5 Creative Ways to Repurpose an Old Tee

Do you have a stack of forgotten t-shirts in the back of your closet that sit unused but you don’t want to let go of since they have sentimental value? I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. Do you want to simplify or minimize your closet or even create your dream capsule wardrobe? I’m with you. If you’re still holding onto those old tees that you just don’t wear anymore, It’s time to get creative. 

Here are a few ideas on how you can creatively repurpose that old t-shirt (that’s not just the average t-shirt quilt!).

1. Make a no-sew tote bag. 

Why not up-cycle your old tee into a reusable tote bag? The best part is that it only takes 10 minutes to give your tee a whole new respectable life! Check out Happiest Camper’s full tutorial here.

2. Make a pillow.

If you’ve completely outgrown your fave tee, why not turn it into a pillow? While there are plenty of tutorials on a no sew t-shirt pillow, I think it’s better to ditch those instructions and opt for a sewn up version. With a no-sew pillow, there’s a chance that the ties will loosen up and you’ll end up with stuffing everywhere! To avoid that, we’ve found this tutorial from Frugal Family Home where they transformed a faded old tee into a cute pillow. If you have a sewing machine, this will take you about 15 minutes to whip up! 

3. Make some wall art.  

Another simple trick for repurposing an old t-shirt you just can’t part with is creating some wall art! This works great with cardboard or canvas if you have any lying around. Check out HGTV Handmade’s The Crafty Lumberjack's tutorial on upcycling a shirt into a chic canvas for your wall. In the video, Dennis and Andrew do use a staple gun, but if you don’t have one of those, you can easily DIY it with a liquid sealant or small finishing nails (make sure to measure them so they don’t sink through your canvas!)

(Photo Credits: Brit + Co. who has made a similar canvas wall art tutorial using scrap fabric.)

4. Bring your white tee back to life with a little tie dye.

If you have a white tee that has seen its fair share of stains from that time you visited that food truck festival, grab some natural dye and tie dye it! There are so many plant-based dyes out there like fresh beets for a vibrant pink, red cabbage for a beautiful purple, or turmeric for a soft yellow. If you’re feeling in the mood for a fun family upcycling project. Each kit comes with enough natural dye for 2-3 medium adult t-shirts.

5. Turn it into a raglan refashion.

Okay, this last one's for the true sewing connoisseurs and if any of y’all repurpose your tees with this method, tag us, we’d love to to see it! If you have an old tee with a heavily replicated pattern, turn it into a raglan refashion with this tutorial from Spoonflower Blog. I absolutely love the way hers turned out and if you want to subtly show off your fave tee in a new way, this is the tutorial for you.

(Photo Credits: Spoonflower Blog who has created this upcycled raglan piece)

If you want to respectfully honour that favourite tee of yours, this is a great place to start and bring that t-shirt back to life. So which of the 5 creative ways are you going to try out first? We’d love to know in the comments below.