Raw hem is a hemline that’s been left unfinished (not hemmed after cutting). After washing and wearing, frayed and distressed edges are a given on this hem. Raw hem jeans has an edgy look that is considered cool and original.
Some brands sell raw hem jeans with a clean-cut edge. In these jeans, the hem is left with a cut edge but it hasn’t frayed yet. These jeans will start to fray after a few washes or with regular wear, as the denim’s natural fibers begin to unravel.
Making the raw hem jeans for yourself is a very easy jeans upcycling project.
You can make them by cutting off the hem edge and leaving the edge deliberately unfinished – After a few washes, the edge will naturally fray. The hem will develop the desired distressed look over time.
Or you can speed it up with some simple tricks.
For an almost instant frayed edge, follow these steps:
Cut off the jeans at the length you want. Wear the jeans, and use chalk or a fabric marker to mark where you want the jeans to hit.
If this is not above the hem, then carefully take the hem stitches apart with a seam ripper.
Now cut it in curved shapes – this will create a fully frayed edge.
Use a seam ripper to unravel the edge.
Checkout the video if you want a demo:
You can cut it at an angle or slightly uneven for a different look.
If you make a straight cut, the edge will look more organized and neat. The stitching is done to ensure that the fraying does not go any further up.
Start your distressing work with seam ripper, tweezer, thread snips etc.
This is how it looks, after I have been at it for sometime.
This is how it looks when worn.
You may want the characteristic white thread on the edge, do you? But that is not possible on regular denim as the white thread is usually along the horizontal length of the jeans. When you fray the edge for the raw denim look, it is the blue thread that remains as the frayed edge.
You can however do something to get that nice white frayed edge.
Cut off another piece of scrap denim lengthwise, as marked in the picture below.
Now remove threads along the length one by one with a tweezer or seam ripper.
Now attach this piece to the jeans hem.
Not exactly the most natural looking raw denim edge, but there you have it – it is different. Stack it one after the other and you have an even more unique look.
If you do not want to go to all these trouble, use your denim-distressing ninja power with a sand paper, or cheese grater and make a hem like this.
Related post: How to distress a denim battle jacket
Thanks for the tip.