How to Make Cute DIY Two-Tone Jeans Inspired by Reformation

8 Materials
$25
6 Hours
Advanced

In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to make DIY two-tone jeans. I was inspired by the Reformation Cynthia jeans, which are gorgeous but have a retail price of $220!


The half-and-half white and tan jeans are so pretty and they made me want to make DIY two-tone jeans myself! Follow me along as I show you how to make two-toned jeans, step by step.

Tools and materials:

  • Two pairs of thrifted jeans
  • Your own pair of well-fitting jeans to use as a template
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine with a heavy-duty or denim needle
  • Ruler/measuring tape
  • Paper 
  • Marker
  • Pattern weights


Tip: Try to get thrifted jeans that have similar fabric weight and content to make the process go easier.

Reformation Cynthia jeans
Thrifted white jeans


Thrifted tan jeans


Drafting the front pattern

1. Draft the front pattern

Lay your own well-fitting jeans flat and wrong side out on paper. Use weights to hold the paper as flat as possible. Have the jeans folded along the side seam and trace this seam and the hem.

Tracing the front of the jeans

Trace the waist—not the top of the waistband—but the seam that joins the waistband and the top of the jeans. Trace the center front seam.

Tracing the inseam

Move on to trace the inseam, making sure to trace the actual seam and not the folded edge. Once you’ve traced these lines, clean up the pattern with the ruler as needed. Add a ⅝-inch seam allowance.

Labeling the front jeans pattern

Label the pattern and cut it out.

Drafting the front pattern

2. Draft the back pattern

Lay the inside-out jeans flat on the paper with the back facing you with the folded inseam. Start by tracing the center back and then trace the inseam.


The back is a bit trickier than the front so make sure you follow these directions!

Tracing the back of the jeans

Fold the jeans along the side seam now and adjust the placement of the jeans, making sure it still lines up with the center back seam. Trace the hem.

Retracing the side seams and waist

Retrace the side seams and waist like you did for the front, cleaning up the pattern as needed.

Matching up the front and back patterns

Use the front jean pattern as a guide to make sure the lengths line up. Make adjustments as needed. Add a ⅝-inch seam allowance, label the pattern, and cut it out.

Creating the back yoke

3. Create the back yoke

Measure 3 inches from the waist along the center back seam. Mark.

How to create the back yoke

Then, measure 2 inches from the waist along the side seam. Mark.

Connecting the measurements together

Use your ruler to connect these 2 points with a line.

DIY two-tone jeans pattern

Eyeball a straight seam that is the length of the leg. Measure, mark, and cut.


Add seam allowance to the top area of the jeans just below the yoke and down the center seam.

Deconstructing the thrifted tan jeans

4. Deconstruct the thrifted jeans

Take the jeans apart with a seam ripper, opening up the side and inseams. For the front, keep the zipper and front pockets intact.

Removing the pockets from the jeans

For the back, remove the entire waistband, the yoke in two pieces, and the back pockets.

Deconstruct the thrifted white jeans

For the second pair of jeans, use the same technique.

Removing excess threads from the jeans

Remove any extra threads.

Matching the pattern to the deconstructed jeans

5. Start sewing the jeans

Match the fabric front piece to the pattern, keeping the original zipper. If your fabric is larger than the pattern, you may need to cut the center front seam.

Sewing the new jeans

Once it matches, sew together with a straight stitch.

How to mimic double stitching on jeans

To mimic the double stitching of a professional jean, sew an additional straight stitch just to the right of the seam.

Using a double needle to sew the jeans

Make sure to catch the seam allowance that is folded to the right underneath. Use a longer stitch length. If you have a double-needle, use that instead of sewing it twice.

Assembling the two-tone jeans in white and tan

Assemble the fabric back pattern pieces. Start by sewing the main leg.

Sewing the yoke

Then place the yoke right sides together and sew.

Double-stitching on the back

Use the double stitching method. Sew on the back pocket.

Sewing the jean legs

Sew the other leg to mirror the first leg following the same steps.

How to make two-toned jeans

Lay the front of the jeans right side up. Lay the corresponding back pieces so their right sides are together. Sew along the side seams.

Topstitching along the side seams

Topstitch along the side seam on the white part, making sure to catch the seam allowance underneath.

Using matching thread on the different colors

Use white thread on the white section and tan thread on the tan section (or whatever colors you’re using). Press all the seams before topstitching for a smooth, professional finish.

Making Reformation-inspired Cynthia jeans

6. Make adjustments

Sew a basting stitch to the center back and just the top section of the inseam so you can try on the jeans to determine the fit. If they fit fine, you’re good to go!

Adjusting the size of the DIY two-tone jeans

If they are too big, use a safety pin to gather the excess fabric.

Taking in the back of the jeans

Mark the new center back with safety pins. Sew together with a straight stitch. Cut off any excess fabric.

Sewing half-colored jeans

Topstitch with a double stitch to the left of the seam on the back so it lines up perfectly when sewing the inseam together. 

How to make half-and-half colored jeans

7. Finish the sewing

Turn the jeans inside out. Line up the center front with the center back.

Pinning the DIY two-tone jeans, ready to sew

Pin to secure and sew.

Matching the waistband to the DIY two-tone jeans

To attach the waistband, make sure it fits first. If it does, great! If it doesn’t, remove the belt loops and reserve.


To figure out how to get the correct measurement, line up the button at the top and work your way around to the center back seam. Pin the waistband at that point.

Aligning the waistband to the jeans

Take the waistband with the buttonhole at the jean opening and work your way to the center back seam. 

Marking the waistband with pins

Mark with a pin.

Sewing the waistband

Line up the 2 pins and sew with a straight stitch to create a shorter waistband.

DIY two-tone jeans waistband

The seam allowance is hidden on the inside. 

Pinning the waistband to the DIY two-tone jeans

Line up the waistband seam with the center back seam and pin all the way around, sandwiching the top of the jeans into the waistband.

Double-stitching the waistband and adding belt loops

Doublestitch the waistband as well. Replace the belt loops.

Double-folding the hem of the jeans

Double fold the hem.

Hemming the DIY two-tone jeans

Stitch to secure with coordinating threads.

DIY two-tone jeans

DIY two-tone jeans

How beautiful are these DIY two-tone jeans? While these half-colored jeans aren’t technically difficult, they are time-consuming with the thread color changes, double stitching, and removal of prior stitching.

DIY two-tone jeans from the back

Please let me know in the comments if you made these and how long it took you. Be sure to share your photos wearing your new half-and-half colored jeans!

Suggested materials:
  • Two pairs of thrifted jeans
  • Your own pair of well-fitting jeans to use as a template
  • Scissors
See all materials

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