Ripping jeans?

[Elysiume]

I found a really cheap pair of black skinny jeans at a thrift store, and I wanted to make them look ripped, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I'd like quite large rips, so I can wear leggings underneath. Someone told me to rub them with sandpaper to create holes, but I don't know whether or not that works. Should I wear them or take them off when ripping them?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Malice In Wonderland]

Sand paper, hacksaws and sharp stones.

[NightmareInShiningArmour]

I just used a razor from a pencil sharpener, though they look fairly dodgy. I'll use dad's hacksaw next time.

[Dr Nancy]

I say take a knife to them and tumble dry them.
Thats what I did anyway and they came out nicely.

[PortraitOfSanity]

Hacksaw has always worked the best for me because it rips the shit out of the jeans, it doesn't just cut. Usually when I get "new" jeans, I do that and also fold them really tight and run them over a few times with the car to make them more comfy.

[korinna5555]

Razor and sandpaper work nicely.

[Jonathan]

Wear them, and do work and stretch and run around and fall down.

[KontanKarite]

Anyone ever notice that skinny jeans get quite a bit baggier after the rips start showing up? Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

[Kij.]

I had mine on when I cut mine [and the holes are HUGE], then I threw them in the wash a few times so they'd look worn. I didn't use sandpaper though... They weren't skinny but they looked pretty good. I've tried cutting jeans without wearing them. Didn't turn out so great.

[Haunted House]

Cheese grater.

Note: Do NOT do this while wearing them. Duh.

[Malice In Wonderland]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

Anyone ever notice that skinny jeans get quite a bit baggier after the rips start showing up? Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

No way of fixing that.

I kind of like this thread being necro'd.

And I did slash some jeans while wearing them...
I lost a lot of blood.
They were white.

[Arkana]

I have more than a handful of cheap jeans I bought so I could put holes in them. A somewhat dull box cutter seems to work pretty well. Mark where you want a few rips and tears and kind of saw through the fabric a little. Then carefully rip them a little for the rest of the hole. Using the dull box cutter always saved me the sandpaper step because between the sawing motion and washer, the ends fray out nicely.

[300pockets]

Originally Posted by KontanKarite

Anyone ever notice that skinny jeans get quite a bit baggier after the rips start showing up? Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

I think you're right. It has something to do with tension. Hence, pre-torn skinny jeans by companies like Tripp are hemmed or something near the edges. It's the same reason why when people put on clothes that are way too small, they'll rip to accommodate and make room.

I suggest either buying jeans that are smaller by a size or two (but there's the risk they won't fit until being ripped to shreds) or doing what the Tripp company does to their rippies.

[Joker_in_the_Pack]

Steak knife. Available and serrated.

[MissGracie]

I always use a razorblade while wearing whatever I'm slicing. I've done jeans, shirts, fishnet, and tights. To get my jeans all tattered looking I just put them in the wash and then tried to wear them as often as possible when I was doing something active. I've never tried sandpaper...

[SiouxsiePernova]

I used a razor to slash my pantihose, but I now want to try some of the methods mentioned in this thread. All I have to do is find a cheese grater...

[Angelic Dissonance]

NO, DEFINATELY use a steel file, one of those big-ass, terrifying horror tools you only find in obscure places like the work-shop room of your redneck heating-and-air-man neighbor!!!!! (no diss, they make $$$[compared to me, anyway])

[Opteron_Man]

Originally Posted by Haunted House

Cheese grater.

Note: Do NOT do this while wearing them. Duh.

I was just thinking of that! There is an instructable on how to age new jeans.

[erotomaniac87]

Thanks for the tips, guys. I've actually ruined a couple of good pairs of pants trying to create some rips here and there.

[ShadowxMakerZ]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Wear them, and do work and stretch and run around and fall down.

So many of my jeans have rips from tumbling over while skateboarding.
I remember once being asked "Where did you buy your jeans at?"
It was quite hilarious.

[DepthsofSpace]

Pack them with something dense (blocks of soap? straw? Sawdust?) to give them shape, set them in an open field and take a large caliber firearm to them.

Because: bullet holes > plain old rips

[Malice In Wonderland]

That's pretty cool actually.
Pack them with bags of fake blood...

[ShadowxMakerZ]

Originally Posted by Malice In Wonderland

That's pretty cool actually.
Pack them with bags of fake blood...

Rofl that would be fking awesome! Lmao bullet holes with blood splattered around the jeans create a whole entire new style.

[vindicatedxjin]

I had really good luck using a foot callous remover....works the same as sandpaper except its more jagged so it just works nicer.