Don't throw away that old T-shirt, upcycle it

 

A review of The Upcycled T-Shirt: 28 Easy-to-Make Projects That Save the Planet - Clothing, Accessories, Home Decor & Gifts

Note: This article was originally published in my Substack, The Wandering Maker Corner.

Do you have a pile of old t-shirts that you really don’t want to just throw away and contribute to the growing piles in the landfill? Do you have favorites that have meaning to your or are mementos from trips or special events? There is a better way to keep them around. longer and this book from Jenelle Montilone will show you how

Note: This book is only available as a Kindle edition on Amazon as it is currently out of print. I checked out this book using Kindle Unlimited which is my favorite way to experience a book or browse different subjects without making a final purchase to download permanently or have a physical copy taking up room on a shelf.

Why this book?

So the reason I decided to check out this book was for two things. One, I have a growing pile of t-shirts that are either ill-fitting, have some holes, or stains. The second reason was I have been interested in t-shirt yarn for awhile now and even though I could just do a Google search and find a page or video on how to do it, there is just something about looking at a book that someone took the time to write. This person is providing me with options and ideas all in one compact format that I can flip back and forth through even if it is in digital format on a Kindle or my Fire tablet (my preference for how-to books with color images).

What does this book do and not do?

There are three basic parts of this book:

1. Introduction and the effects of clothing in landfills (unfortunately it looks like the blog mentioned in the Sewing with a Purpose section is no longer active)
2. The basics of how to prepare the t-shirt, sewing tips, dyeing, creating yardage, and making yarn
3. The projects - categorized: Wearables, home, kids, pets, decorations, reusable items (cleaning helpers and market bags)

Project instructions are clear and stepped out well. For some of the clothing, alternate knit fabric yardage is given along with the approximate number of t-shirts required. Instruction images are hand drawn and not photos but this actually may be more helpful as it simplifies the explanations and eliminates visual obstructions that can occur with photography. All finished models of projects are displayed with color photography.

If you prefer to have patterns included in your book then you will be happy with this one as there is a hyperlink in the Kindle version that will open up a PDF with all the needed patterns. For larger pattern pieces, it also includes how to assemble the pages you will need once you print them. The book does note that depending on your software and printer the sizing could be affected.

My final thoughts

I really enjoyed this book that provided me with different ways I can recycle and reuse t-shirts I already have and possibly transfer this to other clothing items. I wished she had done a series of different types of clothing: denim, sweaters, flannel, etc.

Although I only used it to make the t-shirt yarn, I will be trying out how to make a t-shirt quilt because unlike most t-shirt quilt instructions, the author chose to use the shirts as fabric to piece a patchwork-type quilt instead of the basic memory quilt using the print on the shirt for each square. The quilt made in the book was more modern and used paint to enhance the design.

My experiment

Although there are several projects in the book, I tried out the section on making my own t-shirt yarn.

There are two methods given but I wanted to try the one that would give me the longest continuous length possible. This involves cutting out a block of the shirt from under the sleeves to the hem. Then, mark a line 2 inches below one fold (side seam) and then cut strips beginning from the other folded edge up to the line. Next, cut diagonally from one strip across the fold. It is very similar to making bias binding strips for quilts if you are familiar with that process.

Once the “yarn” has been cut you starting pulling on the strips to make the fabric curl in on itself. As shown in the image below you will notice that the pink knit did not behave like it should have but I don’t think it will matter depending on how I end up using it. It will act more like a ribbon yarn versus a cord type of yarn that the beige is simulating.

Now, I just have try it out. I’m thinking of doing a small rug possibly with granny squares. The book does have different projects for using the yarn: tufted in burlap for pillows, knitting a chair pad, a macrame plant holder, and a arm-knitted throw.

What would you like to make with extra t-shirts?

Lion Brand Yarn

This is one of my favorite sites to get free patterns for crochet and knit. I've been crocheting ever since I've been a little girl. My mom taught me when I was 5. She also tried to teach me to knit but after too many arguments about how I was doing it all wrong and too many times getting all tangled up I gave up.

Fast forward 30 some years later and in half and hour with much more focus I learned to cast on and do a basic stitch at a quilt show. Although, I did not remember everything that day it gave me the itch to learn more. Luckily, Lion Brand has put these great how-to videos on You Tube. See, You Tube can actually be educational. Who knew?

The video below will show you one way to cast on. I don't do it this way but you can access other video lessons to do much more with your yarn and a pair of knitting needles.

Unique Knitted Animals

These cute, cute, cute creatures are the one-of-a-kind creations from Ana Castellanos. She made these for me and my daughter. These are just a small sampling of what she can create with just a couple of knitting needles. She is currently teaching Spanish classes at Harper College and prior to that she taught at Northern Illinois University.

If you think these are cute, you can catch her display of all her special animals and dolls at the Schaumburg Township Library in Schaumburg, IL. There are 2 display cases in the main lobby but that's not all. She had so many they also filled 2 display cases in the fiction book room. She has a love of specialty yarns that help to create the unique look and also help create their furry appearance. Size of the animals and dolls range from the tiny to larger cuddly creatures. Many are the same pattern but the size changes just by changing the size of the needles. You can catch the display at the library now through the end of June 2008.

Here are close ups of the bear and the little elephant.

A Little Yarn Shopping

Last time I ventured into a knitting shop several years ago it didn't take me long to walk back out. The women who worked there didn't even give me the time of day which I found odd as quilt stores I would visit would mostly have the most personable and helpful people in the world and I had worked with people who wrote knitting instructions for a living and they were nice people. I had visited one other knitting shop before that and the ladies were nice but at that time everyone was on the older side and the selections of yarn were minimal. The shops just didn't feel like me.

Thank goodness times have changed. Now that knitting and crocheting are growing in numbers among all ages of people the knitting shops are not only traditional but becoming very hip. There are several in the Chicago area and I plan on visiting them all and I will share what I find here. Today took me to West Dundee and East Dundee, Illinois.

The first shop I stopped by was The Gifted Purl on Main Street in West Dundee. This is a quaint shop in an old downtown storefront with a creaky wooden floor. The staff is super friendly and very helpful. There are comfy chairs and a sofa to sit and stitch at any time you would like to stop by. My 6 year old daughter was with me and took advantage of a box of toys from which she built a town from Lincoln Logs while I browsed. You can choose from several classes including knit and crochet although they specialize in knitting. Their signature activity is Friday Night Stitch In which they do every Friday beginning at 5:30 and ends whenever. The shopkeeper said last night they were there until midnight! They have been in business for 2 years and have a great selection of specialty yarns including cottons, wools, silks and blends.

The second shop was across the Fox River in East Dundee on River Road also in an old storefront. The Fishbed Knitting Emporium has only been open for 3 months but looks like a lot longer with the great inventory of yarns especially wools. There were so many colors it definitely was like visiting one of those candy shops with the rows of colorful candies along the walls. My daughter was impressed with this one because there was real candy to sample and the owner was very sweet to her. The coolest items in the shop were not even knitted. The owner, a fashion design major in college, had a couple of fiber art headdresses on display. One was made with wire springs, cut out pieces from scrap CDs and old computer parts. I wish I had had my camera with me.

Of course I couldn't leave either store without buying something (see the photo). At the Gifted Purl I purchased a handcrafted kettle-dyed wool by Manos del Uruguay and at the Fishbed I purchased a 100% corn fiber (yes corn like you eat) called aMaizing by the South West Trading Company. Now I just have to make something. I am a new knitter but have been crocheting since I was 5 so I will probably choose crochet over knit for now. I want to do a felting project with the wool and I'll have to see with the corn. I'll share with you what I discover with both of these. Corn! I still am aMaized.