DIY Raw Edge Denim Tools & Resources
Yesterday, I shared a reel where I recapped the process of turning a pair of wide-leg crop denim that I used to love but didn’t feel like they were “me” anymore into a pair that felt more in line with my style (see right).
I shared the jeans on my stories with the general question of, “are these still cool?” And many of you hit me with my own advice saying yes if you like it that’s all that matters, but I couldn’t shake that they just didn’t feel like me or what I was wanting with my style anymore.
Then a sweet follower shared these two inspiration pics with me where the wide leg denim had frayed hems. And after sharing the inspiration pictures on my stories and how I was now on the hunt for frayed wide-leg crops MANY people encouraged me to at least attempt to make mine work for me again by fraying the hem.
Well, I am so glad I tried my hand at being a quasi-seamstress. I am so happy with how these turned out. I feel like I will get a lot more wear out of them now that they are a smidge longer for my tall frame and have a cooler edge to them with the unique hem. I initially thought all the lines at the hemline would bother me, but it really does give them so pizazz.
Like I mentioned above, this was a quasi-seamstress moment for me, and I have no experience with making my own clothing. I’ve maybe sewn a button on once. My mom is a phenomenal seamstress, and unfortunately, I never learned this skill because she always took care of this need for me. But I did want to recap the resources and tools I used to make this DIY happen. And flawlessly I might add.
So for your tools, you will need:
I already owned three of the five items above from a small sewing kit my mom gave me but hardly use, and I quickly sourced a tailor’s chalk and fabric scissors from Amazon to get right to work.
To cut the jeans, I read Crystalin Marie’s blog post on how to cut the hem of your jeans. However, I didn’t have a second set of hands, so I didn’t cut both sides at the same time. I measured and marked where I wanted to cut with tailor’s chalk on both sides of the jeans, and then cut up one side to my mark and over. I had a long strip of fabric instead of a loop.
To fray the denim, I read the Uncomplicated Spaces blog post on how to get the perfect frayed hem. And I will admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but this was the first post I could find that used scissors and not a razor blade or a pumice stone. I didn’t have the latter two at my disposal. And I think the fray turned out perfect. However, after washing, I did trim up some of the white frayings to be shorter and less tangly.
Overall, I am so happy with the result, and I listened to this community and took the chance to make the jeans feel more me.
xx,
Linds
