17 Creative Ideas To Upcycle Old T-shirts
Creative Ideas To Upcycle Old T-shirts
Most of us have a lot of t-shirts. A lot are beautiful and comes from a variety of places like events, merchs and so on. Eventually, some of them do get old and needs to be managed. Otherwise, our closet will be stuffed with shirts that we won’t even wear anymore. Instead of resorting to throwing them or donating away, take a look at these ideas first! You might get something of better value from your old t-shirts! Wall arts, tote bags, bed sheet and more!
1. Cat Tent
Cat lovers are gonna like this super idea. It’s a tent for cats! What’s best is that you can make this super cheap with cardboard for the base and wire frame for the skeleton of the tent. What’s next is simply slotting in the t-shirt into the tent. Checkout the tutorial below for thorough guide.
2. Pillows
T-shirts often come with special patterns that can be super hard to find out there. It can come from a fan meet-and-greet, expo or other special occasion. It would be a huge waste to throw them away. So, why not turn them into something else to prolong their longevity? Turn them into throw pillows!
3. Bib
Here’s another bright idea on how you can make a bib for your toddler! It’s a baby’s nature to eat and make a mess. With a bib made with shirt, you could reduce the stain they make on themselves!
4. No-sew T-shirt Grocery Bag
Grocery bags can really come in handy! They’re slightly tougher than paper bags so it’s still good for use. What’s best about it is that you can pick a shirt with your favorite pattern and make a bag out of it. It’s a fun way to save-earth!
5. T-shirt Blanket
Make a blanket with all the patterns of your old shirts! It’s a smart way to utilize a lot of shirts at the same time. Your kids will love the new makeover in their bedroom.
6. Wall Art
Putting up pictures on the wall as decoration is too mainstream. Here’s an alternative! Put up t-shirts on a frame and you’ll have a nice wall art! Just be sure to pick eye-catchy t-shirt patterns for this!
7. Apron
Apron is an essential kitchen item to protect your clothing against oil splatter. Due time, it will eventually turn the apron cloth black unless you diligently wash it every time after use. But hey, fret not! It’s actually easy to make an apron with old shirts. Save your cost with old tees!
If you like a no-sew version of the apron, take a look below!
8. Drawstring Backpack
Backpacks are always useful! Making one of it can be easy as well with the thorough step-by-step guide from the tutorial link below. It’s a smart idea to save cost. Talk about a total makeover with t-shirts!
Here’s a no-sew version of the drawstring bag.
9. No-sew Fringed Market Tote
It’s time to put over-sized tees to good use! This environmental project will turn your old huge tees into a friendly market companion. It doesn’t look cheap at all and it’s something that you can be proud of when you use it out there in the public! Checkout the tutorial link below to see how you can make this!
10. Wreath
Celebrations! You can make a fancy wreath with different t-shirt color. Adjust accordingly to suit the event. If it’s for Christmas, use more reds and combined with greens. If it’s for St. Patrick’s Day, use a combination of green and yellow! It would look great on any door!
11. Yarn Ball
You now what loves a yarn ball? Cats! Make cat-friendly toy with cheap tees. The process basically involves stripping the t-shirt fabric into long strips and to roll them together.
12. Dog Toy
Since we have something for the cat, it’s only fair if we have something for dog lovers as well! Introducing t-shirt made dog toy! This toy comes in handy during an epic tug-of-war battle or serves as a distraction to keep your pooch’s mind from wandering to the smelly trash can and dreams of gnawing the legs off the couch!
13. Baby Dress
This smart idea involves a little bit of sewing. It basically involves cutting out the main dress body and the sleeves from a larger piece of cloth. Then, combine them together by sewing. You’re gonna save a lot of money for baby dresses with this idea!
14. Shag Rag Rug
Keep your feet dry after a warm shower with this handmade shag rag rug! First you have to make strips from the shirts. Then, sew it all together on a base cloth sheet.
There’s another method which uses slotting the fabric strips through a rug canvas. That’s a no-sew method that might take more time because involves a lot of manual work compared to the sewing one. Check it out here.
Related: 10 Astonishing DIY Rug Ideas For Your Home
15. No-sew T-shirt Pillows
We know that not everyone loves sewing. Here’s an alternative to make pillows by tying knots around it. Definitely no sewing involved! This makes it safe as a kids-friendly activity that your entire family can make this weekend.
16. Bracelet
Bracelets are a fun little accessory that you can wear as part of your fashion style. They’re not just for show. In fact you can actually turn it into a pest-deterrent bracelet. Just put a few drops of witch hazel and the essential oils of citronella, lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint. Mosquitoes dislike the smell of citronella. Thus, making it a vital ingredient to ward-off mosquitoes. It’s a great idea to use if you’re hiking out there or having a picnic in a nearby park.
17. Coaster
Why spend money on coasters when you can make your own unique, funky looking ones. You can even make these t-shirt coasters as a house-warming gift for any of your friends.
