I’m convinced sliced t-shirts are the next best thing to sliced bread. Seriously. How amazing is it that with just a pair of scissors, you can turn some ratty old t-shirt into this:
So, today in this t-shirt scarf tutorial, I’m going to tell you how to create the easiest craft in the history of time. Several girlfriends and I got together recently for a craft night and this was our project of choice. Everyone, including the women who claim not to be creative (which I don’t believe for a second) whipped up t-shirt scarves like it was their job. Read more about prepping for that craft night and the awesome scarves that came of it here.
So, are you excited yet? If you realize that you DIY yourself into a brand new t-shirt scarf in 15 minutes made only with things I guarantee you already have in your house, then I bet you are.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make a t-shirt scarf in no time flat:
1. T-shirt(s). Probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Try to find t-shirts that don’t have seams running down the sides. If you’re like me and every shirt you own has seams, I’ll show you how to work around it. I used two tees for this scarf. I’ve found that one t-shirt feels more like a necklace and two results in more of a bulky, scarf look. Both have merit.
2. Scissors or a rotary cutter and board. Either works fine. A rotary cutter makes things a little quicker and straighter, but is by no means necessary.
3. (Optional) If you feel like flinging some paint like I did, you’ll need fabric paint and a paint brush.
Okay, now it’s time to chop up that tee! Begin at the bottom (near the waist) and cut off the bottom hem. Then cut strips of shirt approximately 1″ thick. (Don’t worry too much about the strips being an absolutely identical width. This project is amazingly forgiving.)
Next, take all the loops and stretch them a bit so the fabric curls back onto itself.
Now it’s time to splat-splat-splatter paint. Or not. I must say, it sure is a fun way to get back to your 4th-grade art class roots. I laid these t-shirt “worms” on a paper bag and just started flinging fabric paint until I thought there were enough paint speckles.
Then I had to let the paint dry. (The most time-consuming aspect of this entire project.)
Now it’s time to get those t-shirt strands in order. If your shirt(s) had seams, I suggest aligning all the seams so that they’re all near each other. This will ensure that you don’t have seams showing all over your scarf.
Okay, one more step and we’re done! How easy is that? Now it’s time to fasten all the strands together so you don’t feel like you have a bunch of random hot loops (does anyone else remember those!?) hanging around your neck.
1. Cut one of your loops so it’s a long strand. Grab a few inches of it (short tail) and hold it near your wad of seams.
2. Wrap the rest of the long tail and wrap it around the collection of seams and the short tail.
3. When everything seems pretty secure, tuck your long tail under one of the loops you’ve just made around the seams (sort of like you’re tying a knot.)
4. Now it’s time to tie a real knot. Use the rest of your long tail to tie a knot around one of the strands of your scarf. This will make sure everything is connected and not going to unravel. Trim the tail at the base of the knot.
Okay, dokay smokies. You’ve got yourself a t-shirt scarf! I like to wear mine double-wrapped because it’s warmer that way and it hides the second set of seams that weren’t covered by the fastening wraparound-y thing.
How amazing and easy are t-shirt scarves!? I’ve made about four and I wear them all the time. Really. It’s not often that I make something I can rock a few times a week. Especially in 15 minutes. And for $0. That’s a craft grand slam in my book.
In case you’re not convinced of the t-shirt project awesomeness, let’s take a look at what we whipped up at craft night.
These scarves are only the beginning. Just imagine all the braided, twisted options you can create!
I also posted this tutorial at Hope Studios, Sew Stylish Boutique, Type A Decorating and New Nostalgia.
Love love love. Thanks for sharing! I see them all over Pintrest, but it’s nice to see the steps…
Melissa, they are SO easy. I’m sure you and Jame could come up with a way to make them even cooler too. Send me pics if you make some!
[...] The t-shirt scarf tutorial can be found here! Leave A Comment Tagged with: Craft Night • Inexpensive Craft • T-shirt • [...]
[...] month, we made of of my favorite projects of the year—t-shirt scarves. (Get the tutorial here.)I was really fortunate to spend three weeks shooting these commercials in Capetown, South Africa. [...]
Thanks for the idea and method. I have collected all my husbands old t-shirts (sorta white) planned to dye them and then cut them into strips and then either knit with them -0r-simple! lay the strips together as scarves, necklaces or cowls. I am especially pleased with the thought that they will curl on their own. Was dreading making them into cords!
Susan, I love the idea of dying your shirts! I found almost all shirts curled really nicely on their own. T-shirts are super curly. Any shirts with a bit of lycra in them don’t seem to curl quite as well because they’re built to maintain their shape. Good luck!
[...] I’d make something for her. I found a DIY (Do It Yourself) scarf type thing on a great blog Make&DoGirl that looked fun so I got to it! I spent all Sunday making the scarf as well as a necklace (I got [...]
Do you give the pattern?
Hey Connie, there’s not really a pattern per say. I simply started cutting the shirt in 1″ segments, beginning with the bottom of the shirt and continuing up to the armpits. The result was lots of rings of fabric that I made into the scarf. Hope that makes sense!
Hi dear.. I came across this beautiful scarf pic on google images. I tried finding a tutobut it took me four days to find it. But it was worth it!! I just luvvvvvvved it. Spcly the idea of splattering paint on it. Simply wow and oh so simple. My first attempt at t shirt scarf failed cos of seams at both sides
But m gonna try this out n m sure it’ll turn out great..
Thnx fr suxh gr8 tuto.. <3
Hey Mansi,
I’m sorry the tutorial wasn’t easier to track down. Thanks for persevering! I had the same problem with seams at first. It’s well worth it to find a shirt without seams though because the finish product turns out great. Good luck!
I’ve been wanting to make one of these for a while now & this was the simplest tutorial I found. I’m happy w the result & can’t wait to make another one! Thanks so much
Sandy,
That’s great! They’re so fun and easy, aren’t they? Enjoy your new scarf!
j
[...] dafür findet ihr bei Courtney von A Diamond in the Stuff. Alternativen und Erweituerungen: mit Farbsprenkeln, teilweise geflochten und mit Perlen [...]
Love This!!!! I made this for my friend for her birthday but i used an old grapic tee (the type with the paint lettering) and it showed alot. So i took silver thread and wrapped x’s around the strands with the grapics on them and on the wrap part along with a little bead! It looks awesome, i cant wait to give this to my friend!
Angela,
What a cool idea. I bet your friend is going to love it. DIY gifts are the best.
Happy b-day to your friend!
j