We’re back to start your week with another little dose of (very practical) creativity. And it’s perfect for all the festival shopping that is waiting for you just around the corner! This week we’re making tote bags out of old t-shirts, and the best part is, you don’t have to sew at all!! They’re the easiest thing to make, and oh-so practical! Let’s get snipping!

What You Need:

1. Old T-Shirt (thicker fabric will ensure a sturdier bag)

2. Fabric scissors

3. Washable marker (optional)

Image Source – Cucicucicoo

What To Do:

Step 1

Cut off the sleeves. To ensure that both sides are aligned you can do this one of two ways. You can either fold the tee vertically and cut both the sleeves simultaneously, or you can cut one side, then fold the tee vertically and use the cut sleeve section as a marker as you cut the other side.

Image Source – Sophie Benson

Step 2

Now you need to cut the neckline area. You can use a large bowl or container to mark it so that you cut neatly. (Don’t forget to turn the tee inside out if you are doing any marking).

Image Source – Mommypotamus

Step 3

Now’s the time to mark our desired depth for the bag. This requires you to turn the tee inside out (if you haven’t already). Depending on where you want the bottom of the bag to be, trace out a straight line across the width of the tee. Don’t forget that most fabrics will stretch with the weight of whatever you keep in the bag, so it will probably get a bit longer than wherever you mark it.

Image Source – Crafting a Green World

Step 4

Finally time for some fringe benefits! To make the bottom fringe section, cut slits from the bottom up to the line you’ve marked. Ideally, you can make these about one inch width each. Make sure to cut both the front and back sides of the tee simultaneously.

Image Source – Gram Malmo

Step 5

Now it’s time to tie it up. This is a two step part, and though it might sound a bit complicated, it’s actually quite easy. Firstly, you have to tie the front and back sections of each fringe section you just cut.

Image Source – YouTube

Step 6

Once all the front and back sections are all tied up, we move on to the second part of the fringe section, where will use one strand each from each of the already paired up fringe sections we’ve just made. Take one strand from the second-from-the-left pairs, and tie it with one of the left most pairs’ strands. Then take the second strand and tie it with one of the strands from the third pair. You should have the 1st and 2nd sets tied up to each other, and the 2nd and 3rd tied to each other now. Now taking the other strand from the 3rd pair, tie it to one of the strands from the 4th pair, and keep going down the line all the way to the other end of the tee.

Image Source – Mommypotamus

Et voila! You’re ready to hit the stores! And in super eco-friendly style.