands. Do not cut the horizontal threads.
- If you are cutting denim shorts, the horizontal strands will be white while the vertical strands should be blue.
- Use the cutter or your fingers to pull out the threads, from the inside to the outside, thus revealing the white threads which will then give a "ruined" look to the design.
- Keep in mind that it can take a long time but, if done right, it's really worth it.
- You may want to apply a little more glue around the edges before washing your shorts so you will be sure that the design you made does not lose its shape in the washing machine.
Step 4. Wash the shorts
Wash and dry your shorts as you normally would.
You don't need a washing machine to complete the worn effect on your shorts. You can then simply do a standard wash with a normal detergent
Advice
- If you can't find darning glue, you might as well apply a layer of nail polish.
- You can create this type of effect on different materials - you don't need to do it only on denim shorts. Experiment with cotton, khaki, linen, and corduroy.
