For some time now, I have been collecting old t-shirts. I would really like to do something with the designs on them because so many of them are associated with special places and memories. However, that still leaves rather a lot of fabric available for other projects. So, this month I thought I would have a go at making some “yarn”. Helped by Sam and Daisy (the speedy spaniel), I cut up the bottom parts of a few old t-shirts into long strips:
There are lots of instructions for doing this on the internet, so I won’t bore you with the details. None of them, however, cover working around canine friends, but I think I managed to avoid any loss of whiskers or tail hair. I decided to start with something simple: a round rug. The joy of this is that I can just keep working round and round until I run out of t-shirts (or possibly patience). I have learned not to cut the strips too wide as it makes it very hard to work with (the white was a bit too thick for comfort).
As you can see from the latest picture, it’s currently about 14 inches across and that has used up all the yarn that I made from three large t-shirts. As a truly scrappy project, I am just going to make use of all the colours that I have, so it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing creation, but it is becoming a lovely thick mat and should provide good insulation on a cold floor, plus it feels like a very positive use of fabric that would been of little use for anything else (I really have enough dusters and cleaning cloths for now).
-oOo-
I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate, who provides links to other (mostly sewing) ScrapHappy bloggers at Tall Tales from Chiconia on the fifteenth of every month… do check them out.
The Snail of Happiness 
Nice Piece of Work
/ August 15, 2018I think it’s fabulous but, let’s face it, you ARE getting a lot of help from Sam and Daisy so you can’t take all the credit… 😉
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018So true… they consider themselves to be my artistic directors!
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anne54
/ August 15, 2018How appropriate that you are making this rug circular, sort of like a snail’s shell 😉 And I am impressed that even your ruler is made from recycled vending cups!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018Yes, I thought the ruler appropriate for this project. I love making crochet spirals like this… so much easier and neater than starting each round afresh, plus the added benefit of being snail-like!
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nanacathy2
/ August 15, 2018All those memories in a rug. Congrats to the canine artistic directors.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018They are the bosses!
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tialys
/ August 15, 2018I’ve crocheted a little rug out of strips of scrap fabric before but I’d like to give the t-shirt method a try one day. I was looking at some commercially made t-shirt yarn, available in all sorts of lovely colours but it was a) expensive and b) in Australia so I’m sure I could manage a bit of cutting and dying myself. Yours is looking good – what size hook are you using?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018I’m using the biggest hook that I have, which is 9mm… it seemed somehow wrong to buy a new hook for a scrappy project!
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Patricia Collins
/ August 16, 2018Beyond 9mm, whittling your own crochet hooks from twigs and sticks is possible. See Norfolk artist, Woollenwood for inspiration. Using non-T-shirt, non-stretchy fabrics is very hard on hands. New hands cannot be whittled.
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Tracy @ It's a T-Sweets Day!
/ August 15, 2018What wonderful thing to do with old t-shirts! Great idea:)❤️❤️
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018I’m finding it very satisfying.
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Going Batty in Wales
/ August 15, 2018Having made some rugs feom old T shirts myelf I agree that the trick is to make the strips narrow – about 1cm works best for me – or it is very hard to work. Of course some T shirts are made of flimsy fabric and others thick so a bit of trial and error happens! I love mi ing up the colours and because they are all ones I wear they seem to work together OK. I shall look forward to seeing yours next time I visit.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018I am finding it a bit hard on the hands, but a bit every evening is seeing it grow quite well.
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katechiconi
/ August 15, 2018I can vouch for the fact that rugs like this work really well as bathmats and rugs in front of the sink, where a splash of water is likely, as they wash very well and stay springy enough to be warm underfoot on cold tiles. I think a bit of colour randomness adds to the charm, so bring on the other colours!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018They are all Mr Snails t-shirts and he has eclectic taste, so there’s all sorts of colours in the collection.
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katechiconi
/ August 15, 2018Then it will be a fascinating rug 😉
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thecontentedcrafter
/ August 15, 2018Looking good there Dr Snail! I have one in my bathroom that does an excellent job and I’d like to make one for my kitchen too but that’s a bit on the never never plan at the moment. It’s an excellent way to use old tee shirt fabric!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018I’ve just realised that I may also have some suitable scraps from other sewing projects, so must have a rummage. I am finding it slightly hard on the fingers, so it may take a while to reach a decent size.
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KerryCan
/ August 15, 2018That’s very cool! And I bet the resulting rug will be sturdy and very foot friendly. And what is it with dogs and cats, needing to be right in the middle of the work to be done?!
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wybrow1966
/ August 15, 2018This is so clever, I had never even thought about using scraps in this way.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018I saw the idea ages ago, but somehow I hadn’t got round to giving it a go until now. However, I am very conscious about old clothes being treated as waste (and we tend to wear our clothes until they are worn out) and this seemed like a very sensible use for some fabric that might otherwise end up in landfill.
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Laurie Graves
/ August 15, 2018Oh, those dog buddies! And yes, what a great use of fabric that would otherwise go to waste.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 15, 2018Daisy is suffering a bit today as she has a fungal infection in one of her ears (what silly ears spaniels have), but I am hoping that the ear drops from the vet will do the trick and she’ll be more comfortable very soon. Sam, meanwhile, is teaching Daisy to find her inner terrier!
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Laurie Graves
/ August 16, 2018Hope Daisy feels better soon.
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insearchofitall
/ August 15, 2018I have a strong feeling that if it’s large enough when complete, a fuzzy family member might just claim it. They seem to love the softness of the t-shirts. I wondered how hard it would be on the hands and fingers to complete such a project. It’s wonderful so far.
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Murtagh's Meadow
/ August 15, 2018It looks great. Would love to try it sometime
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Helen
/ August 15, 2018I like the idea – better than the compost bin. I also like the colours in the featured mat.
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ktshepherdpermaculture
/ August 16, 2018Ohhhhhh, really love this idea! Am currently saving old clothes for a Radical Ragdolls craftivism project, but will now be allocating others not suitable for RR, for yarn too! xxx
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Connie Butner
/ August 16, 2018I love your idea. I have been making t-shirt yarn out of my kids old t-shirts with the idea to weave some rag rugs. Currently I have lots of balls of the yarn, but have not warped the loom. Crocheted with it give a very nice look.
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thecraftersapprentice
/ August 19, 2018Fab idea! I have a big pile of old t-shirts that i collected. I was planning on making rectangular bathmats
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The Snail of Happiness
/ August 19, 2018Originally it was going to be oval, but round is so much easier and I was feeling like an easy life! Are you going to crochet yours?
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