How to Rip Jeans
Torn Jeans
Put a professional-looking rip in your jeans quickly and easily by reviewing our step-by-step guide. Use scissors to cut a hole in your jeans, and then use tweezers to pull on the threads around the rip. Place your jeans into the washing machine and dryer to give your new rip a more authentic and worn look.
This is How to Rip Jeans: Easy DIY!
Ripped jeans are versatile, stylish, and comfortable. Ripped jeans are also generally more expensive than regular jeans, which means doing it yourself at home can help you to save a nice amount money!
By using scissors and tweezers, and then by utilizing the washing machine and dryer, we can effectively create a professional looking rip in your denim jeans.
Carefully follow our step-by-step instructions to add a frayed rip to your jeans in any area you choose to make it.
How to Rip Jeans
Complete the steps in the order that they are outlined below in order to add a professional looking rip to your jeans.
Supplies You'll Need to Rip Jeans
You will need the following supplies in order to create a proper rip in your jeans.
- Jeans
- Scissors
- A Flat Surface
- Pen or Chalk
- Nail File or Sandpaper (Optional)
- Tweezers (Optional)
- Cheese Grater (Optional)
- Washing Machine
- Dryer
Find a pair of jeans that you are willing to add rips to. Rips can be put into both skinny jeans as well as baggy jeans, as well as jeans of all colors.
2. Mark Your Jeans
Wear your jeans, and use chalk or a pen to mark your jeans where you want to cut them. The most popular place to rip jeans is in the knee area, but you can also choose to create rips in the thigh area as well as the buttock area of the jeans.
Make a small but precise mark where you want the rip to be so that you can make an accurate cut with the scissors.
3. Lay on a Flat Surface
Lay your jeans evenly on a flat surface. The kitchen table or any floor space will work.
4. Use Sandpaper
Use 120 grit sandpaper to lightly thin out and scuff up the area where the rip will be. This helps to blend the rip and makes it look more authentic and worn.
You can also use that sandpaper to fray your jean after.
5. Make a Horizontal Cut
Use your fabric scissors to make a precise and accurate cut along the mark you previously made. Keep your scissors straight and cut slowly and carefully. Make sure you do not accidentally cut through the other side of the pants.
6. Pull the Threads
Tug on the threads that line the edges of your newly created hole. Use your fingers to pull on the edges, or use a pair of tweezers to more accurately tug on loose threads. You do not need to pull too much since these threads will become loose and elongate by themselves as you wear the jeans.
7. Strengthen the Opening
Optionally, you can use a sewing kit to re-enforce the mouth of the rip so that the rip doesn’t get damaged and bigger over time. Rips can get bigger and bigger over time, especially those rips in the knee area. If you have a sewing kit and you are able to sew, you may want to strengthen the edges of the rip.
8. Add Distress Marks
Again, optionally, you can add distress marks to your jeans to give them a more vintage, grunge, or lived in look. Use a cheese grater or more sandpaper to scuff and beat up the surface of your denim jeans to give it that raw designer look. You may also choose to cut and fray the hem of your jeans.
9. Use the Washing Machine
Place your jeans in the washing machine and wash them with cold water. The motion created by the rinse cycle will help to add wear and authenticity to the rip in your jeans. It will also pull out more loose threads and give your rip a much more stylish look.
The washing machine is a very effective tool for enhancing the look of the new rips in your jeans.
10. Use the Dryer
After the wash cycle has completed, proceed to transfer your jeans into the dryer and adjust the settings to either air dry or tumble dry low. The dryer also does a great job at pulling out loose threads and making the new rip look more aged and authentic.
Learn more on air drying options with dry flat and our article on how to dry clothes without a dryer.
11. Wear Your Jeans
Now that you have your stylish new jeans be sure to put them away properly. Fold your jeans and store in a drawer, or hang your jeans in the closet.
When you take them out again you wont need to iron the jeans, instead just get dressed and wear them!
Let’s show you how to dress up your jeans now that they are ripped and looking fresh.
How to Rip Jeans: Tips
- Make sure your jeans are worn in before distressing them. Follow our article on how to break in jeans if you are going to work on new denim.
How to Rip Jeans FAQ
Jeans can be ripped at home by first wearing your jeans and then by using a pen to make a mark on them. Take the jeans off and lay them evenly on a flat surface and use scissors to cut along the mark. Pull on loose threads around the rip with tweezers, and then place the jeans into the washing machine and subsequently dryer in order to give them a more authentic and “broken in” look.
Ripping jeans yourself is quite simple and can be done at home in just a few quick steps. The easiest way to rip jeans is to cut your jeans in the desired area, and then simply place the jeans into the washer and run a rinse cycle. After that, throw your jeans into the dryer and use tumble dry low. Once completed, the rip in your jeans will look authentic and stylish.
Find the area on your jeans that you want to rip, and make a mark with chalk or a pen. Take your scissors and cut along the mark, moving slowly and accurately as you cut along the denim. After that, use your hands to pull loose threads around the rip, to give it a more vintage and authentic look.
