Nowadays, being stylish is no longer just a fashion statement. It’s become a lifestyle. Fashion is a medium for expressing individuality and creativity. According to recent reports, Do-It-Yourself videos have reached their all-time peak thanks to bright ideas from internet users of all ages. Who would have thought that worn-out old t-shirts could be reimagined in a way that makes them extra chic and elegant?
We have to admit, we’re holding onto a few of our old favorite t-shirts, with no plans of letting them go, even though they’re basically unwearable. Did you know that instead of letting your favorite t-shirts get old, stretched out, and full of holes, you can redesign them? To prove that it’s possible, here are 39 clever ideas for restoring worn-out clothes.
Fabric Bracelets
Bracelets have been around for 75,000 years or more. They differ greatly in design and materials, and even their purposes are often wildly different. Charm bracelets were once believed to ward off evil spirits or bad luck. From simple sticks, stones, shells, and pebbles, the materials used to construct these bracelets evolve through time, as did the ethos behind them.
Currently, fabric bracelets are in style, not only because of their simplicity but also because anybody can create one. As seen in the picture, you can trim off strips of material from an old shirt and then plait or braid the strips together into a beautiful, comfortable bracelet.
Old Pillowcase Turned Laundry Bag
If you are a fan of interior design, here’s a little trick that can beautify your home. More often than not, laundry bags and baskets are made with nylon, canvas, plastic, or polyester products. They’re usually designed for function over fashion, meaning they are often the ugliest item in the room. However, with the simple DIY project below, you can create a fashionable laundry bag in a flash.
All it takes is a pretty pillowcase and a round needlepoint frame to create a lavish laundry bag. Add a sturdy ribbon in a matching color, and you can even hang it, just like the one pictured above.
Always in Style
Most people like to buy commemorative t-shirts to celebrate the fact that they got to attend their favorite band's concert. Not only does it add prestige, but the history and sentimental value can never be replaced. However, due to the nature of t-shirt material, as much as we want to keep them forever, they don’t usually last that long.
This music fan had an inspired idea. Instead of throwing out his old rock n’ roll t-shirts, he creatively reused them. Who would have thought that you could make old t-shirts into such beautiful wall art?
More Fashionable Wall Art
Though it may look a little like a dream catcher, this is purely ornamental. Dreamcatchers are designed to protect the individuals for whom they are made. However, this t-shirt based design does not purport to have any protective powers. It is just a fun creative project!
Pick an old t-shirt with an appropriate design, and then find a circular needlepoint frame that’s the right size to perfectly display the pattern. Grab some matching beads and a pair of scissors, and you’re ready to begin. All you need is a little bit of patience and imagination. This homage to the dreamcatcher looks like it was created by an expert, but in reality, it’s not that hard to create at all.
DIY Face Mask
When the pandemic started, the demand for face masks skyrocketed, and the supplies were not sufficient to match the demand. To add insult to injury, some people capitalized on this shortage by raising the price to make easy money from people’s desperation. It is still advisable to use one of the prescribed face masks when out and about, but you can create one of your own if you find yourself in need.
Cleaning the house or doing chores can be messy. If you don’t want to inhale dust and unwanted smells, you can use an old t-shirt to create a breathable mask that can filter odors and dust. Simply cut it into a strip, and wrap it around your mouth and nose.
No Tank Top? No Problem!
When we first saw this clever idea, we were both dumbfounded and excited. How many of us have tons of old t-shirts just stuck in our closets? Instead of throwing them out, here’s another way to reuse them. Cutting a t-shirt using the steps provided below will give you a tank top in a matter of minutes.
After you cut off those sleeves, you can redesign the tank top to create a much edgier look. It takes a bit of practice and precision to make smooth cuts, but once you master it, you might be on your way to starting your own clothing line.
Plant Hangers Made from Old T-shirts
Worn t-shirts can be used as plant hangers, allowing you to bring a little bit of nature into your home. We are living in an age where innovation and adaptation are needed, and this perfectly exemplifies what we mean.
Global warming is at its peak, and recycling materials can help Mother Nature recover. This DIY plant holder is sturdy, adjustable, cheap, and eco-friendly. The process of creating one is easier than it looks. However, you might need to brush up on your knot-tying skills.
Stylish Recycled Produce Bags
Another way of helping our planet is to use eco-bags. It’s no secret that plastic bags are not eco-friendly. Although using old clothing as an eco-bag is ingenious, it does have limitations.
To create a bag like this, you will need a sewing machine or a needle and thread to hand-stitch the t-shirt. Apart from that, a pair of scissors is all you need to complete this DIY project.
Tassels for Every Occasion
Here is yet another easy but stylish way to use old t-shirts. For those who aren’t familiar, tassels are a finishing feature used in fashion and other forms of decoration. It is a universal ornament that is seen in varying versions in many cultures around the globe.
There’s no “correct” method for creating one – just experiment and use your imagination. Our one piece of advice is to make sure that the strips of cloth are the same size. This will give an effect that the tassel has been created by a skilled tailor.
Instant Pet House Cover
Cats don't care where they sleep. They could be on top of the television, on the grill, in a drainpipe – it really doesn't matter to them. However, we should keep them as comfy and safe as possible.
Cats already love boxes, but with an old t-shirt, you can make a box extra inviting. Just follow the method shown in the picture, and your cat will love it. Not only does it add color and style to a plain box, but it also adds a sense of coziness for the cat.
Lavish Baby Bibs
What we have here looks like a simple baby bib, but if we investigate further, it becomes clear that they have been made from old t-shirts. This is a great way to give an old shirt a second lease on life.
To those who are expecting or have babies already, be sure to try this out as it will save you a lot of money compared to buying new bibs at the mall.
Hammocks for Our Fur Babies
If you’ve got an old shirt that just isn’t fashionable anymore, don’t worry because we have great news. With a few extra accessories, you can turn a fashion faux pas into a stylish hammock for your kitty-cat.
Look how comfortable these cats are in their hammocks. Your cat might be confused about the new contraption at first, but after a while, it will discover how amazing it is.
T-shirt Pouch
Cute bags like this might be small, but they can be costly to buy. Though this is one of the more complex DIY projects on the list, if you take a close look, it’s not going to be that difficult.
All you need is to have a clear goal in mind so you can find the right pattern to follow. What we are looking at right now is a perfect example of being creative and stylish at the same time. Just look how elegant that mini tote bag is.
Clever Cleaning Cloths
Probably the easiest way to repurpose an old t-shirt is to use it as a rag. You don’t need to be creative or imaginative. All you need to do is to cut the t-shirt according to your need and liking.
T-shirts are the perfect alternative to reusable wipes. The cloth works just as well, and you’ll be doing your bit to recycle and protect the environment.
T-shirt Teddy
This is another DIY project that will require a sewing machine or some needle and thread (and patience). You can copy the design in the picture below or select a pattern by doing a quick Google search.
Simply cut the needed shapes from the front and back of the old t-shirt, and then get to work stitching them together. You can use the off-cuts as stuffing, but you may also need to get a bit of soft teddy bear stuffing to make sure your creation is cuddly.
Pet Couch
We’ve seen the box covered with an old t-shirt, now it’s time to step up our game. We often hear the phrase “pets are part of the family.” This is why some pet owners go to the extremes in showing their love and admiration for their fur babies. Here’s a clever idea shared by a pet owner.
If you have old sweaters you no longer wish to wear, think twice before throwing them away. You can create a cozy sofa for your pet cat or dog. The only thing you need is an extra pillow, a box to give it some shape, wood glue, some sewing skills, and a bit of time to throw it all together.
Coffee Cup Sleeves
For those who love coffee, this is our time to shine. Gone are the days when coffee was just an ordinary brewed drink. Today, it is more of a lifestyle. However, sometimes, it isn’t the coffee taste that irritates coffee lovers, it’s those lousy coffee cup holders.
Luckily for us, we were able to find this rare gem. It takes time to cut up the t-shirt and tie all those knots, but once you get into a flow with it, the project is fairly easy. First, you need to cut your shirt into long strips and tie them together to create a bundle of “yarn” as you see in the picture. After that, you can knot it together to form a sleeve.
Fabric Flip Flops Strap
It’s easy for a perfectly good pair of flip-flops to be destroyed by a simple strap failure. Of course, you can always attempt to fix the blown-out plug. However, we think this DIY project is an even better idea.
By turning an old t-shirt into braided fabric straps, you’ll likely also make your old flip flops softer and more comfortable. There are dozens of patterns available online, so once you find one you like, you can get started right away.
DIY Fragrance Bag
Comfy old t-shirts are ideal for creating beautifully scented bags. You can fill them with lavender or any other scented material you fancy.
This idea is so popular that many people are making money out of it by selling their creations online and at local markets. So, if you develop a talent for designing fragrance bags, you may even be able to turn it into a side hustle.
A Stretchy and Snuggly Baby Carrier
For parents-to-be who are saving for some baby care needs, this is your lucky day. On average, baby carriers can cost around $100 to $150, depending on the materials used and the brand. If that sounds a bit pricey, there’s no need to worry as we have an easy DIY solution.
Having a baby carrier made out of old cloth can be beneficial for the parents and the baby. Some of the manufactured carriers are not that comfortable and can pose irritation to the baby’s skin. However, a carrier like the one pictured above is soft and easy to adjust.
Cute Hats for Kids
Remember one of our exhibits wherein we turned old t-shirts into a tank top? Well, those cut sleeves can still be used. Check out these adorable beanies that were created out of t-shirt sleeves.
All you need to do is cut the sleeves off and then tie the cut end into a loop. Voila, an instant beanie! You can add a cute iron-on or sew-on patch to complete the look.
Stylish Gift Wrap
Gift wrapping has been around for the longest time. During the Nara Period, the Japanese used cloth to wrap goods and other valuable items. This process is called Furoshiki.
Although there were only a few regions that religiously followed this style of wrapping in Japan, it greatly influenced the countries of the West that traded with these stylish people. Nowadays, using cloth as a form of wrapping is deemed both vintage and uber-stylish.
Hair-Drying Alternative
This might sound crazy, but this brilliant idea has been approved by haircare expert Isabella Vasquez. As we all know, most bath towels are made out of cotton. It is the safest material we can use to dry ourselves with. However, in case you forgot your towel while on vacation, don’t worry as there’s a quick alternative.
A t-shirt can dry your hair quicker than some towels. There’s no correct way of doing it, but this remedy never fails, especially when no other option is on hand.
Ruffles and Why We Need Them
Hear us out before saying that we are going over the top here. If you see somebody wearing ruffles, it signifies that the person is a wealthy socialite, a fashionista, or a DIY queen.
Ruffles can turn a plain white dress into an eye-catching outfit when worn correctly. Of course, having ruffles isn’t enough. Add shoes in a matching color, and you’ll have an outfit that will turn heads for all the right reasons.
DIY Make-Up Remover Pads
Whether you’re a make-up artist or a casual user of cosmetics, this is another hack that should be added to your list. Most of the time, when we make mistakes in putting on too much makeup, we immediately get wet wipes to clean up the mess.
However, this usually results in far too much make-up being removed. That’s where a piece of cloth comes in handy. Due to their absorbent nature, it's easier to remove this excess makeup in a targeted way, getting rid of only the aspect you didn’t like.
Reusable Tote Bags
This is far different from what we showed earlier in which we revamped the old t-shirt into an eco-bag. Tote bags are larger, prettier, and sturdier than those eco-friendly produce bags.
As you can see from the example above, these tote bags are easy to create. The trick is to use sturdy thread to stitch the lower portion of the shirt together to form the bottom of the bag. Just make sure that the bottom part of the shirt is perfectly aligned before stitching it.
Scarves for All Seasons
We’ve seen tank tops, tote bags, beanies, and baby bibs, but there are still a lot of things we can do with a worn-out shirt. Among all the innovations we have seen on our list, there’s a common factor, and that is creativity.
By connecting the sleeves of the shirt from one end to another, you can create the illusion that it is a scarf, not a t-shirt. There are many ways to turn a t-shirt into a scarf. You can find a pattern on the internet, or if you’re feeling crafty, come up with your own design.
Trendy Pillow Covers
These trendy pillow covers are brilliant. How many of us have spent countless dollars purchasing pillow covers that match our bedding or personality. Instead of doing that, we can use our old clothes to create the perfect match for our decor.
A steady hand, creative mind, and a certain amount of patience will be needed to complete this project. Also, you might need some extra stuffing and a few spare t-shirts in case you want to practice before finalizing your project.
Mixing Things Up
If you love the pattern of an old t-shirt but the sleeves or neckline are stretched out or worse for wear, this project is for you. It even works for those who simply want to mix things up a bit.
You can revamp any t-shirt by turning it into a mini skirt. For sure, family and friends will be surprised once they see you using your old shirt as a skirt. However, they’ll likely also be impressed by your ingenuity.
Fitness Armband
Here’s a healthy DIY project for all the runners and fitness fanatics out there. It’s so irritating when you go for a run, jog, or walk, and you want to listen to music, but you have to hold your phone or MP3 player the whole time. Remove that irritation by turning an old t-shirt into a handy armband.
You can buy an armband for a phone in an instant, but if you want to save money and stand out from the rest, creating your own armband is very easy. Just make sure you measure the dimensions perfectly so that the phone or MP3 player won’t slip around.
A Stylish Comeback
Some things can never be replaced, no matter how hard you try. For instance, 90s fashion helped popularize glamour wear, high-waisted miniskirts, plastic chokers, knee socks, and other colorful trends.
After losing a large amount of weight, this lady cut up and recycled her old tank top into a dress. It’s amazing what you can do with large clothing items as they provide ample material with which to work.
A Sleep Mask or Soothing Eye Pillow
We might try creating this one as soon as possible. We are certain that we are not the only ones having problems sleeping. It takes a well-thought-out nighttime routine, a glass of milk, and a good book to make us feel sleepy. According to research, people sleep faster when their surroundings are pitch black.
This is why sleep masks were created. It is to trick our mind and subconsciousness that it’s so dark outside that there’s nothing to do but sleep. In case you don’t have a sleep mask, you can create one by cutting the sleeves of a shirt and putting some soft material inside it. If you want to go all out, you can fill it with wheat. That way you can heat it up or cool it down to add an extra hit of relaxation.
A Cozy Home Rug
There’s something so relaxing about kicking off your shoes and socks and walking around the house barefoot. The good feelings are amplified when you have a cool rug to walk around on.
This easy DIY home rug can be made from old clothes, and the texture is divine beneath your feet. Once you figure out how to make the base, all you have to do is cut up some old t-shirts and start tying the pieces on.
Toys For Pets
Another way to show our love and attention to our pets is by playing with them. Balls and sticks are great for playing fetch with a dog, but we can also create interactive toys by repurposing old t-shirts.
By cutting your old clothes in the manner shown in this picture, you can create a soft rope your fur baby can yank around whenever it wants. This is a lot safer compared to normal ropes since clothes are made from soft fabrics.
Fancy Dress
During the mid-’90s and early 2000s, t-shirts were a mega-hit in the world of wrestling. However, those signature shirts were only made for men, at least in the beginning. All it took was for one creative woman to turn an oversized men’s wrestling shirt into a dress, and a new craze was born.
Nowadays, t-shirt dresses are still a massive hit among the fashion-forward. So, if you have an oversized shirt available, you can get a bit crafty and turn it into your very own t-shirt dress.
Blanket of Shirts
Who here has tried using their t-shirt as a make-shift blanket because they were too sleepy and lazy to get up from the couch and go to bed? This lady is a fan of the t-shirt blanket. However, there’s nothing lazy about what she did. Instead of using one shirt, she carefully stitched 30 of them together to create a snuggly blanket.
This is one blanket we would love to use. By the looks of it, this is even easier to wash than regular blankets, and we bet she used some soft and comfortable material for the underside.
A DIY Mop
We’ve seen this everywhere, from schools and offices to homes and even churches. The idea is to repurpose old clothes and create a makeshift mop. While this is easy to use, there are still questions surrounding whether it can clean up a mess as well as a regular mop.
From personal experience, it takes a bit of getting used to. However, you will eventually forget that the mop that you are using is made from the shirts you used to wear.
A Fashionable DIY Belt
It’s no secret that women love accessories and making a fashion statement. This is where their creativity and imagination meet. Contrary to the suggestions made in magazines, women love saving money too. If they can find clever ways to save all of their money without spending a single dime, without hesitation, they will do it.
The cost of a stylish belt for women ranges from $10 to $249,000 (the top of the range being a diamond-encrusted Gucci belt). However, you can create a cheaper one that has just as much elegance. All you need is a bit of practice in braiding and creating patterns.
Sexy Crop Top
To those who have the confidence to show off those six-pack abs or hourglass figure, this is the DIY project you’ve been waiting for. This nifty crop top requires nothing more than an old shirt, an elastic band, and a scarf.
Stand before the mirror wearing the t-shirt. Raise the bottom edge and roll the fabric up to where you would like it to sit. Secure it with a rubber band, and then arrange a matching scarf to disguise the tie.