My attempt to re-purpose a t-shirt into a knit bracelet

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by Crystal on October 27, 2011

Ever since I posted this knit bracelet, I’ve wanted to try it making it. So this past Saturday, I pulled out a t-shirt from the rag bag and got to cutting.

I initially was going to do the four-finger knitting, but that didn’t go so well. I settled on the two-finger knitting and that was much easier.

After two tries, I finally ended up with a decent finished product. The girls were especially impressed that I made that out of an old stained shirt!

Speaking of knitting, here’s my latest dishcloth. Slowly but surely, I’m seeing some improvement in my stitches–and that’s encouraging to this not-crafty-at-all gal. :)

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{ 29 comments }

Trina October 27, 2011 at 2:56 pm

I’ve been wanting to try that! Saw it on Pinterest.

I’ve knitted a few of those washcloths and gave them as teacher gifts last year. Need to knit again!

Heather @ Creative Family Moments October 28, 2011 at 8:25 am

Me too! It’s on my Pinterest as well!

Camille October 27, 2011 at 2:58 pm

My girls made bracelets out of old tee shirts this summer. We used crochet hooks and worked in UV beads. So the bracelets are white inside, but the beads turn colors in the sun! They LOVED them and made them for all their friends!

Heather @ Family Friendly Frugality October 27, 2011 at 3:17 pm

You are doing great with your knitting! Cute bracelet too.

Melissa H. October 27, 2011 at 3:17 pm

That dish cloth is great Crystal! I recall wanting to snap my needles in half many times while trying to learn to knit because my dishcloths were coming out triangular, so a nice square shape is great!

Victoria October 27, 2011 at 3:18 pm

Your wash cloth looks awesome. Keep it up!

K2licious October 27, 2011 at 3:21 pm

Very nice! Keep up the great work! Seems like the crafty things I attempt, always come out looking like a Kindergarten art project. LOL Thanks for sharing.

Elise October 27, 2011 at 3:33 pm

Looks great! I’ve wanted to try making the t-shirt bracelet ever since I saw it on here a few weeks ago. Now I’m re-inspired!
And, I agree with the others, your washcloth looks great! As someone who still hasn’t gotten the hang of casting on, I’m in awe of anyone who can knit ;)

Anshu October 27, 2011 at 3:54 pm

Way to go Crystal! Loved the color you picked for the bracelet!

MaryEllen October 27, 2011 at 4:11 pm

Funny you should post this – I just today made a headband, bracelet and scarf out of an old t-shirt. I decoded it was high time to actually make something I’d pinned on Pinterest. When I took the kids out to play I grabbed an old shirt and a pair of scissors and got to work! You bracelet looks great!

Jessica @ The Abundant Wife October 27, 2011 at 4:26 pm

Crystal,

I majored in art in college and grad school, and your knitting is far better than mine! You are far “craftier” than you give yourself credit for. Keep up the good work!

By the way, there is a lot of debate of “function vs. form” in art. A lot of people might find your “functional” art more beautiful because it is useful, vs. a more “form”-focused piece.

Either way, keep trying! As you noted, your daughters are impressed by your efforts, and you are teaching them risk-taking, perseverance, creativity, and resourcefulness by attempting to learn new skills in areas where you are somewhat uncomfortable. :)

Jess

Allyson @ A Heart for Home October 27, 2011 at 4:47 pm

I’ve been knitting some trivets out of recycled t-shirts. I also made a t-shirt pom-pom like this one I pinned http://pinterest.com/pin/287355108/

Since you love scarves, you might like this t-shirt yarn necklace http://pinterest.com/pin/283387845/ I can’t wait to make one.

Diane October 27, 2011 at 4:48 pm

That is cute – I like the dish towel too – good job..

Traela October 27, 2011 at 5:02 pm

My daughter and I made the bracelets. They turned out so cute. So fun!!!!

Karrie October 27, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Looks great! I’m going to be doing that very soon. I’m really anxious to do it, but I’m TRYING to keep my priorities in perspective! It keeps getting put off… = l

Rachel October 27, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Looks great! I have been wanting to try the bracelet, but I was honestly pretty confused with the instructions, so I’ve held off. Your knitting looks great too! Makes me want to get my crochet hooks out again…

Debbie October 27, 2011 at 5:36 pm

Hey I wanted to make that t-shirt bracelet but I think I misunderstood how long the strips have to be…. Does anybody know if she meant the strips have to be 58″ once tied together or 58″ each. That seems really long to me and I certainly don’t have t-shirts that long so….?

Elizabeth October 27, 2011 at 5:42 pm

Anyone who has learned to knit has my admiration!! It is out of my league. I can crochet, but it took the 3rd person (when I was 23 yrs old) to manage to teach me. It took a GREAT deal of determination and practice for me to learn it. My grandsons, just 11 and almost 9 are already doing well at crocheting…and mostly they have learned from videos on internet!! My daughter taught herself to knit via internet videos and is even into making those mulit-colored socks that are so cute. One of my aunts never uses patterns anymore and can knit and not hardly even look at what she is doing…so keep at it and over the years I imagine you will have more and more difficult projects to share online!!

Stephanie H. October 27, 2011 at 5:53 pm

I cannot figure out how to do the bracelet at all. I tried it a few days ago and failed miserably. I really don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

Anne Marie @ Married to the Empire October 27, 2011 at 6:07 pm

I think everyone is crafty in some capacity. It’s just a matter of finding the right outlet. Your knitting looks great! I tried knitting once. It went badly. Even my own mother said she and my dad thought I should stick with the crafts I’m good at. You know it’s bad when your own mother can’t say anything nice about it! ;-)

Lori October 27, 2011 at 6:08 pm

There’s a lady at church who makes mats for the homeless out of plastic grocery bags using knitting or crocheting. I think that’s pretty amazing. They are remarkably thick and soft, as well as durable.

Suzanne H October 28, 2011 at 8:49 am

What an amazing, practical craft. How thoughtful!

Kasey S October 27, 2011 at 6:36 pm

I learned how to make hats on the knitting loom this past weekend. I am almost done with my 3rd hat already. It is easy once you get the hang of it.

Brandi @ Savvy Student Shopper October 27, 2011 at 7:27 pm

I love finger knitting! It’s so fast to whip up. You can use yarn and make a nice skinny scarf!

Yvonne October 27, 2011 at 8:39 pm

I love my hand knit dish cloths and I know you will too. Just keep practicing and soon you will have a drawer full.

Brandy October 27, 2011 at 9:00 pm

I made the bracelet when I first saw it on here. It was very easy. Though, mine wasn’t as pretty as yours because I only had black….the “braids” don’t show up as well with black as they do with brighter colors. The dishcloth looks great…better than I could manage.

Suzanne H October 28, 2011 at 8:51 am

How did you learn to knit? I have wanted to learn for a long time now but am left handed and the 2 people I asked to teach me both got frustrated b/c I did everything “backwards” to them! LOL Just wondering if someone taught you or if you can recommend a certain video? I know there are a ton on You Tube but I don’t have time to wade through them all!

Anna McMullen October 28, 2011 at 10:29 am

Could you cut an old T Shirt up into strip and knit a dish cloth out of that? Would that work, it sounds like it would be great to use.

Hayliegh October 31, 2011 at 7:44 am

Great Job on the dishcloth! I also wanted to add how cute that bracelet would be as a headband!

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