If you’re looking for a way to upcycle old T-shirts, turning them into yarn is a great idea. Not only is it an eco-friendly way to repurpose old clothes, but the resulting yarn can be used for a variety of crafts such as knitting, crocheting, or weaving. Give new life to old T-shirts by turning them into T-shirt yarn!
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make yarn from upcycled T-shirts step-by-step. It’s an easy and fun project that will give you a sense of satisfaction and help you reduce your carbon footprint.
T-shirt yarn is durable, can be machine washed and dried, doesn’t shrink, and best of all – it’s FREE! So start saving those T-shirts and turn them into something gorgeous and useful like area rugs for the kitchen and bath.
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Steps to make T-shirt yarn
Making yarn is a great way to use old T-shirts – even the ones that are stained or have slight rips or holes. Turning them into rugs and pot holders is easy, fun and a great zero waste project!
The resulting yardage will be dependent on the size of the T-shirt. I’ve used everything from XS women’s tank tops, to XXL men’s T-shirts, and even use the sleeves from long-sleeve T-shirts to make yarn.
Below is a step-by-step tutorial on how to turn your old T-shirts into a nice weight yarn for making rugs.
Step 1
Smooth out the T-shirt on a flat surface, and try to line up the seams. Sometimes shirts will want to twist a little. Just try to get it as flat as possible.
Step 2
Most T-shirts have a hem or a band at the bottom. Cut that off, because it is too thick to work with in the resulting yarn.
Step 3
Cut across the T-shirt just below the armhole or sleeve.
Step 4
Cut all the way across the T-shirt, but save the top part! You can make matching pot holder loops with that fabric. You can learn how to weave pot holders here.
Step 5
Fold the remaining T-shirt up toward the top seam. Keep it about an inch shy of totally folding the fabric in half.
A closer look at the fold
Step 6
Starting on the far left, begin cutting roughly 1″ strips – cut right thru that first seam, and stop about 3/4″ to 1/2″ from the top fold. DON’T CUT THROUGH THAT TOP FOLD!
Don’t worry about cutting straight, smooth cuts if you are using scissors. An alternative is to use a rotary cutter. The folded T-shirt is fairly thick, so you will have to bear down hard in order to cut through all four layers. Be careful where your fingers are too! You’re going to need those fingertips later on. 😉
Step 7
Once you have finished cutting all the strips, unfold the fabric, keeping the uncut seam at the top.
Step 8
Carefully turn the top seam, so you can see the entire uncut area. I call this the “spine” of the fabric.
Step 9
Locate the first row, and the part of the strip that is at the back. Gently pull it just a bit forward and away from the other strips.
Step 10
Cut the first piece on an angle from the edge, right up to the part where the next strip begins. It’s going to look really weird, and there will be a strange looking “elbow” in the strip. The first one will be the most pronounced, and you can trim it just a little if it is too big and bulky. Once you make the yarn, these weird elbows won’t be a problem.
Step 11
Continue cutting each strip on an angle.
Step 12
The last strip looks like the photo below. Carefully separate the pieces so you can make the final cut.
Step 13
Cut the last piece on an angle.
Step 14
You now have one continuous piece of fabric!!!!
Step 15
Before rolling the yarn into balls, tug the yarn so it will curl in on itself.
The amount of curl will depend on the T-shirt fabric. Some blends won’t budge at all! However, these blends will still make good yarn. You may have to cut the strips a little narrower than shirts that have Lycra in them.
Step 16
Your yarn is ready to roll!
Any bits that have the T-shirt’s side seam are easy to hide while you knit, as are uncurled parts and those weird elbows from the angle cuts.
Step 17
DONE!!!!! Roll the T-shirt yarn into balls, and you are ready to knit (or crochet) your new project!
I use T-shirt yarn for knitting rugs. The photo at the top of this post shows one I am working on using a linen stitch. US size 15 knitting needles work best for the weight of the T-shirt yarn.
Making yarn from upcycled T-shirts is an excellent way to give new life to old clothes while creating something useful and beautiful. In this tutorial, I’ve shown you how to turn a T-shirt into a ball of yarn, which can be used for all sorts of crafting projects. By following these simple steps, you can upcycle your old T-shirts and reduce waste while unleashing your creativity. So, grab some scissors and get started!
What will you make with your T-Shirt yarn?
Click on the photo to read:
Thanks so much. You make it easy! I’ve tried other tutorials and could not get it. Thank you,Thank you.