T-Shirt Monstar Pot Holders

Materials Needed:
• old t-shirts or scrap material
• quilt batting
• sewing machine & thread
• needle & thread
• scissors




*close up


*close up

To make these fun little pot holders I grabbed some of my scrap t-shirt material and picked the one I wanted for the background and cut out a "square" (no exact measurements again). I used that first one I cut out as a template to cut out another of the same fabric and 2 of a different fabric for the back. Next, using my template, I cut out some quilt batting the same size (you will need at least 2, I used 4 because I wanted mine to be well insulated). I machine sewed the bating to the fabric, right side of fabric out. I did this for the other 3 sides as well. Then I took my 2 front pieces and cut out shapes from my other scrap t-shirt material and made my monstar on top. When I got it the way I wanted it I hand stitched the monstar onto the top fabric and top batting. When I was finished I put the monstar facing down on top of the back piece facing up (right sides together) and stitched with my machine all the way around leaving a large gap to flip it inside out. The first time I didn't leave enough space to flip it forgetting how bulky it would be with the 2 layers of batting so I had to seam rip it and re-sew. Then once it was flipped inside out I hand sewed it shut.

Scrap T-Shirt Rings

Materials Needed:
• scrap t-shirt material (or any material that will not unravel)
• beads
• needle & thread
• hot glue
• googly eye





So this idea came from having a bunch of tiny scraps and wanted to use them. All I did was grab a thin long strip of t-shirt and put around my finger and tied a double knot. Then I wrapped the rest of the material around the knot and took a straight pin and pinned it into place. Next I grabbed my needle & thread and started it going up through one of the overlapped areas. Once I was up through the material I placed a bead or 2 on top of the needle and went back down into the material. I did this all the way around the ring until I had a beaded area. Next I heated up my glue gun and got a googly eye then glued it right onto the top. Now I have a googly eye bling ring.

T-Shirt Pillow

Materials Needed:
• T-shirts
• pillow form or fiber fill
• sewing machine & thread
• hand needle & thread
• scrap fleece


*front


*back w/ pocket

Another craft made from my little sis' old tees...a pillow. It's super easy and a great gift or a great way to add some fun to your couch or bed.

First I went to the craft store and bought a pillow form the size that I wanted (I chose a 14 x 14 in. pillow). Then I grabbed an old t-shirt and measured it out (one of the few times I measure). The shirt was too small to fit the 14 x 14 pillow so I cut it out as big as I could 12 x 12 in. Next I took a few scraps of t-shirt from the purse project and measured out borders to go around the center piece. Then I sewed one side of the border on and then the opposite, once they were sewn I trimmed them down to measure 14.5 in. across (it is 14.5 because I need 1/4 in seam allowance on both sides). Next I took my other 2 side pieces and sewed them on and trimmed them to measure 14.5 in across.

Once that side was done I used it as my "template" for the other side which I wanted to be a bit more angled and fun and not so straight forward. So I just took 3 strips of fabric from 3 different shirts and sewed them at angles. Then I took my "template" and placed it on top right sides together and trimmed them to match. Then I went to the sewing machine and stitched up the 3 sides leaving the last side open to put the pillow in. (If you chose not to use the pillow form than I would sew up most of the 4th side leaving a space big enough for your hand to fit through).

Next I took my scrap fleece in red and cut out a pocket for the pillow (I really like pockets in pillows and blankets). Then I hand stitched it on using a back stitch, I stitched the top of the pocket but didn't stitch it to the pillow, I just wanted it to look more finished. Then I placed the pillow form inside and stitched up the bottom by hand using a slip stitch. Now I have a new pillow!

Reversible T-Shirt Purse

Materials Needed:
• T-shirts (I used 9 but I think you could do this with 2 or 3)
• Sewing machine & thread
• 2 buttons (optional)
• needle and thread (optional)


*one side front & back


*the other side front & back


*strap detail

Recently my little sis cleaned out her closet and I snatched all of her awesome t-shirts (I just imagined all the fun things I could make). This t-shirt purse is my first project using those old t's. I didn't use a pattern and it is pretty thrown together but I would rate this project intermediate.

To start I grabbed the 3 different shirts that I wanted to be the one side and I grabbed my scissors and cut out how big I wanted my bag to be out of the green and brown t-shirt then I took the blue shirt and cut it out the same width and then cut out the height I wanted it to be (which ended up being a little less than half the height). This will also be my "template" for the patched side.

Next I took about 6 other t-shirts and cut out strips of their decorated sides and sewed them together side by side until I had enough to make the front and back of the purse. Then I took some scraps and cut out a couple of strips for the flap of the purse and sewed them together. Then I placed my original shirts on top of my stitched up ones and cut it down to size (great measuring I know). Once this was done I sewed up the sides and bottoms of my 2 purses and then I grabbed a small thin scrap (to be the button hole) and pinned it to the flaps (facing in- so when I flipped it inside out it would be showing on the right side; my flaps are right sides together) then I sewed the 2 flaps together (I would say if I did this again I would have sewn the tops onto the flaps first but I sewed them on later). Then I folded the top of the bag down about 1/4 in. and ironed it (I did this to both bag (not flap) pieces).

Next I made the strap. I used the extra pieces I had from cutting off the excess from the patched side and just sewed them together with a bunch of curvy and straight lines. To get the different colors I made my bobbin thread blue and my top thread yellow and flipped it over to get both the stitch colors on each side.

Then I took placed the patched purse inside of the solid purse wrong sides together and pinned it. Then I placed my straps inside the 2 pieces (the patched and the solid purses) and also put the flap inside the 2 pieces (again if I were re-doing this I would have those sewn on already). Then I stitched it all together (stitches showing) and then flipped it over and stitched another line as well (just for good measure and to make both the yellow and blue thread show).

Finally I placed a button where it should lay according to my button hole sewn onto the flap, and I put the needle through. Once it was on the other side I grabbed another button (it's reversible so we have to have one on the other side) and placed the needle through one of the holes and then I continued to stitch both buttons on. Now I can turn it either way and I have a fun new bag!

Recycled Scrap T-Shirt Monstars

Materials needed:
• scrap material
• snap on eyes (available at craft stores)
• sewing machine (optional- can be hand sewn) & thread
• felt (optional for details- you could also use fabric paint or embroider details)
• yarn (optional for hair or other details)
• ribbon (optional for details)






Another super simple and fun project to do with some scrap pieces of fabric!

I made the top one out of scraps from my little sister's t-shirt purse I made her (the t-shirts were one's that she no longer fit in). The bottom one was just some scrap material I had lying around.

The idea is simple. I quickly drew a random shape and cut out 2 from either the same fabric (like in my second one) or different fabrics (like in the first one) and sewed all around the edges leaving a small space to flip it inside out. Once it was sewed clip around the curves (I normally clip the edges a lot when working with t-shirt material because it won't unravel). Then I flipped it inside out.

Next I added face details. With these 2 monstars I made felt mouths (including teeth on the bottom monstar) and then I got these plastic snap on eyes that you can get then at fabric and craft stores (what I love about these is they are super simple but instantly give it some personality). To attach the eyes you simply cut a small slice where you want them to go and then place the top of the eye through the hole and then using your opening on the bottom put your bottom eye attachment on to snap tight and keep the eye in place. You can also use buttons or felt or whatever you have lying around that would work for your monstar (that is one thing I love about making monstars is that no one knows what they are supposed to look like so you can make them look like whatever!)

After the face is done you can add little details like a belly, hair (on my bottom monstar), bow (on my top monstar) or whatever (again open to your interpretation). To make the hair I used some scrap yarn I had and cut it into longish stripes then sewed it down, when that was done I gave him a hair cut and styled it short and punky! For the belly I just sewed on a felt oval shape, The bow was a scrap piece of ribbon that I tied and then hand stitched on.

Once all the details are done I stuffed it using fiber fill (you can also use scrap material or whatever is soft and fluffy and you have lying around. Fill your monstar up and then sew it shut using a slip stitch. Now you can cuddle with your cute little homemade monstar!

Recycled T-Shirt Baby Quilt

Materials needed:
• 6-12 old t-shirts (or scrap material)
• sewing machine & thread
• embroidery thread
• batting (or old sheet or fabric)
• scrap fabric for borders
• yard or so of fabric for back
• patches (optional)
• felt (optional)
• yarn (optional)




close up view

I am one of those people who feels emotionally attached to my clothing, so I always had a hard time cleaning out my closet when the time came. Even though things wouldn't fit I just couldn't help but wanting to keep them because inevitably they reminded me of some time in my life. So instead of letting them just sit in my closet and never see the light of day I decided to make my husband and I a quilt out of them. The original one is a huge and it took me 2 years to finish (note: I worked on it on and off for the 2 years mainly waiting to collect enough old clothes in the process but I think if I was diligent on it and had all the scraps I needed it would have taken me about 4 months).

This one above took me about 3 days. It is a small version that I made for my little Zoe, while I was pregnant. I really loved the idea that she would sleep with our shirts and smell and be "protected" by us. I have made this baby blanket sized quilt a few other times and don't find it to be too hard to do with a little time and patience.

To start I gathered scraps of t-shirts from our other quilt but chances are you don't have that so you can either use scrap material you have or just gather 6-12 t-shirts that you no longer wear any more but have some attachment to. Then I got a piece of scrap foam board (anything thing and sturdy will do I used it as my template) I measured out how big I wanted the squares. In this one above there are 2 different sizes a smaller square and a larger one. I made the smaller ones 1/2 the size of the larger one and added a 1/4 in seam allowance (meaning the bigger one was 8.5 in sq and the smaller one then would be 4.25 in sq plus the 1/4 in for the seam allowance giving me 4.5 in sq). . Another great idea I have seen is that you just cut long strips and sew them together which gives it a fun stripy look. You of course can do just about anything you want- shapes, colors, whatever you can think of.

So after making my templates I grabbed my shirts and placed the template right on top and then used my rotary cutter and cut around the template (you can also mark it with sewing pencils or chalk and then cut on your line). Once I had enough to lay it down (the total size of my quilt with out the border was 27.5 in x 36.5) I laid out the pieces the way they looked best to me. I just did a simple pattern here of a big square, 4 small squares, big square, 4 sm. sq. across and then switched it for the next row and made it 4 sm sq, big sq, 4 sm sq, big square and again for the next row I switched it back. Ending with 4 rows across and 4 rows down (and a row I count as the size of my big square).

Once they are in position the way I like them I take one section of the 4 sm sq and sew those together to make a piece that is as big as my bg sq. I do this for all my sm sq until they are all in big pieces. Then I pin my first row together and sew it. Then I take my second row and sew it and then the third row and sew it. Then I pin the first row to the second row and sew and then that piece gets pinned to the 3rd row and I sew it.

Once that whole center piece is done I then find a scrap fabric to make a border on my edges (normally this means it will be a mix of colors but you can of course finish it off with the same color and fabric or whatever is easiest for you). For the border on this one I used 2 inches thick of material and sewed it to my shorter sides all the way up. Then I trimmed off the excess material (I didn't do any measuring lengthwise because when I do I inevitably end up with miss matched pieces in the bad way- this is how I avoid any problems). I did the same to the other short side (I did this so my sides would look the same but you can just work your way around if you want- going from short side to long side to short side to long side or if you know how you can even make diagonal cornors). Once the 2 short sides were done I did the long sides.

When your border is finished I then added a little batting. I used the batting (from the fabric store) I had left over from my other quilt but if you want you can also use old sheets or old curtians- whatever. Then I laid the quilt onto the batting with the quilt facing up. I smoothed it out and pined it using quilt safety pins. The reason I use those is because they don't rust out in time and this project can take a while (like my 2 year quilt). Then I trimmed it down to about the edge of my borders just to make it easier to work with.

Next I got embroidery thread (leaving it as 6 strands but you can make it as thick as you want) and did a simple stitch around where I sewed my t-shirts together, sewing the t-shirts to the batting. I loved doing this chunky hand stitch because it really looks hand done and has a quirkiness about it.

Once I sewed all of my squares to the backing I then trimmed down the batting about 1/2 in from the edge of the border all the way around (I leave it on at first just in case I pull on the batting and end up too short on one side). Then I added my monstar and dragonfly. To do the monstar I just cut the shapes out of felt and fleece remnants I had and then hand stitched it to my quilt before finishing it off I got a little bit of fiber fill and stuffed it making it 3-D but plush still. Then I got some patches (a dragonfly and flower) and hand sewed them on.

When the decorating is done I got a large section of scrap fabric (it measured over the final size of my quilt) from my other quilt or you can buy about a yard of a soft fabric (measure your final piece and make sure to get enough fabric for your piece) or just sew a couple of larger scraps together. Then I pinned it with right sides together and started sewing starting the edges together leaving an opening for me to flip it inside out.

Once sewed I trimmed the corners so they would lie flat and then flipped it inside out. Then I pinned the border down and sewed (stitch showing) around my border close to the t-shirt part. This helps it attach to the back piece of fabric better. Then I hand stitched my opening closed using a simple slip stitch and it was finished. If you are making a larger quilt I recommend getting some scrap yarn and sewing little knots on the corners of your squares to tie them to the fabric below. On the small quilt this doesn't matter as much but the larger the quilt the more stability you need to keep the 2 pieces from sliding around.