DIY > studded coloured denim shorts!

Supplies:

a pair of shorts (or jeans you can cut into shorts)

bleach

a mop bucket 

rubber gloves

a pack of clothing dye

approximately 50 studs

a big old pot

steps after the break!

After cutting off your shorts to the desired length (remember to leave a little extra length because they will shorten as 

they fray), put on your rubber gloves and pour about 4 cups of bleach into your bucket. Carefully place your shorts inside.  

 Roll the shorts around in the bleach, to ensure that they are evenly saturated

The time it takes to bleach the shorts depends on the colour and material of them. Some may take a few minutes, some 

could take an hour. Keep an eye on the shorts and make sure you move them around in the bleach every few minutes to 

ensure even colour. As you're using a harsh chemical, the fabric will become weakened, so make sure to handle it carefully. 

Bleach fumes can be VERY overwhelming, so ensure that you do this in a well ventilated area. I have a sensitive nose, so I wore 

a surgical mask, but you may not be a nursing student and may not have such tools around your house. So just be careful, okay?

When your shorts are the desired colour, remove them from the bleach and rinse them for a few minutes in your sink. 

For the dying part, I used iDye. You can also use RIT, or any other type of clothing dye, but I highly recommend iDYE as it is 

better quality, and a lot less messy to use. Take your pot (one that you will NEVER use for cooking again) and fill it with water. 

When the water is hot, drop your packet of dye in (the iDYE is great because it comes in a dissolvable plastic 

pack - very little mess!) and stir until it has completely dissolved. Then, slowly place your shorts in the pot.

Bring the water to a simmer (not a boil! disaster!), and 'cook' your shorts for about 30 minutes, stirring often to ensure even colour.

 After 30 minutes, take them out of the pot and rinse them in your sink until the water comes clear. Pop them in the dryer.

Holy crap, you have BRIGHT GREEN SHORTS!!!

This next part is a little tedious, but also fun. I found these studs at a leather and sewing supply shop in Toronto (aka HEAVEN) 

and they were only $2.99 for a pack of 50. I chose to decorate the pockets of my shorts, but you can do whatever you please. 

The studs go on very simply. Just poke it through the fabric, and then bend the little prongs in to make the stud stay put! 

 This procedure can make your fingers a little sore, so I actually used a pen cap to bend the prongs. IF you are doing the same stud 

pattern that I chose, I recommend starting at the top of the pocket, and use the waistband as a guide to keep the studs straight.

Ta-da!

I studded my back pocket as well. I have yet to wear these (damn you spring 

weather!) so it still remains to be seen if it is comfortable sitting on them)

Fini! 

HELPFUL TIPS!!!

1. you're dealing with bleach and dye here - your fabric is going to weaken. Take great care with the shorts while they are still wet. I must confess, I ripped TWO pairs of shorts before I was successful with the third (see pictures below... how amazing would those bright pink shorts have been ?!?!)

2. speaking of the material, chose a pair of shorts that are not too worn out. If your shorts already have a hole in them, or a weak spot in the crotch, they will rip as you bleach and dye them (and you will be sad)
3. make sure to leave your rubber gloves on for the whole dying/rinsing process... unless you want your hands to be brightly coloured as well.
4. I recommend you hand wash these bad boys. Annoying? Yes. But also worth it. The first few times you wash these shorts, a bit of colour will probably come out and you don't want to ruin other clothes. The studs are another good reason to hand wash - you don't want any of them falling off in a vigorous wash cycle!
5. watch what you wear your shorts with the first couple of times. Your white t-shirt will look suspiciously green around the areas where it rubbed against the shorts all day.