This SHOULD be simple, but it's not. I can't make a real hem and sew them because my needle will never go thru the thick, folded material, especially the thick side seam area. I could roll them up, but how do you get them to stay? My DD would be happy with the 'raw edge' 'ragged' look, but I don't know how to 'rag' them. Any advice?? Thanks!

By Mommyof5 on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 03:43 pm:

I found this information on this web site

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Dirty-Denim-Distressed-Cut-off-Shorts

Cut the legs off your jeans. Get your cut-off shorts to the length you want them, and make sure they still fit right. Remember; when you make the first cut, make it a little lower than the actual length you want. Then the extra length will be taken off while you are making the length of the legs even.

To fray the edges, run a steak knife over them.

By Janet on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 03:43 pm:

I used to put the jeans on, figure out how long I wanted them, and make a mark with pen. Then I'd take them off and fold them legs together, and cut both legs at the same time with scissors. After washing two or three times, they ragged themselves. I never hemmed them. Anyone else?

By Tonya on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 03:43 pm:

Just cut them even and they will rag themselves after a few wash and wears. Or cut them longer so you can do two folds and they should stay with no problem while she is wearing them.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 03:48 pm:

Take your tough scissors and cut off the legs until you get to your desired length. Keep trying them on, cut long and shorten.. Can't add fabric back on once they are cut.. Take your scissors or a steak knife and fray the bottom edges and around the sides. Rub the raw edge of the denim with the scissors or knife. (by the way this is also how they rough up the holes they are cutting into their brand new hole-less jeans ) It will start the fray then I throw them through the washer and it generally will help things along. If the denim fabric is really tight you can insert a sewing needle and pull the thread loose to get the fray started..

To keep from getting the long stringy fray as they are washed, you may want to freshen them up every now and then by running scissors across the bottom edge of the cut-offs.


To cuff them you just cut the denim long and then you make your folds and stitch at four points each leg. Middle of the front and back of the thigh and along the natural seam of the jean both in and out...

Always cut long and then take off more.. I take a pair of short I feel comfortable with the length of and I match up the crotch and use chalk to mark the length or I cut across the bottom of the shorts..

Not hard just intimidating for someone that has never done it before...

By Marcia on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 04:58 pm:

I'm with Janet. I just cut both legs together, and let them fray themselves.

By Tripletmom on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 07:40 pm:

Ditto Janet and Marcia-Simple and it works

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 08:05 pm:

Cut and wash!

By Breann on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 08:20 pm:

Didn't read the other responses, so sorry if I'm repeating.

Cut them to desired length. Stitch about 1/4 inch up from the cut. Just one layer. Fray with the seam ripper. The stitching will prevent the fraying from going where it shouldn't, and will keep the cut looking uniform.

By Missbookworm on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 11:37 pm:

I'm with the cut and washers! LOL that's what I used to do (late 80's, early 90's) and I never had a problem with them staying up if I rolled them up once or twice.

By Kate on Monday, July 3, 2006 - 09:11 pm:

Thanks, Ladies! At first we cuffed them, but then when we washed them they totally frayed by themselves, just like you all said they would! I'm worried though....will they fray and fray and fray until there's nothing left of them? Breann suggested stitching a row before washing so the fray doesn't travel too far. Is this necessary or will the fray stay put?

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, July 3, 2006 - 09:15 pm:

I think Breann's advice is very good, and you should take it. I think if you don't, you will find that the jeans will keep on fraying. I'd put a double row of close/small stitches.

By Marcia on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 01:18 am:

I cut off some shorts for Emily last summer, and they are still just as frayed as they were when I first washed them. It never went any further.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 12:22 pm:

I never had any problems with them fraying more and more. I think they went to a certain point, probably the next layer up above where you cut through the stitching, and then stopped fraying. I used to wear cutoffs growing up all the time, and have made them for the kids, and I've never stitched them.

By Imamommyx4 on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 02:10 pm:

Mine always went to a certain point and stopped. Unless I got annoyed at a fray and cut the fraying off. Then more fraying and it got too short.

By Karen~admin on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 - 02:31 pm:

Ditto Breann on the stitching. I actually bought a pair of frayed jean shorts from Victoria's Secret, and that's what they did.

I used to make my own *back in the day*, and never stitched them, and the continued to fray, and they frayed unevenly.

ALSO - I found it best to put the jeans on, draw the line and cut. Because as I learned through trial and error, you can't just lie them on a table and cut straight across - because then the back of them is too short and your butt hangs out. LOL As was said above, you can cut more off, but you can't add more on.