6 Simple Yet Creative Ways to Upcycle T-Shirts

*This is a collaborative post.

T-shirts are typical wardrobe staples, so it’s not surprising for anyone to have several of them in their closet. Still, there comes a time when you’re not feeling a particular shirt anymore or perhaps some have simply become too old and frayed to wear. Do you just throw away those t-shirts then? Before you think about disposing of them, you might want to hold onto that thought first. Instead of doing that, why not try upcycling them to get the most out of your old clothes? 

Here are some ways on how you can breathe new life into those old t-shirts.

1. Stitch up a New Outfit

Before you throw away your old t-shirt, check first if it can still be converted into a new outfit. Try to determine what exactly makes you unmotivated to wear it anymore. Is it because it doesn’t fit you anymore? Then a quick resizing by stitching up its seams might make it fit perfectly again. Or perhaps you’ve grown out of the way that the shirt looks now? If so, then you might want to try a tie-dye project using your favorite colors to turn it into a more interesting piece. You can even put on some bead embroidery to add texture to it.

Try to pair up your new tie-dye or beaded shirt with subdued pieces such as plain leggings or black pants to balance it out and let your top shine. Just by tweaking your old shirt, you’ve now got a new statement piece to wear.

2. Turn It into a Skirt

Your old t-shirt can also be turned into a different type of clothing, such as a skirt. You can do this by cutting off the sleeves and shoulder part, closing up the holes from the sleeves with extra fabric, and stitching a waistband to the now-open top. Finish it off by stitching a hem for the skirt. 

As with the previous tip, feel free to spruce up your new t-shirt skirt with the help of dyes or other designs. You may try layering multiple shirts as well to give it more volume or to adjust it to your desired length.

3. Make Fashionable Headbands

Given that most t-shirt material is already soft and stretchable, the fabric lends itself well to be turned into headbands. This one is easier than the first two upcycling projects as all you have to do is cut out a strip of the shirt and stitch it close to form the headband. In addition, if the shirt material is absorbent such as cotton, then your DIY headband would work great even as you’re sweating during a workout or while running. You can also just wear it as an accessory to complement your overall look.

4. Create Colorful Rugs

There are two ways to turn your old t-shirts into rugs. The first is to cut the shirt into small strips then use a glue gun and add them to your current doormat to add a softer, more absorbent layer onto it. Another is to cut the shirt into longer strips, braid them, then sew them together to form a rug. What’s great about upcycling t-shirts into rugs is that they’re absorbent by default so they can easily handle your kitchen spills or wet shoes.

When upcycling shirts into rugs, try to have several ones so the end result will have more color to it. Besides, fabric strips from a single shirt may not be enough to form a whole rug so it’s better to collect which shirts you don’t want to wear anymore before getting started with the project. On the other hand, if you only have a single shirt to work with, you can use it to make something smaller like a coaster instead.

5. Convert Them into Bags

Instead of using plastic to carry your groceries, you may try converting your old shirts into reusable tote bags as an alternative. Fortunately, you can search up no-sew tutorials online for this project so that you won’t have to break out the sewing machine this time. The general idea is to close off the bottom part of the shirt then turn the shoulder parts as handles. 

This isn’t only a great way to reuse your old shirt but also offers an eco-friendly alternative to grocery bags. What’s more, you can just roll it up so it’s easy to stash whenever you don’t need it yet.

6. Use Them as Throw Pillow Covers

Got some old shirts with designs or prints that you still adore? Put them on full display by converting those t-shirts into throw pillow covers. You can either just slip the pillows inside the shirt then tuck the excess parts with a safety pin. You can also try to alter the shirt by sewing it into an actual pillow cover that fits more snugly. Moreover, by turning these shirts into pillow covers, you can still keep them around for their sentimental value instead of having them just gather dust in your closet.

You can make the most out of those old t-shirts that you once loved by upcycling them. Not only are you helping reduce waste, but you’re also acquiring something new to wear or use. Here’s hoping that the tips above can help you get started in your very own t-shirt upcycling project today.