Ch..ch..ch..changes. Frayed Denim Shorts

Thursday 25 July 2013


The warm weather seems to have caught everyone on the hop and people are freaking out because they have "nothing to wear" for this hot spell. And what they have to wear ... is all in the wash because the hot spell has lasted more than 2 days (almost unheard of in the UK). But looking around the blogs, it seems that everyone has taken their scissors to hand and made themselves a little pair of denim cut off shorts. So I did too.

Now I already have a pair of denim shorts which I purchased last year from H&M and wore on my Greece holiday and these are what I classify as "shorter"shorts. But I fancied some slightly longer shorts for those days when you feel like you need a little more coverage. Like when you don't want to scare the neighbours when bending over to cut the front hedges.  I have to say, this wasn't one of those easy peasy just came together clothes hacks - there was quite a lot of to'ing and fro'ing.

Basically, I cut the legs off a pair of old Jack Wills jeans to a suitable length and left enough for cuffing/turning up. I cuffed them and nearly "cuffed" off my circulation. Oh I crack myself up sometimes! It's just one of those things which happens when you start turning up the legs, they get narrower and narrower and then you get thigh muffin spewing forth. So not good. And I looked a bit dorky and mumsy with my longer length shorts.

So I cut an inch off ... and then another inch ... and then another inch till I thought they were about the right length.

If at first you don't succeed .....


I have to say I was rather carefree and slapdash in my technique in that I did not draw any lines to cut along or anything - I just went for it. One of my sisters would be freaking out now as she would have told me to pin the legs together, measure correctly, mark in chalk etc etc ... but then again I am not my sister.

And bearing in mind that cuffing was not working for me, I went with fraying. Which is where a cotton picker comes in handy.

Strangely satisfying on the first leg, very tedious and boring by the end of the second leg.

Slowly getting there.

Trim off the threads ... or leave if you please. I trimmed as they tickled.

Use thumbnail to run along the edges to rough them up.

Use a lint roller to tidy up the denim dust and debris left behind on ironing board.

Ta dah - finished!


I think they'll do for when the hot spell comes back again. I spoke too soon about turning down the temperature dial didn't I? I made these whilst it was raining outside.

Ta dah! Frayed shorts! (Before wash).

Please note that when you put them in the wash, they will fray a little more again. Trim as you so please! I trimmed them again so they looked a little neater and a little less fringey.

So who's done this one then?







33 comments

  1. Great job! And have to say I have done the same thing with the thigh muffin top - I tried to do my own cut off and cuff DIY and failed so miserably. I love how yours turned out x

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    1. I think it's one of those things which no one expects - thigh muffin. But it turns out reading through other people's attempts - it happens to a lot more of us than you would think.

      These jeans were going in the charity bag so nothing lost if it had gone awry but at least I have a pair of good hedge trimming shorts.

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  2. Oh you are clever!! Did the same, muffin top on my thigh, then went shorter & shorter...... Not quite daisy duke, also did Marlene's tip of the nip each leg ( side splits) but they need what you have done here the fraying. Will attempt that..... Thank you hon for the step by step guide. X

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    1. I saw Marlene's tip about the nip snip and I was about to attempt it but then went for the fray. The one thing about this is that they are still long enough for me to do one turn for a shorter look if I want. The Grumps looked a little unsure at my effort when he saw me in them but credit to him, he held his tongue.

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  3. They look perfect! And you look amazing in that outfit! Seriously. Hot stuff.

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. They didn't look so good when was I was in my scruffiest teeshirt hacking down the hedges. That's the look the Grumps found me in. The shorts definitely looked better with my little white top.

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  4. Hi there! great job done, nice length and love the colour! I've done one pair this summer and I already had a pair done from a couple of summers ago xx

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    1. Well that makes two pairs for me now. But once you start, you get the itch to hack some more stuff. They're going to be breeding soon!

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  5. In my pre-psoriasis days I did that with old jeans ... I was a hell of a lot younger then, so I went Daisy Dukes all the way! (*sigh* memories!!!) They look great on you :)

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    1. Even in my youth, I never did Daisy Dukes! You're a bit of a raver really aren't you?

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  6. I just made a pair for my daughter and studded them up too!

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    1. You're just a bit cleverer than me Sharon! That would be stretching me a bit I think.

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  7. Well done! I should do the same to my boot cut jeans I no longer wear as it seems this heat will go on at least till next week...

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    1. Oh I hope so for you because it's been pouring down here and is set to do so for the next 3 days. I woke up this morning to find our little gazebo crab walking across the back garden (being bashed and lashed by wind and rain). Now that's a wake up call! Literally.

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  8. Brilliant! But where is your gorgeous white top from?

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    1. The gorgeous little number is a Primark special from 6 years ago. This is one of my good Primarni buys! I worry for when it eventually goes to the clothing graveyard from having been worn so much.

      And you're quite the baker aren't you? You put me to shame. And the fact that you exercise.

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    2. I exercise because I love to bake, it's very simple really. It's a shame that top is from so long ago as it is simply amazing, my sort of thing. Having started to follow you blog (must update mine, not done so for far too long!) I am happy to say that I have managed to size a saint james breton top - my twin sister got me into them. Have you heard of Brit Stitch bags - I think you would love them and all their colours. Can't stop using mine!

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  9. these look great, Sue! you're denim fraying skills are awesome! :) x

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    1. Fen - they're a doddle to do but just time consuming - oh okay, it didn't take that long really. I just get bored quickly like after the first leg. But the retrimming after a wash really helps - helps it stop looking tufty which they are in the above pic. They look better now. And you're quite a garment DIY'er too. Lovely dress to skirt conversion!

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  10. They look great Sue - you've inspired me - going to have a go tomorrow, got so many old pairs of jeans I never wear these days. :)

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    1. Go for it Jenny! You might get a pair of shorts out of it at least!

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  11. They look good. I'm really crap when it comes to any kind of DIY. I can take a good photo and cook some passable food and that's where my talents stop. If I had to make my own cut offs...well...the leg openings would probably be all over the place and of varying lenght. And as for fraying....no, it would somehow end in disaster. I just know it.

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    1. And did I ever mention how I can't cook/bake or take a fab photo? I go for the just about in focus, just about edible approach. It's got me this far in life so I can't complain.


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  12. I so need to have a sort through jeans drawer. Am sure there are loads of pairs lurking at the bottom that could have a whole new lease of life as shorts! x

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    1. Well this is the second pair I chopped this year. The first pair went in the charity bag :o(

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  13. I rely heavily on my washing machine / dryer to do most of the work for me :) Love how it came out!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. The washing machine is brilliant for a bit of extra fray action. I've actually turned them up a fraction since and stitched them down by hand. Look better. You just have to tweak sometimes till you get what you want.

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  14. You did a far better job than I did. Looks good on you! I'd have to chuck mine in the washing machine as the fraying is just miniscule.

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    1. Run your thumbnail along it a few times - all helps!

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  15. These look great - I'm impressed and good tips!

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  16. I love this DIY because you can cut your shorts as long as you need them. Thanks for sharing!
    x
    Nina

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Susie So So