How to redesign old jeans! I had fun making this list of 15 denim refashion ideas. A refashion lets you update the jeans to be more fun but many of these would work well for hiding stains too! While most of them are shown on adult jeans, I think many of them would work well for kid’s clothes refashioning too.
Have you ever refashioned jeans? New pairs of denim require a staggering amount of water to produce (read more here) and one of the best ways to avoid contributing to that is to makeover your old jeans instead of buying new ones! Plus, it’s fun.
While you’re here, you’ll want to check out these posts too!
- What to do with old jeans – 45+ upcycle sewing tutorials
- 25+ ways to refashion purses & bags
- 20+ ways to refashion clothes that are too small
- 12+ thrift store dress refashion tutorials
- 15+ sweater refashions to recycle old sweaters into new clothes!
- 20+ DIY upcycled denim jacket ideas
Pin this list of how to redesign old jeans with this link or collage image, please click through to the original blogs to pin individual posts!
How to redesign old jeans – 15 denim refashion ideas
I wrote this tutorial for how to mend jeans by hand, but you could easily use it just for decoration too!
Quick and simple, I love these bejeweled cuffs from Pearls and Scissors! [2024 edit note – this website appears to be gone but leaving up the photo for inspiration!]
This is so creative, turning pants into a pinafore-style dress! Tutorial from Sew Much Love, Mary.
I’m thinking I need to try this with my kid’s pants! DIY oversized stamped pants from A Beautiful Mess.
Add some sass with how to embroider jeans back pockets; the tutorial includes a free pattern for the text but anything goes!
I love this idea, you have to click through to see the unique product she used to get this effect, I’ve never used it before. Tutorial at Creative Fashion Blog.
This is quick and easy! You could adjust longer or shorter and follow the same fringe hem jeans tutorial at Thriftanista in the City.
I wrote this tutorial with overalls but all of the same things apply if you’re working with regular jeans too! See how to make jeans skinnier and dye them darker.
I found two creative ways to add pearls to jeans from Love Maegen! First up is this encrusted version, that looks super simple to make.
Next up is a more creative version in my opinion, with strands across distressed patches!
This clever tutorial is shown with little girl’s jeans but I think it would work with adult jeans too! Check it out at Delia Creates.
You know I love stamping stuff (check out how to make a stamp from an eraser), and these star stamped jeans are super cute.
If you’re looking for statement pants, adding big embroidery appliques is a quick way to get there! Check out this tutorial by Love Maegen.
Not sure how these would wash/dry up, but see how to make scallops on shorts from Free People.
This is a subtle DIY, by Cotton and Curls.
I love how these bleached tie-dye jeans look, from DIBY Club. I would recommend researching how to neutralize the bleach as a last step to the tutorial though, or use non-chlorine RIT color remover instead, you can see how I used that on sweats in this refashion post.
(not pictured)
I love the colors in these paint splattered jeans over at Damask Love.
If you’re artsy and skilled with a paintbrush, treat your back pocket like a literal canvas, like these hand painted jeans on Artistro.
I love animal print and these bleach leopard print jeans are super cute, I would recommend researching how to neutralize the bleach as a last step to the tutorial though, or use non-chlorine RIT color remover instead, at Fashion Rolla.
Turn jeans into shorts and add some lace, with this tutorial at One O DIY.