I welcome spring and all its crazy weather!
It definitely beats the snow. To get ready for the nicer weather
to come wanted to make some new scarves to wear that didn't have to serve
a purpose.
I split a purple tie dye t-shirt between this half braided scarf and athree-braid
scarf. This scarf took a little less time than the other at about 30
minutes all together. I used medium sized shirts, but any size will do. The
larger and wider your shirt, the longer your scarf will be.
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Let me know what you think or if you have any questions. If you choose to use two or three different colors play around with the color combination before you commit to braiding. Photo Credit: Brista Robinson
As spring approaches I thought it would be fun to make a few scarfs that don't necessarily need to serve a purpose. If you haven't guessed my favorite color is purple and I happened found this awesome purple tie dye at a thrift store. I knew it would be perfect for some spring scarves. The scarf is easy to make and only takes about 45 minutes to create. The shirts I used were size medium, but any size would work. The larger and wider your shirt, the longer your scarf will be. For this project I only used three strands of the tie dye shirt. The rest I used in a half-braid t-shirt scarf.
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Let me know what you think or if you have any questions. If you choose to use two or three different colors play around with the color combination before you commit to braiding. Photo Credit: Brista Robinson
Before I start getting too crafty this semester I thought it would be time saving to make up some homemade t-shirt yarn to set aside for future DIY t-shirt projects. By chance I had the back of a t-shirt left over from a previous project (see T-Shirt Canvas) and was wondering what I could do with it. To make t-shirt yarn a shirt with a little more give or stretch left to it will work best. The amount of time invested in this DIY project from start to finish was about 20-30 minutes. For a full shirt I would image it taking closer to 45-60 minutes, depending on how big it is.
Supplies Needed
T-Shirt
Scissors
Getting Started
Start by removing the hems of the shirt at the top and the bottom. Since you probably don't just have the back of a shirt, go ahead and take off the sleeves at the seem and separate the front from the back along the seem, if there is one.
Measure, and outline if needed, 1 1/2 inch lines in a zig zag pattern. Start the first line at the edge and stop 1-1 1/2 from the edge of the other side. Mark it with a horizontal dash. The second line should start 1-1 1/2 inches from the edge and continue all the way to the other side.
Remember to measure twice and cut once. On one side, cut the lines that start at the edge and stop at the horizontal dashes.
Turn the shirt around and repeat the process on the other side. When you are finished you will have one long fabric strip.
Next, start stretching the fabric strip in small sections at a time. The ends will begin to curl in. Be sure not to stretch or pull too hard. When you are finished you have homemade t-shirt yarn! Wrap it up and set it aside for your next project.
As always, let me know if you have any questions and happy crafting!
Since it was Valentine's Day yesterday my son, Jazz, and I thought we would make something special for out cat, Yuuki. We thought everyone else in the house got one, so why not him. He's a pretty frisky kitty and Jazz thought a cat tent would be absolutely perfect!
From start to finish it took almost an hour to make. We probably would have finished quicker without additional help from Yuuki. Jazz, on the other hand did an excellent job helping take pictures. He didn't actually want to be in any of them because he's missing both front teeth at the moment.
Start by twisting the tops of the hangers and remove the hooks. Straighten out the hangers, you made need to use pliers. I found that newer hangers worked better; you can find them at Walmart for $2.
Begin to shape the frame by bending your hangers in a curved U shape.
Tape the edges of your board and any creases or bends for extra support. Poke holes in all four corners at least 1/2 inch from the edges. I used the discarded hook to make mine.
Cross your hangers in an X and place the ends in the holes of your board. Secure the middle with tape.
Turn your frame on its side and bend the ends of the hangers flat against the bottom of the board. Secure them with lots of tape.
Now it's time to create the tent!
Pull your shirt over the frame and position the neck hole over the front.
Turn the tent over. Pull the back of the tent fabric taut and pin with safety pins. Fold in the sides and pin to the bottom. You may need to do this several times.
Turn it over!
Thanks for visiting and I hope your cat loves their tent
just as much as Yuuki does.
If you're any thing like me and your boyfriend is difficult to shop for, this is the perfect last minute gift. What's more perfect than a handmade gift he can't accidentally buy for himself. From start to finish, this DIY project only took 30 to 45 minutes. I was able to make this in the morning before leaving for class, along with get myself and my seven-year-old son ready for the day.
Below you will find step by step instructions.
Supplies Needed
Cool T-Shirt
Canvas
Stapler
Scissors
When choosing a canvas make sure that it will fit the design and the size of the t-shirt you choose. Smaller shirts and designs will work best on an 8 X 8 inch or 10 X 10 inch canvas. Larger shirts and designs will fit best on a 12 X 12 inch canvas. I chose to use a one inch canvas for more depth, but those tend to be a little more expensive. Either will work fine. You could even recycle an old canvas from a thrift store. Getting Started
Grab a cool t-shirt out of your boyfriends closet that he doesn't wear or fit into anymore. Begin by cutting off the sleeves along the seem. Next, cut the shoulders along the seem and remove the rest of the back by cutting off the sides.
Flip your t-shirt over.
Place your shirt over the canvas and align the design where you would like it.
Holding them together, flip over the canvas and t-shirt. Fold your shirt over the canvas and remove some of the fabric from the bottom.
Stretch the top of your shirt over the canvas and secure it with staples.
Then, stretch the bottom of your shirt over the canvas and secure it with staples. Be sure to stretch your shirt very tightly over the canvas.
Next, fold the corners as if you would a present. Be sure to fold them neatly so that they are not seen from the other side.
Secure the corners with staples, leaving the fabric in the middle.
Stretch the remaining fabric on both sides over the canvas and staple.
Turn over your canvas and you have now transformed your boyfriends old t-shirt in to a beautiful and meaning full piece of art! This is project is great for any occasion, and children too! Go ahead and give it a try and let me know what you think. Photos by: Brista Robinson
For my first post I decided to tackle something that I thought might seem a little difficult. Weaving is actually very easy, you just need to be patient. You can make a rug, or a cushion, as I have chosen to make - only because I didn't have enough t-shirts at the time in the color pattern I wanted. There is even NO sewing required so this project is even great for kids!
The amount of time invested in this project from start to finish was about five hours. If you are new to weaving it may take you a bit longer. A rug will most likely take six to seven hours total to finish. I chose to complete my cushion all at once, but you can always set yours aside and work on it day by day.
Supplies Needed
T-Shirt
Hula Hoop
Scissors
Getting Started
First begin by cutting the hemmed bottoms off of all your t-shirts, set them aside.
*You will want at least 10-14 shirts to create a rug and 7-9 shirts for a cushion.
Grab one of your shirts and cut it into 8 strips.
Take those strips and stretch them around your hula hoop in pairs. The hoop is now your loom.
Cut the rest of your remaining t-shirts into one inch horizontal strips. To make a long fabric strip, cut one end of the loop, set them aside.
*I found it easier, and faster, to arrange them in a line of piles in a desired color pattern. I also kept back half, if not more, of one color for the outer rim.
Now it's time to start weaving!
If you are new to weaving, here is a video that might help with the technique.
Start by wrapping one fabric strip through the weft strips on the hula hoop. Alternate going over and under, over and under, over and under...I sound like Dori, "just keep swimming."
As you continue to alternate colors, tuck the ends of your fabric strips into the back side your weave. Don't worry about how messy it looks, the end result is amazing!
When your weave reaches approximately 8 inches, separate the weft strip pairs along the hula hoop. You will now have 16 individual weft strips. Continue to weave though them alternating over and under.
The next step is to separate your weft strip again and weave the fabric strips between the loops. Use up the rest of your design pattern colors and move on to the colors you have chosen for the rim. For a rug wait until you have reached about 6 inches from the edge of the hula hoop and about 10-12 inches for a cushion.
You're almost finished!
Cut the weft strips off the hula hoop when you have reached your desired length across. Tie them in double knots to secure the weave. Tuck the remaining ends of the weft strips into the back side.
Turn over your master piece and you are finished!
Let me know what you think. I would love to see how yours
have turned out! Once garage sale season starts I load up on shirts and create
a larger version.
Hi, my name is Brista Robinson and I am currently a senior
at Washburn University. I am double majoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship
& Innovations and minoring in Mass Media with an emphasis in Public
Relations. In my spare time I love crafting and re-purposing old t-shirts. I first became interested in re-using old clothes when I had my son,
Jazz, seven years ago. I have been saving his favorite shirts ever since. I
plan to make him a blanket someday and present it to him upon graduation.
Creating this blog is part of my minor, but I've secretly always
wanted to write one. Over the course of the semester, and who knows maybe even
longer, I will be posting different ways that you can re-purpose t-shirts and other clothes in
your closet; or if you’re like me from garage sales and thrift stores. I will include step-by-step instructions with helpful tips and pictures. Please feel
free to leave feedback about your own projects or ask questions. I would love
to see your end results and thanks for visiting my blog!
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