Four Ways To Upcycle Old T-Shirts

Got a load of old t shirts hiding in the back of the wardrobe? Not sure what to do with them? We’ve come up with some ideas on how to up-cycle your old t shirts and turn them into something new.

Cushion Cover

What you will need: scissors, thread, needle, cushion pad, pen

Step 1: Turn the t shirt inside out and place the cushion pad in the centre of the t shirt or over the logo and draw around the cushion.

Step 2 – Cut around the drawn line and make sure you include the back too.

Step 3 – Draw a line 1 inch in from the edge of your fabric and carry this on around the entire edge of the pieces of fabric.

Step 4 – Start stitching the pieces of fabric together along the new drawn line, leaving one edge free.

Step 5 – Push the cushion pad through the open edge of the fabric, then sew it closed.

Bracelet

What you will need: scissors

Step 1 – Take your t shirt and cut three long strips from the fabric.

Step 2 – Make a knot at the top of the fabric, leaving about two inches of fabric loose

Step 3 – Start braiding the three strips of fabric together.

Step 4 – Once you have used up all the fabric, tie another knot at the end, again leaving two inches of free fabric.

Step 5 – Wrap the braided fabric around your wrist as many times as it will go and use the loose fabric to tie together.

Tote Bag

What you will need: scissors, pen

Step 1 – Turn your old t shirt inside out and cut the sleeves off

Step 2 – Cut around the neckline around one inch away from the edge.

Step 3 – Draw a line along the bottom of the t shirt, around five inches up from the edge.

Step 4 – Cut slits starting from the edge of the t shirt and finishing at the drawn line. Do this all the way along the bottom of the t shirt, keeping a 1 inch space between each cut. Remember to include the back when you are cutting also. You should now have fringing along the bottom of your t shirt.

Step 5 – Tie the front and back pieces of cut fabric together into knots.

Step 6 – Take the loose pieces of fabric that are side by side each other and knot these together too.

Step 7 – Turn the t shirt inside out again so you can now see the front.

Scarf

What you will need: scissors, pen

Step 1 – Cut around the bottom of the t shirt, around 1 inch up from the edge. Remember to include the back.

Step 2 – Cut around the t shirt again, just underneath the arms.

Step 3 – With your loop of material, draw a line along the edge three inches in from the edge of the material on one side only.

Step 4 – Cut a slit from the edge of the material up to the drawn line Do this all along the edge leaving a one inch gap between each slit. You should now have fringing along the edge.

Step 5 – Tie each piece of loose material in a knot.

If you try any of these ideas with your old t-shirts, why not send us a photo of your creation via one of our social media channels?