Turn your Old Shirt to a FAB String Bag

It is really hard to spend less nowadays especially in terms of good fashion items. But before you even get me arrested by the infamous fashion police let me tell you easy steps to how to recycle old clothes into fashionable string bags. In a study that was made by Environmental Protection Agency, it is estimated 12.4 million tons of textiles that were generated in 2008 and find out that the yearly average of clothing American throws away is 68 pounds.

There are different reasons why recycling is important. One of them is that it lessens the consumption people made yearly which means much less fabric and textile will be produced. Two, it helps in preserving the natural resources and raw materials that are the major components of clothes.

To make a fabulous string bag out of an old shirt ensure to gather the needed materials; a pair of sharp scissors to make sure that it can do clean cuts, a pencil, a 12 inches ruler, a dozen of big head sewing pins, a needle & thread if a sewing machine is not available, a pair of 2 yards thick strings that will be the shoulder hold of the bag and most importantly, an old cotton shirt most preferably sizing from small to medium. Buttons, statement pins, and beads can also be used to make your bag crafty and personal.

The first step is to put the inside of the shirt out, this is to avoid smudging the outer part of the bag from the pattern that will be drawn.

Second, draw an equal straight line at front and back of the shirt from the left lower armpit to the right using the ruler as a guide and cut it to come up with a rectangular shaped cloth.

Next, draw a horizontal line one inch from the edge you have cut and fold it. Secure the cloth with a big head sewing pins before stitching it entirely using a sewing machine if not stitching manually with a tread and needle will do. In stitching the cloth with hands, it is advisable to use the seams seamless pattern since it is simple, holds the cloth together lightly and exemplifies a delicate yet beautifully made pattern. Sew the clothes front and back separately, this will be the part that will serve as an opening to your bag.

Then, sew the other side of back and front cloth together tightly. It will need all the tightness it could get since it will provide the support at the bottom of the bag. After this, put the cloth outside in then insert the 2-yard strings from both ends of the 1-inch opening. The stings will serve as the lock and opening mechanism of the bag. Knot the edge of the strings and sew it an inch at the bottom of the bag to create a curve.

Lastly, design away. Use buttons beads pins and whatnot to make your recycle bag be more you. And there you have it, a new fabulous bag out of an old shirt. Not only you have helped to conserve the resources that we have but you have revolutionized your old shirt to an OOTD (outfit of the day) string bag.

Make your imagination be your limitation.