How to Make Cutoff Denim Shorts

Summer is nearly here and after your big Spring Clean maybe you realized you were harboring a few extra pairs of jeans you never seem to wear. Some pairs might not be long enough now, others need patches at the knees or maybe they just need a change for you to get excited about them again.

Summer is Here, Time for Shorts!
Courtesy of Josie Mitchell

All You Need Is a Pair of Jeans and Scissors
Courtesy of Josie Mitchell

Measure Twice, Cut Once
Courtesy of Josie Mitchell

But you don’t want to get rid of good jeans that still fit, they may even hold some dear memories. Well then, why not add to your summer wardrobe and make some cutoff denim shorts?

Making cutoffs is easy. Cutoff denim shorts can jumpstart your summer fashion and they are always in style for warm weather.

What You’ll Need:

• Old pair of jeans (jeans from a thrift store work too!)
• Scissors

What You’ll Need to Do:

1. Put the jeans on and measure how long you’d like your shorts to be. Mark it with a pencil, piece of chalk or make a small cut in the fabric with the scissors. Remember that if you want a cuff leave more fabric to roll up a cuff.
2. Take the pants off and cut the fabric. Remember that once you cut it, it’s a process to sew it back on so best to cut long and make adjustments later. And make sure not to cut two pieces at the same time, it’s much more precise if you cut one layer of the pant leg at a time.
3. Wear your cutoffs with frayed edges or roll the last two inches into cuffs.
4. Enjoy the summer with your new shorts!

You can probably tell that denim isn’t the only type of pants you can use for this project, corduroy, linen, cotton, lots of fabric types, can be made into cutoffs.

Have Your Say!

Have you ever had a favorite piece of clothing you recycled into something new? Share it in the comments section below.