T-shirts of multiple colors and designs adorn the wardrobe of many individuals across the United States. The wide variety of t-shirts presents a problem in many closets and dressers. Too many begin to accumulate and they are just too good to throw away. What alternative do you have besides taking old t-shirts to a thrift store? The answer is upcylce or repurpose unwanted t-shirts into rugs or throws. Crochet, knit or macramé strips of old T-shirts into a usable rug. To me, a crocheted item is the easiest because I am most comfortable with crocheting techniques. For those individuals who enjoy knitting or macramé, take the idea and alter the pattern to achieve the desired gauge or weave. This is a project easy enough for a beginner.
Things You’ll Need:
Old T-shirts
Scissors
Yardstick or tap measure
Disappearing sewing marker
Size P or Q crochet hook (10.0 to 16.0 mm)
Cutting and Connecting the T-shirt Fabric Strips:
Step 1 – Place a t-shirt on a flat work surface. Smooth the t-shirt with your hands to remove all wrinkles. Repeat the following process with all t-shirts to create the desired number of strips.
Step 2 – Cut the hem from the bottom of the t-shirt.
Step 3 – Place a yardstick along the left side of the t-shirt so the inch marks go up the side of the shirt. Place a dot every 1 1/2-inch. Repeat the process with the right side of the t-shirt.
Step 4 – Line the top edge of the yardstick up with the bottom right hand corner of the t-shirt and with the first 1 1/2-inch mark on the left side. Draw a line along the top of the yardstick. Move the yardstick to the next set of dots directly above the first line. Draw a line along the top edge of the yardstick. Repeat the process until the t-shirt surface is covered with angled lines.
Step 5 – Turn the t-shirt over and smooth. Repeat Step 3 and 4.
Step 6 – Separate the layers of the t-shirt. Begin cutting at the bottom right hand corner, following the drawn line to the left edge. Turn the t-shirt over and continue cutting along the line. An uncut line will appear in the center of the strip.
Step 7 – Cut along the line in the center of the strip.
Step 8 – Cut off the ends of the strips to remove the fabric that is not 1 1/2-inches wide.
Step 9 – Place the cut strips on a flat work surface so the long edge of the strip is on a horizontal axis. Cut a 1-inch horizontal slit in the center of each end approximately 1/2-inch from the vertical edge. Repeat this process with each strip.
Step 10 – Pick up two strips. Insert the vertical end from one strip through the horizontal opening on the second strip. Pull the end through the opening until it is approximately 3-inches long. Continue to work with the same strip. Place the opposite end through the horizontal slit in the 3-inch section. Pull the strip tight. This will form a knot and connect the two pieces of t-shirt fabric. Repeat the process with each strip.
Repurposed or Upcycled T-shirt Rug Crochet Instructions:
Step 1 – Tie a slipknot approximately 3-inches from the end of the t-shirt strip. Slide the slipknot over the end of the crochet hook.
Step 2 – Chain 6 stitches.
Step 3 – Connect the chain 6 together with a slipstitch to create a circle. Chain 1 stitch – this counts as the first stitch in this row and each row thereafter. Single crochet 7 stitches in the chain 6 circle. Slipstitch to the first chain stitch. (8 stitches)
Step 4 – Chain 1 stitch. Single crochet in the next stitch. Chain three stitches. Single crochet in the next two stitches. Chain three stitches. Repeat the pattern through the end of the row for a total of 8 single crochet stitches.
Step 5 – Chain 1 stitch. Single crochet each single crochet stitch across stopping at the chain 3 opening. Single crochet once in the chain 3 opening. Chain 3 stitches. Single crochet in the chain 3 opening and in the top of the next single crochet stitches. Repeat the pattern around. Slipstitch the row together. Chain 1 stitch.
Step 6 – Repeat Step 5 until the rug is the desired dimensions. The addition of 2 single crochet stitches in the chain 3 spaces adds 6 stitches to each row. This allows the rug to lay flat without corners that curl.