subject: How to Sew with T-Shirts [print this page] How to Sew with T-Shirts How to Sew with T-Shirts
Sewing with t-shirts seems to be all the rage these days. If I had a nickel for every sewing project I've ever stumbled across that calls for an old t-shirt or two, I'd probably have enough money to discard my sewing hobby completely and just buy couture from now on!
But it makes sense that t-shirt sewing continues to dominate the sewing and crafting blogosphere; t-shirts are made out of knit fabric, which is the most comfortable and ubiquitous fabric in clothing, so why not sew with it? Plus, if you buy a huge, oversize t-shirt (or steal one from your Uncle Bernie), all you have to do is cut it below the arm pits and you've got a pretty large piece of jersey, all for a few pennies (if anything).
We've all got loads of free t-shirts lying around (or hanging around, if you're more of a closet person). They give free t-shirts away at just about every school event or activity, fund-raisers, 21st birthdays, sporting eventsBasically I have more t-shirts than I know what to do with. And if you've somehow managed to evade the t-shirt collecting frenzy, you can always purchase a pack of men's under shirts in bulk for a couple of bucks.
Here are my two cents on sewing with t-shirts:
To save time, use the bottom of your t-shirt as the edge of your project, so you have one less hem to make.
If you're making a project that requires stability, make sure you use fusible interfacing or stabilizer with stretchy fabrics like t-shirts.
If you don't have a large t-shirt collection at home and you're scouring thrift stores for cheapies, look in the plus size or men's department. They're more fabric for the same price!
T-shirt fabric can be ruffled just as easily as non-stretch fabric, as you can see with a fabulous pillow project.
Save your t-shirt scraps (sleeves, neckline, etc.) and make t-shirt accessories from them, like this T-shirt headband or a T-shirt necklace. Knit fabric will roll and stretch nicely if you pull it tight, creating these gorgeous necklaces.
Don't put t-shirt projects in the dryer, especially if you've made ruffles, pleats, flowers, or other embellishments out of your t-shirts.
