I think we actually have more clothes in our house set aside to be upcycled, than we do clothes to wear. It’s starting to resemble an explosion in a jumble sale round here. It’s all worth the mess and fluff though when I do make something lovely from my stash – occasionally I even sell something. This creation is for me though – but, as always custom orders are welcome.
The latest creation here at Number 2 is an upcycled T-shirt rag rug and matching chair pad. I made the rug as a bath mat for our holiday cottage – the underfloor heating will dry it in situ. I made the matching chair pad for my sewing chair which is painted a lovely green, shabby chic style, so the mat goes beautifully. No photo as my sewing area was way to untidy to show!
Here’s how to – you’ll need to know how to crochet! or learn quick (come to one of my workshops)!
- Collect at least 10 T-shirts for the chair pad – quantity depends on size obviously, the bigger the better!
- Cut the T-shirts into long strips about an inch wide – do this by cutting the arms off and then start at the bottom and cut in a spiral. Then, do the same with the sleeves.
- If you have some thicker fabrics like sweatshirts – cut these strips thinner to take into account their bulk.
- Use a big crochet hook (I used an 8mm) and crochet the strips in a circle just as you would with yarn, working increases to keep the work flat.
- To change colour, sew – well more like tack/baste – the ends together – you can tie them but it’s not as neat.
- Keep going until you reach your desired size or run out of T-shirts.
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