How to Crochet With Old T-Shirts

Old T-shirts get a second life as a crochet medium.

Most crochet patterns recommend using yarn or crochet thread to complete the project. To recycle, save money and to reduce landfill, many crafters have turned to alternative supplies. Just about any material that can be formed into yarn, rope or string-like media can be crocheted. Old T-shirts are a popular choice for crochet supplies. In addition to being typically plentiful, they are soft and resist fraying. Depending on how wide the T-shirt strips are cut, the crochet medium can be used as light to bulky-weight yarn.

Things You'll Need

• Old T-shirts
• Scissors
• Crochet hook

Instructions

1. Lay the T-shirt on a flat surface. Use scissors to cut the arms off the shirt. Trim off the bottom hem and the neck. Beginning anywhere on the bottom edge of the shirt, cut a diagonal slit, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. Starting at the top of the diagonal cut, begin cutting the body of the T-shirt in a spiral, 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide. Continue cutting until you reach the arm holes and can no longer cut in a continuous spiral.

2. Lay the upper front and back portions of the shirt on a flat surface. Beginning on the outer border of each piece, cut the fabric in a spiral form. Join the T-shirt strips by folding the ends of the strips crosswise, about 1 inch from the ends. Snip the center of the fold to make a small slit in each end of the strip.

3. Hold the end of one strip in your left hand and the end of another strip in your right hand. Pass the end of the left strip through the slit in the right strip. Pass the other (free) end of the left strip through the the slit in the left strip that you are holding. Pull the free end of the left strip until it forms a small knot, joining the left and right strips. Once all of the strips from the T-shirt are joined, roll the joined strips into a ball. Stretch the strips as you coil the T-shirt yarn.

4. Tie a slip knot in the end of the yarn. Using a 5mm to 8mm crochet hook, crochet your project just as you would, using yarn.

References

• Rugmaker's Homestead; Diana Blake Gray: Ways to Join Fabric Strips When Making Rag Rugs
• Craftstylish: How to Crochet a Rug out of T-Shirts
• Teaching Good Things: Fiber Arts Monday – Upcycled T-shirts to Dishcloths