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How To: Give your old t-shirts a second life. Sorry dust rag pile!
photos: kirsten for we heart this
I love using simple materials to make something fun and innovative. The supplies for this bracelet DIY are really basic, so there’s a REALLY good chance you own all of them already. I mean, who doesn’t have a stack of soft old T’s you can’t wear outside of the house, but love to much to toss in the rag pile?
As with most of my DIY’s for wht, this is very customizable. You can easily work with your favorite color combos or add other textures for variety. Plus you can even make multiple bracelets to give to friends or just to match every one of your favorite outfits!
Supplies:
• T-shirt scraps
• 2 keychain rings
• Scissors
• Needles and thread
• Glue gun
• Ruler
1. Cut 3 strips of t-shirt fabric. One inch is a good width to work with. Length wise, they should be the length of your wrist PLUS 3 inches or so. It’s better to make them too long than too short! Gently tug at the strips so that the edges curl up neatly.
2. Stack the ends of the 3 strips on top of one another, and stitch a few times to secure them together.
3. Braid away.
4. Stitch the other end – just like you did in Step 2.
5. Connect the key rings.
6. Insert one end through one key ring. Fold over and secure with hot glue.
7. Repeat on the other side with the other key ring, and you’re done!
More Options:
• Add a strand of metallic thread into the braid
• Add charms to the keyrings or actual strips of fabric
• Use the colors of your school or favorite sports team, or coordinate it with your latest spring outfit
we heartsters – do you have an favorite T just waiting to be turned into a new bracelet? Join us in the comments and tell us all about it!
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@kirstengail – big congrats on the CNN article! I am already a fan of your amazingly clever ideas and this one is no exception. I literally have a giant stack of old tees that I just can’t bear to turn into dust rags. And you always make these creations seem so easy even for the non-crafty among us. Great post!
Thanks so much Melissa :) That’s what I love about this diy – it’s SO easy and it doesn’t take long at all. Perfect if you only have a few minutes of spare time! enjoy. xo
I discovered you and all of these other fabulous DIY sites through the CNN article. I’ve become so inspired now to make my own jewelry and clothing because, let’s face it, times are tough and when you’re in graduate school money is tight. Thank you SO SO much for your awesome tutorials that are fun, easy to follow, and -importantly- VERY reasonably priced :)
Thanks so much for the kind words, Alexa :] And I’m glad you wandered over here to WHT! Enjoy the projects, they’re such a great way to save money and totally personalize your wardrobe. xo
Kirsten, a big congrats to you on the CNN article! Once again you make this seem so easy. It must be so rewarding to see your work on CNN! This is also another great one. T-shirts at thier best! :)
Thank you, and yes, it was pretty exciting!! Glad you liked the project.
This is too cute :)
This would also be a cute idea for headbands!
Headbands would be pretty awesome!
Oh, I think these may be my favorite yet! They remind me friendship bracelets, I think that’s what they were called? Those white braided nautical looking bracelets. But super pretty versions!
Definitely very nautical! Blue and white would be cute for a nautical themed outfit.
Kah-yooooote! I love it! And it’s super fast for those times when all the accessories you have just aren’t cutting it. I think there are some scraps in my craft room calling my name!
Exactly. So fast and so easy!
Kirsten, I think this is my favorite DIY of yours so far….or maybe as of late since you area always cranking out new things. This is so on point for summer and I really want to make them right now!
Haha you should see my sketchbook full of ideas for DIY’s. It’s neverending!! But you’re right, this DIY is perfect for summer! Especially with super bright colors, too.
As usual, another supercute idea from @kirstengail! I especially think this project would suit the sailor motif popular this spring! The hardware along with blues (like you’ve chosen here), stripes, reds, golds would look fab.
Oooh gold would look so pretty! You can even intertwine some kind of gold cord.
The bracelet is so cute. I want to make some now. It’s so pretty. Great Idea :)
And super easy, too. Have fun! xo
congrats again on the CNN article! :) This bracelet is very cute. I’m turning my old t-shirts into a quilt eventually.
Thank you! I’m actually also planning on turning a bunch of shirts into a quilt, too. Such a great way to repurpose old clothes.
Such a great craft! And seeing that you used key-chain rings instead of a normal clasp, gave me a great idea to put my house key’s on it.
amazing idea! :) great job!
How adorable, this is an easy project for my 8 & 13 yr old daughters. Thanks! :)
this is amazing! i plan on making so many of these! :)
When I first saw ths picture all i could think was HOW DO I MAKE THESE AWESOME THNIGS! great idea and thanks for the steps! WHHOOOOPPP! :)
i totally made one
This is so cool i think this is what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life and it is totally better that knitting.
I have already made at least 40 of these! I LOVE them!!! i have made headbands as well and they are so comfy! Great idea :D
That’s awesome! And headbands are a really great idea, I might have to make some of those too :)
wow i definitely want to try this!!!
I just made this! but instead of the keyrings I sewed in a button and a piece of string to fasten it. It’s really cute! Great idea, thank you!!
Hey! I just found this on stumbleupon.com and I immedietly put one together. I love it :) The only thing I did differently was instead of using a hot glue gun, I just stitched the sides together (only because I don’t have a hot glue gun). Anyway, thank you so much for this creative idea! :)
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Such a simple and great idea!
Thanks!
xx Grace
Great idea and congrats on the reuse of the materials. Green all the way.
WOW i just made one they are so simple, especially for a newbie to DIY such as myself! Keep the great ideas coming!
Why let your old shirts go to waste? Turn them into cool bracelets with this easy-to-follow tutorial!!
Finally! A super cute D.I.Y braclett that that I have the stuff for!
Thank you!
Yes, those are way cute. I am thinking about doing something like that with hemp.
I need to do this. Saturday is clear out day in my dressing room. I’m sure I or the boyfriend have plenty of t-shirts that are itching to be jewellery.
Wow, what a great idea, maybe I can sell them in my store.
Oh my, I love this. I will be making this with my granddaughter.
OMG these r soooooooooooo cute i really want to go make them right now but first i have to go through all my old clothes and pick out the cutest colors thx for posting this kirsten!!!!!
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You could so the same with bandanas.
My HS did that and sold them, they were a HUGE hit:}
As a brand that works with natural fiber, its great to see something that might hit the rubbish bin being used, and, how cool……
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This DIY is genius! Love the result.
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Really Great made a laptop sleeve with Tshirt yarn…
Crocheted it in white bleched T shirt yarn… it looks fabulous…
Thanks for the idea…
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This is awesome! I think I am making one of these right now.
I’m a teacher. I wish I had time to make these for all my girls at school as an end of the year going away gift. They’d love them.
Very nice! I am so into making this!
Good Job Kirsten!
Great post. Need to do this one day.
Perfect for a summer arm party! :)
I really like this head band. It looks good. Wood it be possible to do it with a different material?