Making Yarn: Upcycling T-Shirts For Crafting

T-shirt yarn is a great way to repurpose old t-shirts into something fun and functional. The amount of yarn you can get from a t-shirt varies depending on the size of the shirt and the thickness of the yarn. For example, a men's XL shirt can yield about 22 yards of unstretched yarn and 28 yards of stretched yarn. An adult XL t-shirt can provide approximately 30-33 yards of yarn, depending on the thickness of the cut. To estimate the amount of yarn you can get from a t-shirt, you can measure the width of the shirt and multiply it by two (for the front and back). Then, multiply that number by the number of strips you plan to cut. Finally, divide that number by 36 to get the estimated yardage.

The amount of yarn yielded from a men's XL shirt

You can expect to get a lot of yarn from a men's XL shirt. The exact amount will depend on the thickness of the yarn, but you can estimate that a men's XL shirt will yield somewhere between 22 and 33 yards of yarn.

To make t-shirt yarn, you'll need a sharp pair of fabric scissors or a rotary cutter. Start by trimming the shirt into a rectangle, then cut the fabric into strips. The thickness of the strips will determine the thickness of your yarn. Thinner strips will give you more yarn, but it will be less durable.

If you want to increase the length of your yarn, you can stretch the strips. This will add about 6 yards to the total length. However, keep in mind that any graphics on the shirt will not stretch, so choose your shirt accordingly if you plan to stretch the yarn.

With a men's XL shirt, you can expect to get enough yarn to make a variety of projects, such as crochet and knit rugs, bathmats, trivets, coasters, baskets, or tote bags. So, get crafting and turn that old shirt into something new!

How to cut a t-shirt to make yarn

To cut a t-shirt into yarn, you'll need a t-shirt (preferably without side seams) and a sharp pair of fabric scissors. If you want to make a prettier yarn, try to find a t-shirt without side seams. You can also use jersey fabric from a fabric store, or upcycle old bedsheets.

First, lay your t-shirt flat on a table and smooth out any wrinkles. Cut off the bottom seam (hem) of the shirt. Then, cut a straight line from one armpit to the other, making sure to cut through both layers of the shirt. Ideally, this will leave you with a rectangular piece of fabric, but don't worry if your lines aren't perfectly straight.

Next, you'll cut the fabric into strips. Decide how wide you want your yarn to be—this will depend on how you plan to use it. For crocheting, you'll probably want strips that are 1 inch wide or less, while for braiding, strips of around 2 inches will work well. Cut your first strip, starting at one edge of the fabric and cutting a straight line from the bottom to about 1 or 2 inches from the top fold. Make sure you don't cut all the way to the end and cut through both layers. Cut your second strip the same way, stopping just before the top fold. Repeat this process until you've cut strips across the entire fabric, trying to maintain the same width for each strip.

Now, you'll cut the strips apart to create one continuous piece of yarn. Open up the shirt so that you're looking at the uncut space of the top fold. Cut diagonally from the end of one slit to the start of the next slit, working your way across. When you reach the end of the shirt, cut off the last strip diagonally. You now have one long piece of yarn!

At this point, you can choose to keep the yarn flat or stretch it to make it curl, giving it a more rounded, traditional yarn look. To curl your yarn, simply stretch it or pull it between your hands—you should see it curling up and thinning out.

Finally, roll your new yarn into a ball, and it's ready to use!

The pros and cons of making t-shirt yarn vs buying it

Making t-shirt yarn is easy and economical. It is a great way to repurpose old t-shirts and reduce waste. All you need is a sharp pair of fabric scissors and some old t-shirts. The amount of yarn you can get from a t-shirt varies depending on the size of the shirt and the thickness of the yarn, but you can expect to get around 22-33 yards of yarn from an XL adult t-shirt.

One of the main advantages of making your own t-shirt yarn is that you have more control over the colours and consistency of the yarn. You can also avoid the shipping times associated with buying yarn online. However, making your own yarn can be time-consuming and may not save you much money compared to buying pre-made yarn.

When buying t-shirt yarn, you have the convenience of not having to make it yourself, and you can find a wide variety of colours and types of yarn. You can also buy yarn online, which offers a greater range of options than you might find in a physical store. However, one of the main disadvantages of buying yarn online is that you cannot see and feel the yarn in person before purchasing. This can make it difficult to judge the quality and colour of the yarn accurately. Additionally, there may be hidden costs associated with buying yarn online, such as shipping fees.

How to calculate yardage when cutting your own t-shirt yarn

When cutting your own t-shirt yarn, it can be tricky to know how much yardage you're getting. However, there are ways to estimate this.

Firstly, you can measure the width of the shirt, then multiply that number by two (as there are two sides to the shirt). Then multiply that number by the number of strips you cut. Next, divide that number by 36 (as there are 36 inches in a yard). So, for example, if your shirt is 20 inches wide, times 2 = 40 inches. And you cut 10 strips = 400 inches. Divided by 36 = 11.1. So, you know that you have approximately 11 yards of t-shirt yarn.

Since you stretch the yarn after cutting it, you will actually have more than this estimate. The amount of length gained by stretching is tricky to calculate, but you will have at least the amount of unstretched yarn you've calculated.

Another way to estimate the amount of yarn you will get from a t-shirt is to look at the yardage on a ball of pre-made t-shirt yarn. For example, an XL adult T-shirt should net about 30–33 yards of t-shirt yarn. A men's XL shirt yielded about 22 yards of unstretched yarn, and after stretching, this increased to 28 yards.

Tips for cutting and stretching t-shirt yarn

Making t-shirt yarn is an easy and economical way to recycle old t-shirts. It is also a fun way to create unique knitting and crochet projects. Here are some tips for cutting and stretching t-shirt yarn:

• Choose the right fabric: Use 100% cotton jersey t-shirts or a cotton-polyester blend. Avoid lycra, modal, and ribbed jersey fabric as they do not curl properly and can make a mess.
• Prepare the t-shirt: Lay the t-shirt flat on a table or the floor and smooth out any wrinkles. Remove the bottom hem of the shirt to ensure your finished yarn curls nicely.
• Cut the t-shirt into strips: Decide how wide you want your strips to be, considering the type of project you will be using the yarn for. For crocheting, strips that are 1 inch wide or less are recommended, while for braiding, wider strips (around 2 inches) can be used. Cut the shirt into strips, stopping a few inches from the top.
• Make the final cuts: Cut diagonally from each slit below the seam to the corresponding slit above the seam, moving from left to right. This will create one continuous piece of yarn.
• Stretch the yarn: Pull the yarn taut between your hands to curl it and give it a finished look. Stretching the yarn will also lengthen it and make it thinner.
• Connect the strips: If you have cut the t-shirt into multiple strips, you can connect them by overlapping the strips by about an inch and sewing them together, or by joining them in the same way you would in knitting or crocheting.
• Wind the yarn: Once you have stretched and connected all the strips, wind the yarn into a ball.
• Wash the yarn: T-shirt yarn can be washed in a washing machine, but be aware that it may ravel on the cut edges, especially with repeated washing. Consider placing it in a washing bag for delicates to reduce raveling.
• Use large needles: When knitting with t-shirt yarn, use needles larger than you think you will need, preferably size 11 US (8 mm) or larger. Plastic or metal needles with a slippery surface can also be helpful for working the stitches more easily.
• Take breaks: Working with t-shirt yarn can be strenuous due to the weight and firmness of the yarn. Take it slow and rest often to avoid soreness or strain.
• Don't worry about perfection: It is difficult to cut shirts into perfectly uniform strips, so don't stress about making every strip the same width. Variations in width will add to the organic look of your recycled knitting project.

Frequently asked questions