How to Make T-shirt Yarn

In this post I will give you instructions on how to make yarn using old t-shirts. This is a great project about reusing old and turning it into new. As an artist I have plenty of old t-shirt with paint stains or just stains in general. But instead of throwing out the old t-shirts I try to be a little Earth friendly and find a second use for them.

For this project you will need:

• old t shirts
• straight pins
• a good pair of fabric scissors
• a ruler
• grease pencil/ pencil/ or something to mark the fabric with

Step 1: Gather all Materials 

Step 2: Place t-shirt flat on a surface 

Step 3: Cut away the end boarder of the t-shirt and horizontally right below the sleeves

Step 4: Fold and pin t-shirt in half leaving a 1in. space at the top. 

Step 5: Measure .5in. along folded edge. Or if you want a thicker yarn you can measure a larger width strip.









Step 6: Cut strips along the .5in mark but not into the 1in space. 

Finished to the end.

Step 7: Unfold the t-shirt so the 1in allowance looks as shown. I have marked the cutting lines in the photo. You are pretty much cutting diagonally to the opposite .5in strip. 

This should create a long continuous strip of fabric

Step 8: In order to turn the strip into yarn you will need pull the strip gently. If you pull to hard the strip could break.

This should turn the flat strip into a more tubular looking strip.

Step 9: Roll yarn into ball and begin your crochet project