How to make T-shirt yarn the easy way 🧶 🙌🏻 | Crochet project ideas for T-shirt yarn

If you’ve ever wondered how to make t-shirt yarn yourself, you’re in the right place! Making your own t-shirt yarn is a fun and eco-friendly way to upcycle old t-shirts that you no longer wear. This yarn can be used for a variety of crafts, from crocheting and knitting to weaving and macrame. Scroll down for some crochet project ideas for t-shirt yarn. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make your own t-shirt yarn:

1. Choose your t-shirts: Look for old t-shirts that are made of cotton or jersey knit. Avoid t-shirts with graphics or logos, as these can interfere with the smoothness of the yarn. It works best if the T-shirt doesn’t have side seams.

2. Cut your t-shirts into strips: Lay your t-shirt flat on a cutting mat and cut off the hem and sleeves. Fold the tube almost in half with 1 inch of the bottom layer exposed at the top. Then, cut the shirt into 1-2 inch wide strips, starting at the bottom of the shirt and cutting up to where the top layer stops (leaving the 1-inch bottom layer uncut). You can use a rotary cutter or sharp scissors for this step. Cut top at a diagonal so that strips are all connected (see video for example).

3. Stretch your strips: Once you have your strips, it's time to stretch them out. Grab each strip at the ends and pull it taut. This will cause the strips to curl inwards, creating a smooth and even yarn.

4. Join your strips: To make longer strands of yarn, you will need to join your strips together. To do this, simply overlap the ends of two strips and tie them together in a knot. If you prefer to avoid knots, you can add T-shirt yarn to your crochet project the same way you would color change in crochet.

5. Wind your yarn: Once you have your desired length of yarn, wind it into a ball or skein for easy storage and use. My favorite yarn winder here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XBNGC7D?...

And that's it! With just a few old t-shirts and some basic tools, you can create your own t-shirt yarn and start crafting. This is a great way to reduce waste and give new life to old clothes. Some of my favorite crochet projects with t-shirt yarn are baskets, bags, and rugs. Here are a few tutorial suggestions:

Hanging Baskets:
   • How to Crochet Hanging Baskets  

Doormat:
   • How to Crochet a Jute Doormat  

More Freebies:
Crochet Skills Checklist
https://www.bagsbybento.com/crochet-s...

Hi friend! I’m Taylor Bento
Crochet Designer & Content Creator

I started my crochet business, Bags by Bento, in 2021 during the height of the pandemic. I took the challenges of living life online and cultivated a virtual community! Now, I help crocheters create beautiful bags and accessories. Scroll through www.bagsbybento.com/blog for more crochet tutorials and patterns. Follow along on www.instagram.com/bagsbybento for crochet friends and community.

Chapters:
00:00 What you need
00:27 How to cut the t-shirt
03:22 Stretch the Yarn
03:50 Wind the Yarn
04:18 How to Join
05:42Crochet Project Ideas