
T-shirts are a versatile garment that can be reused and recycled in numerous ways. From creating new clothing items such as scarves, dresses, and headbands to crafting accessories like bracelets, necklaces, and bags, the possibilities are endless. For those who are feeling particularly creative, T-shirts can also be transformed into home decor items such as rugs, wall hangings, and even pet beds. With a little imagination and some simple tools, it's easy to give new life to old T-shirts and reduce waste.
What You'll Learn
Make a braided rug
Making a braided rug is a great way to reuse old T-shirts. The number of T-shirts you'll need depends on the size of your rug. For a small rug, you'll need around 10 T-shirts. For a rug that's approximately 5'x5', you'll need a lot more—one source says they used nine bags of T-shirts, with lots left over.
Here's how to make a braided T-shirt rug:
Step 1: Cut Your T-Shirts
Lay a T-shirt flat and cut it into strips. You can cut strips that are about 1 to 2 inches wide. You can use scissors or a rotary cutter. Cut the end of each piece so that you have strands, not loops, of fabric. Remove any large logos or graphics.
Step 2: Braid Your Strips
Gather three strips of fabric and tie a knot at the top. Start braiding the strips using a basic three-strand braiding technique. You can use a sewing machine to start the braid and transition between colours, or you can hand-sew or knot them.
Step 3: Coil the Braid
Once you've braided about 4 inches of the strips, coil the braid into a circle, with the knot in the centre. Take the strand closest to the centre and pass it under and through one of the loops in the braid. Continue braiding and attaching the braid to the coil every few inches.
Step 4: Sew the Braid Together
When you've braided enough fabric, start sewing your rug together. You can do this by hand, but it will be much faster with a sewing machine. Sew the braids together in a spiral pattern, making sure the rug grows in a clockwise direction. Use a zig-zag stitch and a medium-knit needle.
Step 5: Finish the Rug
When you're happy with the size of your rug, finish it off by weaving the last strips of the braid through the underside and tying them in place. You can also use a needle and thread to reinforce any large gaps between the rings.
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Create a tote bag
If you have an old T-shirt that you no longer wear, you can easily turn it into a tote bag. This is a great way to repurpose your old gym T-shirts and give them a new lease of life. Plus, it's simple to do and doesn't require any sewing skills or equipment. All you need is a pair of scissors and about 10-20 minutes of your time. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating a tote bag from a T-shirt:
Step 1: Prepare Your T-shirt
Before you begin, make sure your T-shirt is clean and dry. If it's an old shirt, this ensures that you won't have to rewash it after cutting and reshaping it. For a new shirt, washing and drying it first will ensure that any potential shrinkage occurs before you start crafting. Lay the T-shirt out flat on a surface, matching up the two body line seams to ensure it lays flat.
Step 2: Cut Off the Sleeves
Cut off the sleeves of the T-shirt. You can decide how long you want the straps of your tote bag to be and cut the sleeves accordingly. A good guide is to follow the sleeve seam line about one inch in from it. By cutting the fabric just past the seam where the sleeves are attached to the body of the shirt, you can ensure that the straps of your bag will be strong and secure.
Step 3: Cut the Neckline
Now, cut off the collar of the shirt. It is recommended to cut a slightly oval shape for the neckline rather than a round one. You can freehand cut this, or use a bowl or plate to trace a smooth curve before cutting. Make sure the back and front of the shirt line up and are cut to the same distance. This step is important as it will form the straps of your tote bag.
Step 4: Determine the Depth of the Bag
Turn the shirt inside out and decide how deep you want your bag to be. Mark a line across the shirt to indicate the bottom of the bag. Keep in mind that the fabric will likely stretch and the bag will become longer when it's filled with items.
Step 5: Cut the Fringe
Cut slits from the bottom of the shirt up to the line marking the bottom of your bag. Cut both the front and back layers together to ensure they match up. The slits should be about 3/4 to 1 inch apart. This will create a fringe effect along the bottom edge of the bag.
Step 6: Tie the Fringe
Now, take the first two pieces of fringe and tie them into a knot. Then, take the outer strand from one of the pieces and tie it to the adjacent piece of fringe. Repeat this process, tying each piece of fringe to the one next to it. This will close the gaps between the pairs of fringe and create a secure base for your bag.
Step 7: Finish Your Bag
Once all the fringe is tied, turn your bag right side out again. You can finish the bag by tying knots at the tops of the handles or adding embellishments like bows or braided scraps of fabric. Your T-shirt tote bag is now ready to use!
Variations and Tips:
- If you want a streamlined tote bag without tassels at the bottom, turn the shirt inside out before tying the fringe. This will hide the knots inside the bag for a cleaner look.
- Experiment with different types of T-shirts and fabrics to create bags with varying strengths and stretch. Thicker fabrics will result in sturdier bags.
- Wash and dry your T-shirts before cutting to avoid shrinkage later on.
- You can also use coloured tape or fabric pens to add decorations or patterns to your bag.
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Sew a T-shirt pillow
If you have a T-shirt that holds too many memories to part with, why not turn it into a pillow? This is a fun and simple sewing project that will allow you to keep your favourite T-shirt for years to come. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Cut the T-shirt
First, cut off the sleeves of the T-shirt. Then, use scissors to cut the inseam on each side of the shirt, starting at the waist and working your way up to the armpit. Cut the shirt in half by cutting at the shoulder seam. You should now have two pieces: the front and the back of the shirt. Discard the arms as you won't be needing them.
Step 2: Sew the button placket (optional)
If your T-shirt has buttons, sew the button placket together before constructing the pillow. Make sure the front is buttoned up and pin the placket together. Then, sew a straight stitch from one end to the other, being careful to avoid hitting the buttons with the needle.
Step 3: Cut the front piece into a square
Using a straight measuring tape, cut a straight line from the top of the curved hem on one side to the other. Place the measuring tape right below the armpit seams and cut a straight line across. To make the fabric into a perfect square, measure the shortest side, whether that is the width or the height, and cut the other side to match.
Step 4: Cut the back piece
To cut the back piece, simply lay the front piece on top of the T-shirt fabric and cut around the edges. This will give you two pieces that are the same size.
Step 5: Pin the pieces together
Place the pieces right sides together and pin them around the edges.
Step 6: Sew the pieces together
Sew a straight stitch around the edge of the pillow, using about a 1/4-inch inseam. Make sure to leave about a 2-inch opening so that you can turn the pillow right side out and stuff it.
Step 7: Flip the pillow inside out
Using the opening, pull the pillow right side out.
Step 8: Stuff the pillow
Stuff the pillow with filler. You can use poly-fill or, if you want to upcycle, use scrap fabric. Put as much stuffing as you like through the 2-inch opening.
Step 9: Finish the pillow
Fold the raw edge of the 2-inch opening in and then sew a straight stitch as close to the edge of the pillow as possible.
And there you have it! You've successfully turned your old T-shirt into a pillow.
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Craft a T-shirt bracelet
Crafting a T-shirt bracelet is a fun way to make use of old T-shirts. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Cut the T-shirt into Strips
Using scissors, cut the bottom hem off the T-shirt and discard it. Then, cut a 1-inch wide strip from the bottom of the shirt. After that, cut off the side seams from both sides, which will leave you with 2 strips. You will need 3 strips of fabric for the bracelet, so cut more strips from the same T-shirt or use additional T-shirts for a multicoloured bracelet.
Step 2: Stretch the Fabric Strips
Grab both ends of one strip of fabric and stretch them so that the long edges curl in together. Repeat this step for each strip of fabric. This step will help to hide the cut edges of the T-shirt.
Step 3: Sew the Strips Together
Stack the ends of the 3 fabric strips on top of each other. Using a needle and thread, sew the ends together. You can also use hot glue to secure the strips together.
Step 4: Braid the Strips
Place the stitched end of the fabric under a clip to keep it still while you braid. Braid the 3 fabric strips together and use a piece of tape or a rubber band to temporarily hold the ends together.
Step 5: Measure and Cut the Bracelet to Size
Decide how long you want your bracelet to be. Wrap it around your wrist to determine the size. It will stretch when you put it on, so you don't need to make it much bigger than your wrist. Mark where you want to cut the fabric, then cut the fabric to the desired length.
Step 6: Sew the Ends Together
Using the same thread, sew the two ends of the fabric together. Knot the thread and cut off any excess. You can use a piece of scrap fabric to cover the seam, or simply tie a knot with the fabric.
Now you have a stylish and unique T-shirt bracelet! You can make multiple bracelets and stack them, or give them to your friends as gifts.
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Produce a T-shirt necklace
T-shirts are a versatile garment that can be reused and repurposed in many creative ways. One fun and simple project is making a T-shirt necklace, which can be easily customised to your liking. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own T-shirt necklace:
Firstly, you will need an old T-shirt (preferably one you no longer want) and a pair of scissors or a rotary cutter. Lay the T-shirt flat on a cutting mat and cut away the bottom of the T-shirt, starting from under the arms. Remove the bottom seam and set it aside, as you will need it later.
Next, use your scissors or rotary cutter to create evenly spaced strips from the fabric. Be careful not to cut all the way through to the other side, leaving about an inch of uncut fabric. Gently pull and curl each strip to give them a twisted appearance. The bigger the T-shirt, the longer the strips and your necklace will be.
Gather the strips together using the uncut section of fabric. Depending on the length of the strips, you can tie or sew the ends together to create a shorter, fuller necklace. Alternatively, you can use the bottom hem to wrap around the uncut section, leaving a little tail to tie it off. Tuck in any loose ends to create a neat finish.
At this point, you have a basic T-shirt necklace! However, you can further customise and decorate it. For example, you can add beads by cutting into the strips and threading them onto individual strands. Sew the strips back up neatly, or slide the bead over the sewing if needed. Place the beads in different locations on each strand to create a balanced look. You can use any type of bead as long as the hole is big enough. Wire-wrapped beads would be a beautiful addition!
To make your T-shirt necklace even more unique, consider using two different coloured T-shirts or adding tassels to the strands. You can also cut all the way through the T-shirt when making the strips and use each loop as a row, adding cord caps and a fastening to create a complete necklace. Another idea is to use a contrasting fabric, such as leather or glitter fabric, to hide the uncut section and make it a feature.
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Frequently asked questions
You can cut the sleeves off your old T-shirts and turn them into headbands, or cut the bottom into strips and tie them together to make a tote bag for your gym gear.
You can cut up your old T-shirts and use them as rags for dusting or cleaning. You can also cut them into yarn and crochet something new, such as a scarf or a rug.
Yes, you can donate your old T-shirts to charities like Goodwill, or to clothing collection companies like Green Drop.
Yes, you can sell your old T-shirts online on websites like Etsy, Depop, eBay, Poshmark, or Facebook Marketplace.
You can stretch your T-shirt over a canvas or make a box frame to hang it on your wall. You could also make a t-shirt wreath or braid several T-shirts together to make a rug.