It is very common to have a favorite T-shirt that we could wear everywhere. It might be a gift from your beloved, a souvenir from a fantastic college trip, a memory from a rock concert… But every piece of clothing has its life cycle. And sooner or later, it starts to look too sloppy and too old to be worn.
We are often not ready to say goodbye to our favorite clothes and just ditch them. So, we start thinking about what we can do with our old favorite T-shirts not to turn them into rags. If you have been wondering the same thing, you have come to the right place.
Hang Them on the Wall
If your T-shirt already looks too old, or there is an unrepairable tear, but the T-shirt printing is in good condition, you can display it on the wall. It can be your university’s logo, the graphic with your favorite music band, or just a funny drawing.
To hang it on the wall, you will have to cut out the part you want to show (unless you want to display the whole T-shirt). The optimal would be around 7×7 inches, but it really depends on the size of your T-shirt, how much space you have on the wall, and the size of the room. Most people cut square shapes, but you can go for circles, triangles, or ovals.
More complex shapes, such as stars or hearts, might be difficult to cut evenly, and you risk destroying your precious T-shirt.
Then, lay the fabric on the piece of cardboard and cut it out. Ideally, the carton should be smaller than your clothing piece to make it easier for you to staple the edges; you can also glue them.
This is an excellent idea to personalize your room and give a second life to your favorite T-shirt. You can make the whole collection of logos hanging on your wall.
Tie-Dye
Tie-dyes have been extremely popular for a long time now, but in 2020, they are one of the hottest trends. Our clothes often lose color after we wash and dry them many times, which makes them look faded and old. But luckily, you can make a tie-dyeing by yourself and have an almost brand new T-shirt.
Tie-dyeing will make the colors look much brighter, which may save your T-shirt. You can make a completely new piece of clothing by using interesting patterns and paints. Today, you can buy the dyes of the trendiest colors and completely transform your old clothes. You can even opt for any of these free embroidery designs to finish your bespoke look.
To do this, you will need dyes, soda ash, water, rubber bands, paper towels, and some patience. Soak a T-shirt in a solution of water and soda ash before dyeing. Wring it after 10 minutes. To create the boundary between colors, use rubber bands.
Apply paint very carefully, and use paper towels to clean the furniture or your skin if dyes stain them. Put your masterpiece into a plastic bag and wait at least 24 hours. Then, dry a T-shirt and wash it a couple of times until the water is clean.
DIY Headbands
Headbands became another trend of 2020. They can help you achieve a charming retro look or an avant-garde one; there is no need to buy an expensive headband in a shop when you can easily make one in a couple of minutes.
Take a sewing measuring tape or a string and wrap it around your head, above the ears, and across your eyebrows to know your head’s measurements. Then, you have to cut a strip of fabric from the body of the T-shirt. The length should be around 1-1,5 inches more than the size of your head. The width depends on your preferences, but 3 inches would be more than enough.
Sew the ends of your fabric together with a sewing machine or by hand. And voila! Your headband is ready. This is the simplest way to make this type of accessory. But you can also make headbands with twists, braids, or knots. Everything depends on your creativity and patience.
DIY Tote Bag
Nowadays, people have started to rethink their habits and live a more sustainable lifestyle. If you want to avoid using plastic, you can create a super cute shopping bag from your old T-shirt. It will save you some money and contribute to the environment.
Just cut the neck and sleeves off and sew across the bottom. Simple as that! You can also make a stylish fringed bag – just cut the slits at the bottom of the T-shirt and tie the front and bottom pieces together. Your boho style shopping bag is ready!
The Bottom Line
Save the planet! Give a second, better life to your old T-shirts. Let your creativity take the wheel, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Hand-made items are always beautiful and unique. Hopefully, this list of simple ideas will inspire you to create your own masterpiece and prolong the lifespan of your favorite T-shirt.
