Here’s a T-shirt that is super worn out. There are a bunch of tutorials online for making sewn T-shirt shopping bags to replace plastic/paper ones, so I initially thought I’d try that. Then I realized due to no sewing machine that would take about five hours per bag, hand sewing. No thanks. Here’s what I came up with instead.
Step 1: Flip the worn-out T-shirt inside out. Make 8 roughly 6-inch cuts up from the bottom using whatever scissors you have. Start right next to the seam on either side of the t-shirt, so you get 2 flaps on front and back first and have something neat to start with. Then do the middle cuts, then the middle of those. I like to use the scissors with my dominant hand while stretching out the fabric using my other hand, kind of cradling my dominant hand while pulling on the fabric with the other on both sides of the scissors. Makes the fabric easier to cut while keeping the lines kind of straight. Or, use whatever fabric cutting method you’re more comfortable with. Then, cut 6 (note that the picture might not be perfect here but you get the idea) roughly equidistant lines about 6 inches down from the top of the t-shirt, avoiding the sleeves and their seams. Do this on both sides of the collar.
Step 2: Tie the bottom flaps together in the order shown with square knots. Try to keep it roughly symmetrical.
Step 3: Tie the flaps in the middle of the collar on each side together as shown with square knots. This step exists because I learned the bag stretches then splits right down the middle easily if you don’t.
Step 4: Tie the remaining flaps together around the sleeve on each side, keeping the flaps on each side of the collar on that side of the collar. Also with square knots. Flip it inside out and see how much it can carry.
How well does this work? Not sure yet. Will update this post when I find out.
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