What can you do with a T-shirt?

The most useful item in a secondhand shop is a simple T-shirt. There are so many options and I am sure that this post doesn't even do it justice! This is actually my list of items that I want to make with T-shirts so stay tuned to the blog.

Here are some of the things that I can think of on how you can reuse a T-shirt:

As T-shirts:

• Yoke-neck T-shirt: try this idea that details how to fix a crewneck.
• Ruffled girly T-shirt: Cut part of the neckline away on an old T-shirt along with the sleeves. Take it in so that it is fitted then sew the sleeves back on in gathers. Do a ruffle with the leftover cut part from the neck back on. This is what I did with this T-shirt.
• Remodeled men's T-shirt: this version has a ruffle, buttons and nice billowy sleeves.
• Tucked neck: cut the crew-neck collar off then do a series of tucks around the neck (inspired by this T-shirt from calpatch on Craft Stylish).
• Victorian ruffled T-shirt: first, fit it on the sides and the bottom to your figure. Save all of the extra fabric. Cut the crewneck off and sew the neck down to a more comfortable place, pin and sew down. Then add the extra fabric to make a ruffle down the front centre of the shirt like a Victorian top. Leave space in the middle and sew the ruffle to the shirt. Add buttons down the middle.
• Smocking: add smocking! Anywhere! try the shoulder seams, under the bust, around the sleeves or all three options! I love smocking, it looks so cool.
• Gathers: like tucks, you can get a large T-shirt and fit it by creating gathers on the sides, or perhaps just one side to create an interesting look. 
• Dolman sleeved wonder: use two T-shirts to make a dolman-sleeved shirt. Stay tuned, I plan on trying this.
• Baby doll T-shirt: take a really big men’s shirt and cut at bust line, fix sides and shoulders then sew arms back on and gather the shoulders. Then, leave bottom as one large connected piece and sew on with gathers so that it flares all the way around. 
• Crocheted details: after adjusting a t-shirt, add crocheted details like a crochet neck, sleeves or hems. 
• Piped details: add piping in contrasting colors around neck, arms and bottom of fitted shirts. Piping can be made from other t-shirts that are solid colours, or printed T-shirts.
• Lace: take a T-shirt and cut off the sleeves, and cut it in half for a front and a back. Buy a sheet of lace in the same colour and cut to fit either the front or back. Then, sew to the shirt (either front or back), and reassemble the shirt. Take it in to fit on the sides, shoulders and sleeves. Fix the neck perhaps with some satin ribbon in the same colour around the edge.
• Tank or racerback T-shirt: turn a men's T-shirt into a racerback tank top or a tank top. Perhaps even add details like a lace panel on the back or the front. 
• Elastic: try adding an effect by sewing elastic underneath the seams on the neck (like this t-shirt) or on the sides (like this t-shirt)
• Screen printing: try using fabric paint and a stencil or spray paint to create your own logos. Here is an idea on how to do it.
• Beading: adjust the T-shirt to fit then add beads along the neckline, sleeves or anywhere else.

Other clothing items:

• Underwear: have you ever tried to make underwear from t-shirts? Here is a tutorial from calpatch.
• Jersey skirt: what about cutting the neck off and using the arms as pockets on a T-shirt skirt?
• Cardigan: a t-shirt can be cut up the middle and turned into a ruffly cardigan from this tutorial or a button-up one from this one.
• Dress: turn two T-shirts into a dress. They could be the same colour or different and the connection between the two can vary from the waist or an empire waist. It can be fitted or not. Ruffles can be added along with other embellishments as well as darts.
• Hairband: Use leftover scraps to make a hairband. This can be flat, embellished with beads, or braided. Along with many other ideas.
  

As home items:

• Cloth handkerchiefs.
• Cleaning rags: these make fabulous rags for dusting and polishing any surfaces and also for washing the car.
• Cloth garbage bags: I am going to attempt these with leftover white men's T-shirts. I will post the results. I only plan on doing these for the smaller garbage bins around the house, not the one for the kitchen.
• T-shirt quilt: if you can't part with them but they are taking up space, make a T-shirt quilt.
• Lunch bag: try making a lunch bag (perhaps like this one) out of an old T-shirt.

For ideas on what you can do with other clothes in your wardrobe or from a secondhand store, see my post on what you can do with secondhand clothing. This is everything else but T-shirts.

Pajama pants made into boxers

I have a pair of cotton pajama pants that didn't feel right for their original purpose. I just felt that they were meant to be shorter so I made them into a pair of boxer shorts. I made these the exact same way that I made my capris out of pajama pants but I cut them 2 inches below the crotch seam instead of knee-length.

Estimated time for this project: about 20 minutes. All I had to do was smooth out the pants, cut, pin and sew.

Notes:

• There was a lot of fabric leftover from this. I am thinking of things to do with this fabric from fabric coffee cup cozies to cloth handkerchiefs. Perhaps a lunch bag or a purse organizer. Perhaps I have enough fabric to make all of those ideas! We'll see!

Turning pants into a skirt

Have you ever wondered if those pants would fit you better as a skirt? I sure did. I had way too many black pairs of pants so I got this wild idea. I took two pairs of pants and made this skirt:

I didn't take pictures of how I did it (sorry!) but I plan on making more so I will post the procedures there. Save your extra pants for this project.

10 projects that I want to do in 2012

I love searching for new project ideas and these are some of them that you may see from me within the year. These are 10 projects that have my head spinning with fabric choices and ideas. This will also be a way for me to keep track of these projects for when the time comes:

1. Fleece argyle blanket: this idea is on CraftStylish and doesn't require any sewing at all. I love anything having to do with argyle. 
2. Pet sleep sack: I have some fake fur lying around and with leftover fleece from the argyle blanket, I can whip up this sleep sack in no time.
3. T-shirt into a Tunic: Calpatch is my favorite contributor on CraftStylish and I absolutely love this t-shirt. 
4. Kitty litter rug: I have an old towel lying around waiting to be upcycled into this litter rug. Felix (my orange/white tabby) doesn't like the litter mat that I bought him into Wal-mart.
5. Felted ball garland: I have never felted before but I love the idea of making felted balls into a Christmas garland. I like the look of it.
6. Stenciled wood coasters: I see these wood coasters on Etsy and they inspire me to stencil them and use them around Christmas time or to give them as gifts.
7. Coffee cup sleeve: I love this coffee cup sleeve and it might have better grip on a coffee cup than a knitted coffee cup sleeve. 
8. An apron for myself: I made one for my husband (actually, I made him three) but I haven't made one for myself. My husband has a pink dress shirt that is now too big for him so I will be making one soon. 
9. Remolded crayons: after my post about crayons, I just have to make this at home! I have two nephews who would love this.
10. Dryer sheet sachets: I don't want to use dryer sheets anymore so I want to make a green project like this one.

Glow in the Dark Yarn

I have a few skeins of the Bernat Glow in the Dark Yarn but I don't know what to do with them!

Here are some of the ideas that I have floating around:

• Baby beanie hat with a garter stitch border
• Coffee sleeve
• Glasses case
• Belt for kids
• Mittens for kids

Any comments? Ideas?