What to do with old t-shirts? Amazing t-shirt upcycling ideas
Once upon a time, in a closet not so far away, a colorful collection of worn-out t-shirts was feeling a bit neglected. But fear not, because we’ve got some out-of-the-box ideas to give these tees a new lease on life! We’re all about making sure your beloved t-shirt stays in the spotlight for as long as possible. So, when your go-to tee starts looking more hole than fabric, no longer fits, or simply feels past its prime, we’ve brainstormed some seriously inventive ways to give it a new lease on life.
Imagine a t-shirt transformed into a trendy tote bag, ready to carry your essentials in style. Or perhaps a worn-out tee reborn as a stylish headband, adding a pop of color to your everyday look. From quirky throw pillows to eco-friendly produce bags, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. So, grab your scissors and get ready to embark on a t-shirt transformation journey like no other. Let’s breathe new life into those forgotten tees and keep them in your life for years to come. Happy crafting!
Table of Contents
- 1 How to Upcycle Your Old T-Shirts
- 1.1 T-shirt yarn rug
- 1.2 T-shirt rug
- 1.3 Transform t-shirts into workout shirts
- 1.4 Stylish headbands
- 1.5 Transform t-shirts into bowls and baskets
- 1.6 Snuffle mats for dogs
- 1.7 Make dog toys
- 1.8 Transform a t-shirt into a no-sew tote bag
- 1.9 Grocery bag
- 1.10 T-shirt quilt
- 1.11 T-shirt pillow covers
- 1.12 Modern patchwork pillow
- 1.13 Cloth napkins
- 1.14 Strand scarf
- 1.15 Pom poms
- 1.16 Rosette pillow
- 1.17 Pom pom ornaments
- 1.18 Refashion t-shirts
- 1.19 T-shirt dress
- 1.20 Ruffled t-shirt
- 1.21 Braided bracelets
- 1.22 T-shirt into a skirt
- 1.23 Make a soft toy
How to Upcycle Your Old T-Shirts
T-shirt yarn rug
Here’s a beautiful colorful rug that is almost entirely upcycled even though it looks like an expensive one from the stores thanks to its creative body made of a rug canvas with many small strips of old t-shirt yarn that you wrap around the holes in the rug frame.
by Frankie
T-shirt rug
Decorate your rooms with environmentally friendly circular rugs that cost you nothing with this pattern that shows you how to turn old t-shirts into woven colorful ropes that you’ll sew into a lovely round mat in any size you want and make your guests wonder where you got such interesting home decor pieces.
Transform t-shirts into workout shirts
Don’t spend money on a tank top for the gym when you can just repurpose an old t-shirt into a breezy and light workout shirt with spaghetti shoulder straps, a high-low bottom hem, a deep curved neckline, and an exposed top back with a single strap on the center.
Stylish headbands
Treat yourself with three different headbands and do a good deed for the environment as you turn old t-shirts into one headband with a braided section on one side and a rectangular base on the other, one headband that’s braided along its entire length, and one headband that has a knot at its middle.
Transform t-shirts into bowls and baskets
Those balls of yarn you made from old t-shirts are perfect for this project because you can just roll them up into a bowl or basket base, stitch the yarn sides together, and then stack the yarn in a circular motion around the edges, sew it in place, and form the bowl or basket shape you desire.
by Megannielsen
Snuffle mats for dogs
Make your furry best friend work for his snacks and have fun as they do so with a snuffle mat that has many fringes that overlap and intertwine to recreate the appearance of bushes or grass in which you’ll hide the treat and let the dog sniff it out and find it.
by Hellosewing
Make dog toys
Save up some coins and a trip to the pet shop as you turn those shirts into dog toys that are just as good as the ones in the stores, in five variations, a jellyfish toy with a knot in its center and multiple strips stretching from it, two different braided chewing toys, a chewing donut, and a braided rope with a noose that you can use for a game of tug of war.
Transform a t-shirt into a no-sew tote bag
When you find yourself in need of a tote bag but without your sewing kit, this project might come in handy because it shows you how to cut an old t-shirt and tie its ends together to make a tote bag that’s not inferior in quality to the sewn alternatives.
by Mommypotamus
Grocery bag
Equip yourself for the trip to the grocery store in style as you use this pattern to create produce bags out of t-shirts, featuring curved wide handles with narrow holes and a bag body with many holes in rows that make the bag look like it’s crocheted.
by Deliacreates
T-shirt quilt
T-shirts make splendid materials for quilts because the writings or the motifs on their fronts make ideal quilting blocks that just need you to cut them out, assemble them into a grid, and stitch them together to get an environmentally friendly quilt that is also a memorabilia of your favorite t-shirts.
T-shirt pillow covers
Those t-shirts you love so much can live on in different forms thanks to this pattern that helps you turn them into wonderful new pillowcases for your living room couch pillows or bedroom pillows you’ll love showing to your house guests because they’re green, creative, and wholesome.
Modern patchwork pillow
Make your room more cheerful and brighter with pillowcases you will make from vibrant pieces of fabric upcycled from t-shirts that you’ll sew together and decorate with different kinds of ribbon finishes like zig-zag, pom-pom, or even lace that you’ll stitch to the outer edges of the cases.
Cloth napkins
Part ways with paper napkins in your home and switch to a sustainable and more elegant option with this pattern that allows you to cut up old t-shirts and sew lovely fabric napkins with neatly finished edges that you’ll proudly place under the tableware on your dining room table.
by Hellosewing
Strand scarf
Enrich your wardrobe with an additional accessory that you can pair up with all sorts of clothing combinations thanks to its versatile character with its body made of many cotton strings and a braided or a wrapped section on one side, all of which you upcycled from old t-shirts
Pom poms
Let your crafty spirit go wild as you follow the instructions in this pattern to slice up old t-shirts, turn them into strands you’ll join together and wrap into a ball of yarn, and then use that yarn to fashion beautiful pom-pom balls big enough to fit in a palm that you can use for all sorts of decoration purposes.
by Becoration
Rosette pillow
Feel the elegance of French royalty from the 16th century with this magnificent pillowcase that emanates those vibes thanks to its front side that has many ruffles formed as big rose flowers spread diagonally across the pillowcase, with the most ruffles in the middle and less near the corners.
Pom pom ornaments
Homemade ornaments make a Christmas tree even more wholesome, and with this pattern, you’ll be able to make lovely pom-pom balls from upcycled t-shirts that are ideal substitutes for the old plain hanging ornaments since they can’t break and you can use them for years with proper care.
Refashion t-shirts
T-shirt dress
Feminine, adorable, stylish, and environmentally friendly, those are the main characteristics of this wonderful dress that’s made of a t-shirt as its bodice, and a cute mini skirt section that reaches above the knees and has a slightly gathered top seam that gives it a girly, fluttering look.
Ruffled t-shirt
Transform your old boring t-shirt into a fashionable, gorgeous new piece of clothing that you can make with a bunch of ruffled strips you whipped out of a different t-shirt you don’t wear anymore, then stitch the ruffles in rows onto the t-shirt front from the chest to the bottom hem.
Braided bracelets
One of the most fun what to do with old t-shirts ideas is this one that shows you how to cut them up into strands, then braid a few of those strands in contrasting colors into stylish bracelets that make great presents for your close friends and family!
by Helloglow
T-shirt into a skirt
Sew a beautiful tight pencil skirt that looks so elegant that no one will know you made it from an old t-shirt, with a straight bottom hem that reaches slightly below the knees, a tight fit that flatters your hips, and a wide fabric waistband, giving the skirt a look that goes great with a blazer or a jacket.
Make a soft toy
You won’t have to buy plush toys anymore thanks to this pattern that shows you how to turn a t-shirt into a cute little bear with a triangular head, round little ears, a pair of closed eyes, a little snout with a mouth, a tiny bow tie, and spread out arms, as well as stretched legs.
And there you have it, folks – a treasure trove of t-shirt upcycling ideas to keep your beloved tees in your life, in the most fabulous and functional ways possible. With these nifty upcycling ideas, you’ll never look at old t-shirts the same way again. So grab those scissors and sewing kits, and let the upcycling extravaganza begin! It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get creative. Voila! Get ready to embark on a t-shirt transformation journey like no other. Happy upcycling!