Thursday 15 October 2015

T-shirt Yarn Projects

Today I've been making t-shirt yarn. It's so cool!!! From one t-shirt you get yards and yards of continuous yarn. And it doesn't take long to do.

Reuse pre-loved t-shirts and turn them into t-shirt yarn. Links to 28 projects.


I followed Artistic Endeavours 101's Let's Make Jersey Yarn From a T-shirt tutorial. When Brooke added her tutorial to the Sewing with Stretch Fabric link party, here at Threading My Way, I was fascinated.  What a fabulous way to reuse pre-loved t-shirts.

What I didn't realise, was precisely how much yarn you get from one t-shirt. Each ball of yarn is from just one garment - two black skeins from two of Mr TMW's t-shirts that I rescued from the rag bag. And the white ones are from three singlets.

My yarn didn't curl as Brooke's did. I'm guessing that has something to do with the type of fabric. I'm certain it won't matter when I make something with it.


You would think that I would have had a project in mind before I made the t-shirt yarn, but, no, I didn't. And so I went searching to see what I could make. Seems like there's heaps of uses for t-shirt yarn, or tarn, as I saw it referred to. Here's a few of the projects I came across...




I'm leaning towards making a crocheted rug with my five balls of t-shirt yarn. Not sure that black and white will fit with my colour scheme. I think the addition of some blues would make it work. Ha, ha... where can I find a couple of blue t-shirts? Mr TMW might just need locks on his wardrobe.

Have you ever made something from t-shirt yarn? 

... Pam


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13 comments:

  1. Well - now I know what can be done with t-shirt yarn - I'm looking forward to seeing your rug, or whatever you decide to make :) No, I haven't made anything from t-shirt yarn, but it looks like a fun way to recycle/upcycle!

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  2. What a sweet surprise to find myself linked to a blog I so admire.... Thanks so much. I should have warned everyone, it is horribly addictive. I have many balls and a few projects that will be popping up on the web as well in a few publications on newsstands down the road. Did you stretch and pull your yarn after you cut it? Mine curls into rope when I stretch it... Have fun!

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    1. Ha, ha... I can see why it's addictive, Brooke. I was ready to dive into wardrobes to find more t-shirts, but managed to restrain myself.

      I did stretch the yarn. Daryl suggested in a comment, that my yarn was ribbed and that was why it didn't curl. Kim suggested it is to do with whether it is cut on the grain or not. I'm hoping that it won't matter whether my yarn is curled or not.

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  3. If you pull it and it still does not curl then maybe this is the reason.The reason your did not curl onto itself is you cut across the grain. If you cut with it it will curl. I have been doing the same thing and getting ready for those cold winter days.

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  4. Wowzy! Awesome useful post. You know I'm all for recycling/reusing.

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  5. Funny, I have been planning a crochet floor rug with tshirt yarn and another one from old, ripped bed sheets :-) First time for me, but I really want to make some

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    1. I'm sure you'll both start and finish before me, Maria. I'd love to know how you get on.

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  6. Pam I can see the reason your "yarn" didn't curl is because the tee-shirt fabric you used is a rib knit (knit one purl one or knit 2 and purl 2). You can see the ribbing in your tee-shirt yarn. You need to use tee-shirt fabric that is stockinette knit, meaning that is is knit on the right right and purled on the wrong side. I have made a ton of tee-shirt yarn and made lots of rugs from the yarn.

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  7. I haven't, but I'm very interested to see your makes with it. And I can understand it's addictive qualities. I'm trying to remember whether I've seen crochet posts from you in the past, is that another of your current skills or will you be learning something new with it?

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  8. Fantastic! I do want to see what you do with the t-shirt yarn! I might need to learn to knit or crochet!

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  9. I am looking forward to see what you will make with all these yarns. I also have a lot of old clothing, maybe I should start thinking about making something with them. I repurpose them by using the fabric to make pillows and such. But this is a new idea for me.

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    1. So many ideas, Mary. If only my mind would stay in one place and stop jumping from project to project.

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  10. Thank you for including my tutorial in your Roundup.
    My Blog has just changed domains today and the article won’t be available under the old address anymore by the end of the week.
    Please exchange it to link to http://www.wemustbedreamers.com/t-shirt-yarn/

    Thanks for your help!
    Annika

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