How To Customize Your Denim

One of my favorite things to upcycle is denim because it's a timeless piece of fashion that acts as the perfect blank slate for personalizing. Whether you want to add a simple embellishment or do a full on makeover, denim is a great fabric to work with due to it's durability and versatility. You also have the added bonus of a short list of supplies since you're only adding details and not making a piece of clothing from scratch. If you're ready to get started, keep reading for more tips on best practices for customizing your denim.

Before you do anything to your denim make sure that it's been washed and fully dried so you have a clean blank canvas to work with. If you're working with a brand new pair of jeans, especially ones with a dark wash, be sure to get a few washes in so that you don't have to worry about the dye from the jeans messing up any of your embellishments. Most iron-ons or appliques are supposed to be applied to clean dry fabrics so this step could make your process easier depending on what materials you're using.

In order to start your project you'll have to decide what you want your design to be, whether you're going for a specific theme or you're doing a more random design it's always easiest to plan it out ahead of time. Even if you're going with a random vibe you want to make sure you do a test run to see how the final product will look. The best way to do this is just place your embellishments on your denim according to your design and make sure that the placement and look is what you want, that way you're not locked into anything until you're ready. I always end up shifting and adding or subtracting things, so it's definitely a good idea to feel out a few options rather than just launching into affixing items.

As far as the items you can use to customize your denim, the list is loooooong! If you're the type that likes to buy then you can look into iron-on patches or plain patches, but those will need to be hand sewn on. You can also go for iron-on rhinestones, they tend to come in strips or some sort of design that you can use directly or cut up to create your own. I prefer to just buy individual rhinestones so I can create exactly what I want, but that does require more supplies. You also have the option to purchase appliques that you can either hand sew or iron-on depending on which kind you buy. It is possible to make your own appliques which would make your denim even more personalized.

If you have a pretty good grip on hand sewing then you'll be able to use a wide array of things to embellish your denim. Sequins are a great medium but generally you have to sew them on one by one so it can be quite time consuming, but if you've got the time it can really make your denim stand out. Even if you're not the sparkle and shine type, there are sequins that have a matte finish but the effect is still super cool. Embroidery is a very popular way to add some flair to your denim and it can be done by hand or with a machine. You do need to have certain needles and thread for embroidery but the finished product is easily worth the extra effort. One option that's perfect for artsy types is fabric paint or fabric markers. While I'm an excellent doodler I can't actually draw very well so hand drawn additions aren't something that I would opt for, but if your artistic abilities are abundant then you can make any kind of designs you desire.

If you're looking for inspiration on exactly what types of additions you can do, just think about your favorite color or animal. I'm a big fan of themes so if you're a fan of anime or maybe an avid foodie, then that could be your theme. Oceans and forests are fun themes because there's so many ways to interpret both of those. Shapes and doodles or random designs are an easy theme that doesn't require you to have any artistic ability, so they can be created with minimal effort. You could also show love to your favorite city, state or country by using that as your inspiration. If you're still unsure about a theme, just take a lil toke and see what your imagination can come up with!

Once you've planned your design, you can start making your denim add-ons, or if you just purchased them, this is where you can start putting them on. In the event that you do make your own, just ensure that they'll be able to stand up to the wear and tear that often accompanies wearing denim. If you decide to use rhinestones, I would make sure that you have a good strong glue that can stand up to a washing machine and/or dryer. Most rhinestone glues are permanent but sometimes they don't do well on higher heat settings in the dryer, so watch out for that. For the most longevity the best move would be to wash your embellished denim on a gentle cycle and hang to dry. If you don't like the idea of hanging things up to dry you can also use the coolest cycle on your dryer. For embellishments that are sewn on you don't have to worry as much about the high heat unless you're dealing with sequins, they can have their color stripped from too much heat or too many washes.

Denim is one of the only clothing items that is always in style, whether a classic cut or a trendy one, a pair of jeans is a wardrobe staple. Being able to make your denim unique to you is a skill that anyone can learn, so hopefully this post gave you the confidence to get crafty. Your jeans can be more than just another clothing item, they can be a true representation of you and your own personal style and values!

Happy Crafting!