Found this site that gave 10 ideas for re-using t-shirts, for everything from dog toys and rags, to websites with pictures and videos of more complicated craft projects: http://tiny.cc/7Ari0.
Overall Rating: 1 vote
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Oh, goodness, this is a big problem for me. I have my "girlie" fit tees that hang in my closet, then my "regular" style tees in a rubbermaid container under the bed. The girlie ones have witty sayings or drawings that express my personality, but several have shrunk in washing so that they still fit, but are tighter than I like. I just need to force myself to get rid of them. One has a hole in the sleeve seam I need to fix, but I don't sew well, so it's sat for almost a year unworn. Hopefully I'll fix it soon, because I need to sew buttons back on my coat too.
The "regular" style tees, I definitely need to pare down. I did once already and gave several to my dad. I had stopped buying band shirts years ago, but my new boyfriend (well, a year and a half new anyway) got me back in the habit when he bought several for me. Need to put a stop to that (I do wear them all though). I have some long sleeved tees I didn't wear at all last year, so know those need to go. I have several solids that I wear when working out, so can't quite justify getting rid of those. The others, well, I just need to suck it up and toss.
And then there's my David Bowie tshirt, which is humongous and I never wear, but I love him so much I haven't been able to part with it. Yes, that one must go too.
Now I want to go home and do this! (Think my boss would mind?)
Posted 2 years ago # -
I like the idea of framing the shirt (just the logo part) and using it as wall art. You get the memories displayed on your wall, and it's free art! (Or only the cost of the frame.)
Posted 2 years ago # -
This revived my idea for DH's colorful Hawaiian shirt collection. Srsly, his closet looks like a bunch of macaws are roosting in there.
TODAY, I'll go buy some foam board and cut out shirt shapes, maybe 14" square. Ask him to pick out a few of his old favorites that aren't wearable anymore, cut a piece to cover the foam board, glue down, add a hanger and voila! Easy to store and rotate, and something fun/meaningful for decor.
These forums rock!
Ruth
Posted 2 years ago # -
LOL @ the macaws, Ruth!
I am a T-shirt kind of gal. My favorite clothes are T-shirts, shorts, and jeans. I wear my T-shirts until they are so worn out, I have to throw them away.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I love wearing T-shirts even though they are not a flattering style of clothing for me. I've kept 4 favorites that are memory T-shirts, have about 6 I wear regularly and got rid of the rest. BTW, there are some organizations that take clothing that is very worn or has stains or holes in the fabric. They are able to see it by the pound. I mention one of them in Houston in my blog (http:drawerbydrawer.wordpress.com/,that is West Houston Assitance Ministries, and provide their website link.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Still plan to someday make a quilt of old t-shirts on one side, and old jeans on the other. This is my single "someday" idea that I simply refuse to give up on!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm not big on tees myself (prefer plain ones) but DH is a shocker for them - he's got so many sentimental shirts!! One he and his old workmates had made, one from when his rugby team won the finals, an old England soccer shirt, and many 'been there done that' shirts from various places more recently.
Quilting is really quite a big project - I know if you're into crafting you probably don't think so, but for someone like me cutting and sewing even something simple is an ordeal. I love the display frame idea - that could possibly work for me - and also photographing.
A relative made cushion covers with the shirts of someone who had passed away, and it was really quite awkward - large bulky things and the fabric seemed incongruous. I was relieved when we finally got rid of them.
I wish I'd thought about the possibilities more when I threw out my dad's old flannel shirt though. But it's a strong memory, so do I really need the object itself? Probably not.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I like the ideas of decorative pillows! I can easily pin/stitch them, then take them out if I want. I can use the rest of the T-shirt for the stuffing, and/or put 2 or more old ones together, and then toss them around the bedroom next to my favorite teddy bears... (stuffed animals, that's another topic... :)
Nadira
Posted 1 year ago # -
It can take a while to get the t-shirts cut into blocks to use; most t-shirts won't all have the same size logo on them and you need a uniform size or multiple of a size to make a pleasing pattern. Finally you need batting and backing, and probably to have it quilted on a longarm machine by someone since most bed-sized quilts are just going to be too big to wrangle into your regular home machine.
Posted 1 year ago # -
On the TV show "What Not To Wear" they made a T-shirt into a framed picture for someone who had a major meltdown over giving it up.
One other note, Goodwill sells clothing with tears or holes to companies that recycle them and they also send clothing that doesn't sell to countries that have a need for them so you can include clothing that isn't perfect in your donation and they will find a use for them.Posted 1 year ago # -
If you are not attached to the actual design (just the idea of the shirts) something that I do is make "rag-rugs" from fabric scraps. Even if you don't crochet, the stitch you need to learn for this is very simple and these rugs last FOREVER! I have some that are over 30 years old and they can be easily washed in the washing machine if not too big...I have soaped up and hung larger ones out in the rain to wash...works great!
Rag-Rug Instructions:
http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa092599.htm
(P.S. I don't "press the seams"...takes too much time!)How to Single-Crochet:
http://crochet.about.com/od/learnbasics/ss/sc.htm(Thanks to grandma for showing me this craft! :)
Posted 1 year ago # -
A friend of mine (who is hopeless at sewing, so if she can do it, anyone can!) made some into cushions. She did it by cutting above and below the logo so she had a tube of fabric, sewing up the bottom, stuffing it and then sewing up the top. She actually used the rest of the t-shirt (plus other t-shirts that weren't worth making cushions from) to stuff the cushions!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Excuse the shameless plug, but I have a company creating these custom t-shirt quilts. I also teach classes in Seattle! Check out the website http://www.myqueenbquilts.com.
PS - I love uncluttering life! Cool website!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I love the idea someone already mentioned: the framed t-shirt. I've seen them framed in square album frames, but I would think you could just get a board with batting and stretch and staple it to the back and hang it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I used to wear big blocky t-shirts with witty things printed on them. Then I realized I look better in shirts that fit my feminine shape, but I didn't want to get rid of the shirts I never wore. Plus I go to a lot of volunteer events, and everyone gives out a free t-shirt.
I've turned about 50 shirts into a king-size duvet cover (no dealing with quilting or batting!) Well, halfway. I just need to sew it to the bedsheet that will be the back.
I've also turned at least a dozen shirts into skirts. I got some ideas from a book called Generation T, and tried to improvise some of my own. I get tons of compliments, and now I don't wear clothes with pictures or text splashed across my chest for people to stare at.
Posted 1 year ago #
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