How to Make Your Own Jean Shorts

The type of jean shorts you make will depend on your sewing skill level, the materials you have available and the limits of your own imagination. The first step in making your own jean shorts is assembling all the materials you need to complete this project. If you don’t have a pair of jeans you are willing to alter, you can find a pair at your local thrift store for a few dollars or less. The other materials you need will depend on the desired style of your finished jean shorts. Glamorous, rock and roll, or sweet and girly, the options are virtually limitless. Before you begin to personalize your jean shorts you may want to look online, in magazines, or visit a craft store for inspiration.

Pants Into Shorts
Decide what length you would like your shorts to be. This can be anything from capris to daisy dukes. Be sure to take your body type into consideration and select the most flattering cut for your figure. A sharp pair of scissors and a steady hand gets a clean, precise cut. Leave the cuffs raw for a frayed look, or hem them to get crisp, polished edges. Now that your jeans are shorts that flatter your figure, it’s time to make them match your style.

Make It Your Own
This is all about using your creativity to accentuate your personality. Add embellishments like metal studs, swarovski crystals, or some interesting iron on patches. Grab a bottle of clorox and a stencil and bleach your initials or a fun design onto your jean shorts. You can also use bleach and sandpaper to create a fashionable, distressed look. If you have a sewing machine, your options for customization are far greater. Use a seam ripper to remove the back pockets and replace the denim with a fabric you love, using the old pockets as a pattern. Give your jean shorts an added texture by using your sewing machine to stitch over the seams with an eye-catching metallic, or brightly colored thread. Congratulations, you now have a one of a kind piece in your closet!