Old t-shirts can be put to good use besides just cleaning up a mess. T-shirts are excellent for craft ideas. This article provides some ideas on how to recycle an old t-shirt. Some of these craft ideas can even be used as gifts for family and friends.
Laptop Carrier
Cut your t-shirt on the sides and remove the sleeves. Spread out your material and lay your laptop on it. Pull up the backside and pin it into place. Remove the laptop and sew up the pinned area. Now, roll up the removed sleeves and stitch them together. This will make for a solid handle. Now sew a handle on each side at the open end of the shirt. This carrier will protect your laptop from scratches.
Pet Bandanna
Cut your shirt into a triangle. Fold it twice and tie it around the neck of your pet. These can be very attractive on your pet. Use t-shirts with a lot of color.
Book Cover
You can use a t-shirt for a bible or book cover. Book Cover; Pick out a heavy duty t-shirt. As above, make a rectangle piece of cloth. Place your book on it. Pull the cloth over about one third of the inside of the book cover and pin up. Do both covers this way. Then sew up the ends. You will have two pockets to slide your book covers in.
Tote Bag
Prepare it like you would for your laptop carrier. You might want to double up on the material to make it stronger. Just add an extra shirt to the inside of the lining. Make your handles out of your sleeves. Make them just like you would for the laptop carrier. This tote bag can easily be stored in a purse and come in handy at the market.
Chair Backs
Sport team t-shirts are excellent for the back of chairs on your patio or deck. If you have to enlarge them, cut down the sides from the sleeves. Add an expansion panel to the sides and then sew it back up. Slide the shirt over the back of your chairs. These can be very helpful on a cold night on a metal chair back.
Steering Wheel Cover
Place a t-shirt over the steering wheel. Use a marker and draw around and underneath the wheel. Remove it, cut an sew the top side. The inner part of the wheel cover should be left open. Place the cover over the steering wheel. Stitch the underside into place. A cover is great in both hot and cold weather for protecting your hands.
Fluffy Necklace
Fluffy Necklace. Cut your shirts into different colored strips. They should be between 1 and 3 inches wide. Fold them in an accordion style. Take a needle and a strong thread and go through the center of the folded material. Repeat with a wider piece of t-shirt. Alternate width sizes as you go. Make your necklace as big as you wish. Finally, tie the two ends together. Consider taking another thread through the center for double support.
Don’t throw those old t-shirts away. They can be used for other things.
sources; myself
