destroying denim DIY- help!

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 9/27/05 at 7:03pm

I need your help!

For my technical theatre class I'm doing a jean reconstruction (costume unit), turning a pair of jeans into a skirt with destroying techniques. Problem is, I have a week till my next lab and I want to put in some out of class time, but I don't know how to properly destroy it (I know that sounds strange). Any tips? The internet searches have been pretty useless. I've got fraying down to an art but that's about it.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/27/05 at 7:05pm

insomniak knows about this stuff, I think. PM her, maybe?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/27/05 at 7:10pm

I used a pumice stone to wear down certain areas on my jeans. It's kinda cool, it actually kind of alters the shading in the jeans.

I also cut the outtermost hem on the waistband and pocket openings. There's a teeny little edge past where the hem is and it you cut it, it gives it a rough edge without too much fraying.

Can you use bleach? I've seen some things about that. Check out Teen Vogue, they always have an article in every issue on altering clothes that may give you some more ideas.

[JayKid]

Posted: 9/27/05 at 7:10pm

I don't understand how technical it needs to be.

I'm no fashion designer or clothing/custume maker either, so that'd be why... but curious to why you can't just do the simple, cut with scissors and then fray the bottom or something, bam you got a skirt.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/27/05 at 7:54pm

and bam! you gotta skirt with legholes.

[pndmnd]

Posted: 9/27/05 at 8:26pm

I've used a cheese grater to wear down jeans for a show. Just be careful not to scrape yourself (knuckles beware)! Some dilluted bleach can fade them, too. I dilluted it with water (don't know what ratio--just kind of played with it), and then used a wire brush (like the kind you clean a grill with) so that it had that vertical streaking thing going on. You could probably dillute a brown die to make a dirt-wash look.