How to Cut Up Old T-Shirts
Cutting up old T-shirts is a brilliant approach to green fashion. Rather than discarding a shirt because it is stained, worn out or out of style, update its look by altering it. The resulting fashion is ideal for showing off muscles or new tattoos.
Instructions
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Design your cut-up T-shirt. If you want small alterations to a single T-shirt, take more care with the cuts you make, unless you plan to layer it over a tank top. If you plan to combine two shirts for a single, cut-up style, align the designs and features of the shirts in creative ways.
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Lay one T-shirt over another, if you plan to combine them. If you plan to remove the design from one T-shirt and transfer it to another T-shirt, check that the new design will cover the old design.
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Carefully cut out the design you wish to use. Use straight pins to attach the cut-out to the other T-shirt. Sew the design onto the other T-shirt and then carefully trim away the loose edges of the cut-out, as well as the inside design.
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Try other projects with the cut-out design, such as sewing it onto a plain canvas tote bag. You can use small T-shirt designs as decorative patches on jeans (the fabric is usually too thin to use the cut-out as a functional patch). Large T-shirt cut-outs can embellish pillowcases or even be matted and framed.
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Consider a bigger project. You can use several cut up T-shirts to make a handbag or a quilt. The tutorial at Straw (see Resources) gives detailed instructions on how to accomplish an advanced T-shirt project.
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Tips & Warnings
Save T-shirt scraps to use as rags.
When combining two T-shirts, make sure they are of a similar fabric weight to avoid puckering and wrinkling.
References
Resources
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Comments
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Holli Pancakes Holton
Jan 26, 2011
I use my sewing machine to make pillows and room decor, as well as clothing. I had never thought of making a quilt as teafor287 said. That's an interesting idea. But i am also a stong beleiver in donation. Almost all my clothing goes there! -
teafor287
Jan 20, 2011
I myself have cut old t-shirts any type of clothing into circles and made a Quilt, and pointing out to my daughters that was their t-shirt or shirt for memories and using buttons that my mother collected in the center..Looks like I might have to start a new project with my sons old clothes, or I'll just donate them...
