Tips for bleaching and distressing denim (learn from my mistakes!)

Hello, friends! Today I invite you to join me on a jeans bleaching adventure! I did some experiments with bleaching denim (and using Rit Color Remover) and learned A LOT in the process. While my finished product is not exactly what I was going for, I think there are loads of helpful tips in this video if you are considering bleaching raw denim. Enjoy!
See how I made the jeans in this video: • How to Sew Jeans From ...
Misting Spray Bottle that I used: amzn.to/2ZzWpBC
Shop Pattern Scout Patterns: patternscoutstudio.com
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES + FUN STUFF:
- Casey's Skillshare Classes: skl.sh/2JZlIzh
- Pattern Scout on Pinterest: bit.ly/3kqjT0j​​
- Sewalongs and tutorials: bit.ly/34Wtt5P
- Shop Pattern Scout PDF sewing patterns: bit.ly/shoppatternscout​​
-You can also shop some Pattern Scout patterns on Etsy: bit.ly/PatternScout
Follow @patternscout on Instagram: / patternscout
MY EQUIPMENT:
Pfaff IDT Select Sewing Machine: bit.ly/35fqoh3​
Babylock Imagine Serger: bit.ly/2ILM1Ol​

[@sarahlemmon4128]

For what it's worth, I'm really glad you posted this video even though you weren't 100% pleased with the results. I learned so much!

[@PatternScout]

Thank you so much! I learned a lot, too! Once I recover from my bleach trauma I may give it another go! haha :)

[@tammylewis4012]

You saved me so much time . By seeing your swatches I knew pretty much how long I needed to leave my jeans soaking . Took out all the guess work ! Thank you ! I got exactly the color I wanted .

[@bast713]

Mistakes during crafting are incredibly relatable content! They all turned out really nice (even though I'll admit when you went to the store for more color remover I started watching through my fingers like it was a horror movie. 😂😂😂) Thank you for sharing this!

[@PatternScout]

🤣🤣 i am so sorry to put you through that! Trust me, while editing there were so many moments i was thinking "GIRL, JUST STOP!" while watching myself go down the rabbithole!

[@phillhart2990]

I like how you tested all these techniques first. This vid was actually SUPER helpful for me . Thanks for posting!

[@PatternScout]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@Nicedicekid]

For everyone interested. And concerned about yellowing. There's a product called Mrs Stewart's liquid bluing. Litterly one salt shaker shake of the bottle into your rinse water and any yellowing instantly turns bright white . It's amazing

[@PatternScout]

Ooh, thanks for sharing this!

[@DOOFOnAss]

Is this for white jeans bc I’m really tryna I stain my 200 dollar jeans but scared to ruin them permanently

[@Nicedicekid]

Its for if tou bleach something ,like jeans say. I bleached a couple pairs of jeans but they dont come out nice bright white more like dingy yellow. With this in the rinse water they will actually turn white white. I also use it on my white tees and even shoes. Its a must have for me. Im a bit of a clothes snob and i love this stuff​@DOOFOnAss

[@Anarkejeansco]

I must say! I’ve been making jeans professionally for more than 20 years. 1. The fit is great. 2. Stop being hard on yourself you’ve done a great job.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you so much! :)

[@kirbythsquirrel]

I just finished making jeans, and I've had amazing success with a pumice stone. You can rough up the seam and pocket areas really nicely, without risking tears. To make "whiskers" put on the jeans, sit down, and lightly rub the stone on the top of the folds. Pumice is the original abrasive used to artificially break in jeans. I got a very nice subtle effect

[@PatternScout]

I'll have to try that! Thanks!

[@maryerikson87]

Thanx for the tip about the "whiskers"

[@SeachGateINDIA]

KC and the 🌞 Sunshine Band 🥁

[@TwoBs]

this video is so fun I know it’s a year old, but it’s so informative .. pairing this with your video on making jeans fit better around the waist, I’m on a whole new journey with a pair. I like how all yours turned out!

[@trishah2924]

I really love the white jeans. I love the cut, and how casual cool the fabric looks.

[@peggymason7438]

I really appreciate your inspirational, knowledgeable videos and calm, relaxed, easy demeanor. I've watched most of them! I am an experience seamstress but I still learn from and enjoy your videos.

[@PatternScout]

Aw thank you so much! I'm so glad to know that!

[@cozycasasmr4510]

I'm so glad I watched this before doing the exact same thing as you that I was planning to do 😂 thanks for taking one for the team, the white jeans look good on you in the end at least!

[@trinesandns4947]

Thank you for letting us learn from your mistakes. Love your videos!

[@PatternScout]

Thank you so much!

[@gracefromspace5502]

That was fun to watch, what a roller coaster of emotion. I learned alot. I'm actually trying to achieve the light wash look, so this was really helpful. I subscribed!

[@PatternScout]

Glad it was helpful! 😅 Thank you for subscribing!

[@ms3801]

Really impressed with your scientfic technique. Thanks for posting

[@HateBMcDead]

I came to learn as I want to try this, but was blown away at how awesomely fantastic you look in those jeans. 🔥

[@mery_vc]

This was really helpful, thank you for posting it😍

[@PatternScout]

Thanks for watching! :)

[@lolasimor2895]

I love your crafty creative spirit.

[@nisa3612]

I love the white one! The white color was so perfect and even

[@abreise]

very nice video! Loved the idea with the spray bottle!

[@PatternScout]

Thanks! :)

[@Publicspectaclefashion]

Great video! Super informative, and I think the project turned out great!

[@PatternScout]

Thanks so much!

[@emy.hobbies]

great video much work and editing, well done!

[@jordanhernandez8590]

I'm actually trying to turn an old denim jacket totally white so i found this very helpful. Also i think the jeans came out great in the video

[@PatternScout]

Glad it was helpful! Best of luck with your jacket!

[@anacarolinagrassmann779]

thank you so much for this video......helps a lot 🌹

[@hannahschwartz8800]

I saw a suggestion to set the color with a mixture of 3% peroxide and water after the bleach bath… I guess that’s kind of like the color safe detergents. Thanks for showing your process! So helpful!

[@PatternScout]

If I ever do this again (haha) I will definitely try that! A few folks have suggested it and seems like the way to go! Thanks for the tip and for watching! :)

[@alainahall...]

You are so funny! Thank you for sharing this video. I'm new to sewing and I appreciate your work.

[@PatternScout]

Thanks so much! This was a comedy of errors for me, but I learned a lot! 😅

[@paoladigiulio2543]

Love more the after than the before, the white one is beautiful.

[@PatternScout]

Thank you!

[@twillerbees]

u legit have a real talent 🤩

[@PatternScout]

Thank you so much!

[@lfader]

Glad im not the only one stressing using RIT & bleach. Currently doing my 4th chamomile tea dying w a bit of coffee to get optic white to a dingy yellowish/ light blue. Rit is powerful but you can correct it when shtf 😱 Thankyou!! ( note to self= don't obsess 🤣)

[@elothegreat3011]

I actually liked the white ones. And the 2nd pair was perfect!!

[@veiledrecalcitrance4314]

Oh, and although you bleached them white, I really liked the good jeans when you first tried them on, the highlights were a bit whiter than normal, but I liked how unique they looked. I mean, who wants things everyone else has, am I right? My point is, they looked a lot better than I think you thought they did

[@anapaulaneves6809]

O melhor vídeo sobre o assunto (Brasil)🇧🇷

[@veiledrecalcitrance4314]

So, this is a two year old video, but I’ve watched a bunch of videos on lightening jeans and in another video I saw a girl take a regular spray bottle, 50/50 mix and instead of submerging, she just sprayed them completely (jeans laid out on the floor) and let them sit out over night then for like a few days in the washer before washing them, they came out pretty damn good, so good I’m thinking of trying that way over in a tub of bleach and water. The only problem I see is how difficult it’s become to find just old school cotton jeans, they all have that stupid stretch to them and I’m concerned that since the stretch jeans last nowhere near as long as regular jeans used to, just by wearing them, that bleach will make them just fall apart, or at least considerably shorten the life of the jeans (and considering the cost of Levi’s these days, not sure I want to do that)

[@fasilyilma1945]

hi there thanks for your nice video i learn a lot. i have a plane to use this technique as a small scale business and what do you advice me?

[@thishumaniscalledsarah]

I have a pair of cotton pants that have a couple spots stained (accidentally) with bleach so I was thinking of making the whole thing like that by adding some organic-looking bleach “spots”. Any advice? How should I apply the bleach as I’m not bleaching the whole pants?

[@laurenmcelroy6653]

What a roller coaster!! I am also grateful that you posted this imperfect dyeing process. Do you still wear the white jeans 2 months on? Also, would there be any benefit to bleaching the fabric before making the garment (denim jacket in my case)?

[@PatternScout]

Haha yes it was a rollercoaster! I've worn the jeans a couple of times, but not since it's been extra cold and snowy here. I think I may cut them into shorts this summer. Bleaching the fabric before is a great idea (and you can get the fade just right before investing all that time in sewing a garment 😅). Although, bleaching afterward may give you a more "worn" look by leaving the seams a little darker. So there are benefits either way! Best of luck, and thanks for watching! :)

[@debbieosredkernelson13]

I bought a pair of stonewashed jeans (plus size) and they were great. I bought a second pair a couple months later and there is a very weird line of demarcation between the natural color and the stonewashed area... so much so that I refuse to wear them because they look weird. I wasn't able to return them because I had 'assumed' they would be the same as the first pair, so I washed them before I put them on and saw the weird demarcation. Do you have any suggestions on how to sort of blend the area so it looks better and I can wear them? Thank you!

[@sewlycreations6006]

Thanks for this vid 💯

[@maryb.c.507]

Very helpful video, thanks. Wondering what you recommend in terms of topstitching thread if you want to fade jeans eventually? Cotton or polyester? something else?

[@PatternScout]

I prefer polyester thread and would suggest choosing one to coordinate with what you expect your final results to be (polyester will not bleach and will only pick up dyes for synthetic fibers). Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!

[@chrisdfx1]

I like a certain brand of jeans that no longer get made, so I have to buy them used off Ebay. I've ruined so many pairs trying to bleach them. I finally figured out you have to rinse them out with clean water after soaking them. If you put them in the washing machine without rinsing them first, they'll keep bleaching during the wash.

[@michellesiebel1912]

I'm not sure what I did wrong and am hoping you (or someone) can help me. The 1st time I had my jeans in the bathtub for 3 hours and they were still way too dark. The 2nd time I just put them in the sink for 2 hours and they bleached nicely, however... there are a few spots/marks that are darker. There are quite a few of them too. How can I fix them? Also, how do people get the smell out. Both times I've washed them they smell so bad.

[@alanwebb1842]

You look good in them anyway!

[@nadiaseelbach1854]

Hi! Thanks for sharing your journey! I wanted to ask, how all those manipulations influenced the touch/texture of the fabric?

[@PatternScout]

The jeans did feel a little less soft and stretchy from all the bleaching, but they were still very comfortable. Thanks for watching!

[@christinehubbard2035]

Girl, you are making me nervous bleaching things while you’re wearing your dark shirt and pants! 🫣

[@ActsChapter2BaptismSAVESyou]

So How DID you end up bleaching the jean fabric white? I actually like them better that way. I’m currently trying to make a dark Jean skirt- ULTRA light. But if it doesn’t go right, I’d like to turn it white. Di you use the white wash to make them white?

[@leastidyworld4365]

I want to bleach my denim jacket light but I’m kinda scared of ruining it (this video doesn’t help in that regard 😆). But it’s still good to know what ratio you used and how long you bleached them for. I don’t really have a sample of the same fabric which I could use as I didn’t make this myself (I never developed my sewing skills that far).

[@angeljoy66]

I read/heard that splashless bleach does not work as well. I haven’t found the sweet spot for bleaching denim yet-still working on my swatches as I type this. Specifically, trying to “paint”’with bleach.

[@luxlethor2376]

I have no experience whatsoever and am looking to add a little fade to a black denim suit. This video was extremely helpful and has boosted my confidence. Have you tried any of your techniques on black denim and over time, have you experienced any additional degradation?

[@PatternScout]

I haven't tried it on black denim, but I think black will usually turn yellow/orange when bleached, so you might try the RIT dye color remover for that (It doesn't work on indigo dyes, but seems like it would work better on black). I haven't worn the white denim jeans that I bleached very much, but I wear the other pair that I showed in this video quite a lot--they've lost a little of their stretch recovery, but they have held up well otherwise and are still one of my fave pairs. :)

[@mjnbc3]

I took the pockets off a new pair of white washed Jeans, didn't like the position of pockets, found the material under pockets much darker than the rest of the Jeans I will use the spray mist 50/50 mixture to lighten the dark pocket area. I will let you know how it goes.

[@kell2resq]

I think if you threw in some raw denim samples into the color remover with your favorite jeans it may have given you the result you were looking for, thank you for sharing.

[@segagirladventurespico]

Watching your video. I mixed my jeans with a vintage dress thats red & black in the washer and the read stained 2 spots on my jeans 1 by my pocket in the front 2 by my foot bottom of jeans i tried to clean it out using techniques i found on KZbin witj baking soda extra but it never removed the stain from my jeans so i was thinking of bleaching my jeans do you think the red will go away if i bleach or go pink. I will have to make a video on it on my channel. Thank u for the techniques.

[@PatternScout]

Hmm, not sure about that one! I'm not confident giving too much bleaching advice after my mishaps haha. But I would say not to bleach them unless you want to fade the denim colors. Good luck!

[@moneymotivated4229]

I’m trying to make my jeans white, other videos had spots after bleaching, im guessing it depends on the quality of the jeans.

[@jamesherbert-uk5hd]

i think they turned out nice in the end! wanna make me a pair of jeans lol

[@trigsgaming7326]

What temperature is the water with the bleech?

[@godsinbox]

you are lucky In my country the Rit dye is so expensive that it is not an option. bleach however is cheap, but needs to be used with great caution. Thanks for the content

[@PatternScout]

The bleach was the best option in this case, so I'd skip the rit color remover 🙌 thanks for watching!

[@kishageorge7788]

Can u advised me. I bought some cream jeans I tried to bleach them so they would turn white. But they turns yellow, can you help me

[@heidihageman523]

I like the white

[@Simranngulati]

I’m thinking about trying out fading just the seams with bleach with the q tip like you did! But i’m afraid it will lighten too much after the wash, do you think diluting more and rinsing with peroxide will be of any help? Also wondering if those pairs you bleached bled out colour everytime you washed?

[@PatternScout]

That's exactly what I would suggest based on some of the feedback from viewers (I haven't tried it, though, so you'll have to let us know how it goes!) :) The bleached pairs didn't bleed at all in the wash.

[@yeahno.5795]

I’ve been trying to bleach my own denim, but nothings working… What type of bleach are you using?

[@pelinozge3639]

Thank you for the video it was very helpful! Just wanted to correct that 1 cup of bleach mixed with 4 cups of water does not make 25% concentration bleach solution, it makes 20%.

[@wouldntyouliketoknow1183]

This is so helpful, im currently trying to lighten my dark denim so i cqn dye it pink for the barbie movie coming out, thanks for documenting your jean journey! This is super helpful!

[@lat64eece]

Thanks Casey for this video on bleaching your jeans, quite helpful. So I want to make a light wash jeans, but can’t find the color and weight that I want. Do you think bleaching my fabric then making the jeans would work for getting an even color? Do you think the bathtub worked better than the washer?

[@PatternScout]

I think bleaching the fabric could work, although I learned through this process that the bleach can be a little unpredictable! I had some feedback from a couple of viewers that hydrogen peroxide can be used to neutralize the bleach. Throwing it in the washer does get it even I think, but harder to control the amount that it lightens. If I did this again, I'd still use the tub method and use the peroxide to neutralize the bleach when it was the shade I wanted before rinsing thoroughly and tossing into the washer (I haven't tried this though, so take that with a grain of salt haha ) :)

[@lat64eece]

@@PatternScout thank you for your thoughts…

[@missyb1020]

foreshadowing 😂 thank you!

[@4GiveN4get]

Thank you for your formula 1:4 bleach:water, but how long do you soak them for the white denim, Please?

[@PatternScout]

I don't remember how long I left it in the bleach, but I just kept checking it until the jeans looked white (sorry I can't give a more satisfying answer! :) maybe an hour or more?

[@Zaptastic69]

Hi, can I ask what ratio of bleach and water did you use to make them fully white? I have a very patchy pair that I want to also just make fully white instead now!

[@PatternScout]

Yes of course! I can't remember the exact amount but it was probably close to a 25% bleach to water ratio and it had to soak a while to get white.

[@andrestinson1400]

I like them

[@davefigore7843]

I'm a bit late to this ... but I'm trying to lighten up and distress a pair of Black Jeans ... I have Bleach and the Rit remover. I'm a dude and this is Not my kinda thing ... So disappointment is probably enviable ...Thanks for your Video 😊

[@girliboi]

i can't believe you got those jeans WHITE!! after wearing black for all my teen years i realized i look best in light colors (pale skin, light eyes, blond hair/eyebrows/lashes just looks like a blank WHITE face in all black).. i've bleached a LOT of my denim (blue, brown, and pink colors of pants, jackets, and even bags), and i've noticed different types of denim will definitely behave differently.. some take longer than others, while some will only lighten to a certain point, etc.. . and agree, they do all tend to feel a little bit crispy and stiff even after multiple wash/rinse cycles and fabric softeners .. i've embraced the spring easter colorway for me (lightest pastel baby blues, dusty pinks, beigy creams, etc), so luckily, the longer they soak usually the better in my case, but for the mid range it sounds like you're going for, i'd recommend soaking no more than 30 minutes max (checking every 5-10 minutes just to be safe), and then really focusing more on the spray bottle and sandpaper..

[@princessagatha9991]

I was thinking the uneven pair would be perfect for a patched Japanese mending look, like sashiko.

[@badxblondie]

Thank you for this!! I purchased a pair of preowned light washed Brazilian jeans & they ended up being too short for my liking. The bottoms were cuffed & stitched like 5 inches so I took that stitching out & then took out the hem which left me with like 8 inches of really dark denim compared to the rest of the jeans … it looks like the bottom of the jeans were dipped in water & they look wet which looks so awkward. I wanted to lighten the ends of them & wasn’t 100% sure how long I should keep them in the bleach for .

[@PatternScout]

I hope it is helpful! Bleaching can be a bit of trial and error, (as you can see from the many errors I made haha) so best of luck! Thanks for watching! :)

[@deedlit8029]

As I have a jeans with some black hearts I cant' dip them totally what do you suggest me to do? use a sponge? Can you write me the doses of water and bleach in ml? I'm Italian and unfortunatelly we don't have any cups to measure. thank you so much!

[@PatternScout]

Hmm, I'm not sure, but I suggest experimenting with it in a hidden area on the pants. My bleach mix was not exact, as I just tried adding more bleach to the mix without measuring. I started with about 25% bleach/75% water.

[@deedlit8029]

@@PatternScout thank you 😉😉😉

[@user-cq6bm6vv3k]

Isit true of some jeans like the ones im trying to lighten wont lighten bc they are onky 59 percent cotton

[@danjaguar126]

Thank you for your service o7

[@GODSLEGACY1111W3RDTAYSSECRET]

Oh and by the way the color was perfect in them expecially the take it way to far ones to gem LIGHT light areas to the darker colors was my favorite and the WORLD NEEDS MORE VINTAGE AND MY OPINION IS KEEP F'ING IT UP WE LOVE UNEVEN #taylord #soloup

[@leastidyworld4365]

Today I returned the two denim jackets that I’d bought in order to bleach the one I’ve already got, but I’m scared of ruining it. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@euroyen420p2]

So, I bleached some awesome jeans last night, (put in a bag outside) and fell asleep..(accidently).. next day, the jeans were in pieces! 😭

[@tessamariah]

what was your water to bleach ratio?

[@euroyen420p2]

@@tessamariah no water, just bleach, 😆🙋🏻🙃

[@tessamariah]

@@euroyen420p2 omg😭😂 yeah that’ll do it

[@birminghamspidey3352]

Any specific bleach or any kind?

[@PatternScout]

Just basic bleach, no specific brand or kind :)

[@rhannahr1550]

I like the jeans 18 minutes in Nice hips❤️ Very impressive that you make your own jeans Any way looking for the same color on some rustler jean dark dean, can you make a video on that

[@RasheedKhan-he6xx]

Hope this doesn't come across as 'mansplaining' but please use breathing and eye protection when working with chlorine - especially if you're going to be leaning over a tub and splashing it around . Just FYI, chlorine gas was used against soldiers in WW1 and is now a banned chemical weapon. I'd suggest bleaching in your washing machine and even then only if the area is well ventilated or you remember to leave the room for the duration. You can set a time and temperature and as a bonus it will get washed out in the rinse cycle. This could also eliminate the splotches and streaks you found because the machine will have agitated the clothes and ensured the bleach got in evenly everywhere.

[@GODSLEGACY1111W3RDTAYSSECRET]

You tock and perfectly explained it all in great details this is a perfect tutorial and very well spoken 💯 good job as a matter of fact Amazing Job very professional #soloup #taylord

[@esmeedesi9027]

OMG YOUR DOG

[@PatternScout]

He's the best dog ever! :)

[@esmeedesi9027]

@@PatternScout I have a similar one. such a good companion

[@leniboplacebo]

I was watching this for the white jeans );;; Everyone else's jeans have yellow seams.

[@Escape10mom]

I've always wondered about bleaching jeans.... I think I'll just wear mine...😂😂😂

[@PatternScout]

Yes, please do! 😅

[@teresahaven9222]

When I was young, when denim WAS denim, lol, I always hated new jeans. I mean, there was only 1 color of denim. My mom would fill the washer with hot water and 3/4 or 1 cup of bleach, let it agitate for a few minutes to mix the bleach and then throw the jeans in. They would go thru the "wash" cycle and then the rinse and come out like they had been worn some and not brand new.

[@afonsosalgado578]

turn your jeans inside out when you put them in the washing machine

[@hugomartinez536]

Send paper is overrated. The most noticeable thing it does is breaking the cotton fibres. In terms of fading, its not noticeable

[@mufarrijlukman21]

I bleached my jeans and they turned out yellow 💀

[@PatternScout]

I believe it! 😬

[@Ste-nj9fr]

Im expecting you soak the denim overnight. I mean (super white)

[@joeybrooks4353]

Cool white jeans I have a suggestion for you.

[@teresahaven9222]

I'm laughing over throwing the jeans in the tub....then the washer....or boiling on the stove....then the washer. Why not do everything in the washer in the first place? If your water isn't hot enough, heat the water on the stove like you did and then pour into the washer and use the wash cycle to agitate the jeans.

[@PatternScout]

Just experimenting--although, I def learned a few things! :) I think throwing them into the washer with bleach might have caused uneven results, but I've never tried it so I can't be 100% sure.

[@charleneharman4955]

Very talkative