Looking to get rid of old t-shirts? Rather than tossing them out, try turning them into something fun and functional! A DIY T-Shirt Rug is an easy, eco-friendly project that transforms your worn-out tees into a one-of-a-kind piece that’s a perfect addition to any space in your home.
Estimated time: 1 hour (plus drying time)
What You’ll Need:
- 5-10 old t-shirts (the number depends on your desired rug size)
- Scissors
- Fabric glue
Step 1: Make T-Shirt Yarn
Before you begin your rug, you’ll need to first turn your t-shirts into t-shirt yarn. Here’s how:
- Lay your t-shirt on a flat surface suitable for cutting.
- Remove the bottom hem and the top portion just below the sleeves – leaving you with a rectangular tube of material.
- Cut along the side seams to separate the front and back.
- Fold the material in half and cut 1-inch strips, so that you end up with long strips of fabric.
- Unfold and stretch each strip by pulling on both sides to create thin, curled yarn.
- Roll the stretched trips into bundles – your t-shirt yarn is ready! Once you have all of your string, bundle it up and you are ready to begin!
Step 2: Braid Your Yarn
- Choose 3 strips of t-shirt yarn and tie them together in a tight knot.
- Secure the knot by clipping it to a sturdy surface to keep it stable while you braid.
- Begin braiding the 3 strands.
- As you reach the end of one strand, seamlessly add another strip of yarn by tying it to the end, then continue braiding.
- Continue braiding until you’ve run out of yarn and created one long, continuous braid.
- Tie off the end with a knot to secure it.
Step 3: Coil and Build Your Rug
- Starting at one end of the braid, begin coiling the braid in a tight spiral. Keep the shape flat as you go to ensure it will all come together in 1 piece. To help keep it flat, heavy items such as cookbooks can be used as weights.
- Apply fabric glue along the edges as you spiral, pressing each layer together to secure the shape.
- Continue coiling and gluing until the entire braid is used up.
- Tuck the ends in and glue the ends of the braid to secure it neatly.
- Let the rug dry fully for approximately 5 hours.
Once your rug is dry, it’s ready to use!
This project is a great way to recycle old clothing and add a handmade, personal touch to your home decor. As a bonus, repurposing well-worn t-shirts also keeps them from being discarded and potentially adding to the pollution in our waterways or clogging our storm drains. Happy crafting!
