Banish the boring and transform dull decor with cheap and colorful t-shirts. The beauty of this fabric is its stretchiness and ravel-free construction. So grab a stack of old shirts and cut, staple, and stitch your way to divine t-shirt decor.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you get started on the projects we’ll be featuring in the next few posts.
Troll your closet and drawers for old shirts you don’t wear or snag a stack at a thrift shop. Check out tag sales to pick up extras on the cheap. Look for examples with fun patterns or graphics.
Choose fabric wisely. All-cotton t-shirts are heavier than ones made from poly-cotton blends. And that means stiff t-shirts make more durable seat covers, while lighter blends make better ruffles.
Before you start cutting, wash and dry the t-shirts to take out sharp creases. Smooth each shirt before cutting to avoid creating jagged edges.
Use either a sharp scissors, or a rotary cutter and cutting mat for best results. If you plan to sew t-shirt pieces together, iron lightweight non-woven fusible interfacing to the back of each piece before cutting and stitching. It will keep the pieces from rolling, sagging, or stretching as you work.
When using a sewing machine on unlined t-shirt pieces, swap out a standard needle for a blunter ballpoint needle. A standard needle may snag the fabric.
Photos by Steven McDonald, produced by Jodi Mensing Harris
© Caruth Studio