Discarded T-shirts can double as extra material for craft projects. You can use a shirt that is many sizes too large to make a scarf, bag, or fitted shirt. You can learn how to cut T-shirts and reuse them without a sewing machine.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Method One: Bag of T-Shirts
Step 1. Get a large shirt
You can buy a new shirt, use an old shirt, or buy one at the thrift store.
Step 2. Lay the shirt out on a flat surface, for example on an ironing board, work table or hard floor
Step 3. Fold it in half lengthwise
Step 4. Cut off the sleeves of the shirt inside the seams with fabric scissors
Step 5. Cut off the part of the neck under the seam
Your shirt now looks like a tank top.
Step 6. Turn the shirt inside out
Gather the bottom of the shirt with your hands.
It can be all wrinkled, but the edges of the stitch must be even
Step 7. Tie the edges together about 5cm from the ends
Use ribbon, sturdy twine, or a strip of fabric from the shirt.
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If you want to sew the bottom of the bag instead, line up the bottom edges when the shirt is inside out. Sew the 2 parts together. You can also use a Ruffle Foot to join the two sides of the shirt together.
Step 8. Make sure you tie the ribbon or fabric very tightly
Tie a double or triple knot when you are sure it is tight enough so that nothing comes out.
Step 9. Turn the shirt inside out
It will now have the margins collected.
Step 10. Wrap a small piece of leather on the bottom of all 4 shoulder straps
Glue the edges with extra strong glue.
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You can use leather from an old belt or fake leather scraps from the fabric store.
Step 11. Let them dry
Put some things in the bag.
Method 2 of 3: Method Two: Braided or Bows Shirt
Step 1. Find a loose but not too big shirt
You can choose a shirt with a logo or designs on the front, but the back must be free.
Step 2. Use fabric scissors to cut away the neck under the seam
Cut the entire neck away, rather than through the two layers, so that you can get closer to the neck seam.
Step 3. Use fabric scissors to cut inside the sleeve seams
You only need to cut through one layer of fabric at a time to avoid holes and crooked seams.
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At this point, try on the shirt so you can adjust the neck and sleeves to your liking. Cut larger or angled holes if you prefer. Try on the shirt many times as you work so you can see what it looks like in a mirror.
Step 4. Choose the variant of the women's shirt that you would like to cut into the back of your shirt
You can choose bows or braids.
- Make 3 horizontal cuts that are between 12 and 20 cm on the back of your shirt. Make the first cut below the bra line and measure the remaining cuts so that they are at the same distance from each other. Cut strips of fabric 10 or 5 cm wide from the sleeves. Take the center of each piece you cut. Wrap the 5 cm piece 3 times, knot it twice and tuck the sides of the knot into the center of the fabric. Repeat with each strip until you have knotted the last piece at the bottom in a bow.
- Make horizontal cuts of the same width on the side or in the middle of your back shirt. The shorter the cuts, the less skin you will show. Start a few cm before the neckline and continue to the point where you want the weave of the shirt to arrive. Make a loop with the second cut from the top and pull it through the first cut. Pull it down, then loop the cut underneath through the cut you just pulled down. Work all the way down through the last cut. Sew the last cut with needle and thread.
Method 3 of 3: Method Three: T-Shirt Scarf
Step 1. Spread an extra large shirt on a flat surface
Step 2. Use fabric scissors to cut horizontally along the shirt just below the sleeves
You should have a large rectangle of fabric with the sides still attached.
Step 3. Fold the shirt in half lengthwise
Step 4. Cut strips horizontally every 5cm from the end of the shirt to the center
Make sure you leave 5 to 7 cm of space at the end where the shirt is still sewn.
Step 5. Pull the strips to stretch and curl them after you finish cutting them
Step 6. Cut a piece of shirt from the top you discarded
It should be approximately 5cm wide and 10cm long.
Step 7. Collect the scarf from the portion of fabric that is still attached
Step 8. Tie the small piece of shirt into a loop and double knot it
This holds your scarf together on top.