The GREEN Page

RECYCLING CLOTHING    

MAKE A USEFUL BAG OUT OF A T-SHIRT. 

Pathways Sustainability students learned how to make a useful bag out of a t-shirt. We often have clothing we no longer need and instead of it going to landfill why not recycle. Clothing can be handed down in families, given to charities or upcycled to create a new use. 

Materials:

Old T-shirts (Long or short sleeved) 

Scissors

Ruler

Ribbons, buttons, bows, or pom-poms (optional)

• Remember to be safe with scissors. Get permission before cutting up clothing!   
• Different sized T-shirts will make different sized bags. 

What to do:

1. Lay the T-shirt flat on a flat surface. Cut the sleeves off. Now you have a T-shirt with no sleeves.
2.  Make sure the back and front of the shirt are together and flat. Cut the neckline into an even half circle to make the handles. 
3. Cut a 13 cm fringe on the bottom of the T-shirt. Cut from the bottom up to the neck. Make each strip 2.5 cm wide. You will be cutting the front and back of the T-shirt at the same time. You want the lengths to be the same size so when you tie them, they will match up. 
4.  Take two of the parts that match up at the front and back. Tie them up with a double knot. Tie a knot at the top so you leave some material hanging. Move along, tying them all to form a bag. The tassels can hang down or if you work from the wrong side they can be inside the bag. You can decorate or leave plain. 

Sustainability activity from a book by Rob Greenfield called ZERO WASTE KIDS, Hands-On Projects, and Activities to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. You Tube also has video instructions for making a no sew bag from an old T-shirt.