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Summer and easy, breezy t-shirts just seem to go together. There’s just something about making last minute summer plans and throwing on that staple carefree tee. However, as the summers roll on, we tend to build up our t-shirt collections. The fabric may grow softer, but the designs and the quality fade away. Why not salvage your beloved tee for a brand new fashion statement?
Cut down that tired t-shirt collection and add to something that always needs to grow–your yarn collection! Recycle your worn-in fabrics and try making a skein of t-shirt yarn! That’s right, you can use your favorite t-shirt for your favorite knitting patterns. You’ll save tons of money when you stop buying chunky craft yarn from stores. You’ll finish large projects in a snap with your thick, homemade yarn.
Keep the nostalgia woven into that old tee and make something fresh for new summer memories.
How to Make T Shirt Yarn
Make Your Own T-Shirt Yarn– Take the first step to turn your fatigued t-shirts into fabulous knitting projects. Making your own t-shirt yarn is easy. This free tutorial from our website gives you step-by-step instructions to turn your old shirt into a new skein. With photos for each step, these clear and simple instructions will have you shredding shirts in no time. Simply take the scissors to your shirt. Cut your fabric into one long strip that is thin enough to knit but thick enough to stretch. Pull your strips out until they curl on the edges. Viola! You have you own T-Shirt yarn.
T Shirt Yarn Projects
T Shirt Yarn Bib (Pictured) – In life, there are moments where you’ll realize you’ve made a transition. Maybe you’ve realized that the t-shirt yarn you’re using to knit a baby bib is made out of your old college tees! Whether you have a profound moment of recognition while knitting this bib or you’re just enjoying your baby’s smile, your little one will look absolutely precious in this knit!
T-shirt Yarn Pot Holder– We love this practical project from Pops De Milk’s Cuteness Emporium. T-shirts can take the heat from your weeknight dinners. Move your tees from the laundry room to the kitchen. Protect your kitchen surfaces from hot pots and pans with this adorable knitted potholder.
Repurposed T-Shirt Into Fringe Necklace DIY (Pictured)- Who knew your tattered tees could be so stylish?! We absolutely adore this fringe necklace from For the Love Of. Channel bohemian fashions with this whimsical piece. Have your timeworn tee go from distressed to dressy with this unique idea.
Reusable Duster– We love trendy projects, but they’re not quite suitable for your particularly shabby tees. You may not want to make an chic necklace out of your old painting shirt! Upcycle your tees with holes and stains into a new duster.
Tie Dye Textile Wall Art– Textile wall art is all the rage in DIY home decor. Expect another new blog post on this hot yarn trend. This tie dye idea from Home-ology Modern Vintage is to die for! Put your own spin on this urban update–and do it for free! With a scarf rack and some t-shirt yarn, you can make a bohemian wall hanging that freshens up your wall and frees up your closet.
BONUS!
One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet
Gifted by: Interweave Press
We are giving away one copy of One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet to one lucky winner. The deadline to enter is July 16, 2014 at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time.
There’s a lot you can make with one skein of yarn. Sometimes it’s easy to look at your stash and wonder what exactly you’re going to make with all that yarn. Leigh Radford’s One Skein 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet is perfect for someone with an out-of-control stash. Packed with cute projects for the whole family, this book is a great tool for whittling down that extra yarn. Every project in the book uses only one skein of yarn.
Which infamous t-shirt would you be willing to upcycle?
What new knitting or crochet pattern will you use it for?
AllFreeKnitting
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Thanks for the tips and tricks. I often think “why didn’t I think of that?” I am a good imitator I guess 🙂
If I still had it, the yellow with black KOME radio station, San Jose, CA, muscle-tee I wore out as a teenager back in the 70’s. I’d like to try recycling tee-shirts to make baby bibs and potholders.
I dunno about what t-shirt to upcycle, but I want to make a bathroom rug!
I would use my marathon shirt to up cycle (really, all the ones I needed!) to knit a rug that would be placed in front of the back stairs.
I would like to take my old concert t-shirts (Meatloaf for example) and then turn them into a rug.
A group of us made scarves out of old tee shirts for our church bazaar. They were a big hit!
What a clever idea! I wish I had known about this when my kids were younger; I could have upcycled their old tees into garments [like hats] so they could keep the tees forever.