A few weeks ago, I went through a serious closet purge and donated almost all of my remaining race cotton shirts.  I was discussing the situation with a few other racing friends via text, and one suggested that I turn the leftovers into reusable shopping bags as shown in this NO SEW tutorial on Mommypotamus.  I have been saying “no, thank you” to cotton race shirts for a while now, but the result of this DIY project was so cute that I may begin taking them again!

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Step 1:  Grab Your Race Shirt

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Step 2: Cut off the arms and neck.

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Step 3: Cut a fringe on the bottom.  You want the fringe to be about as long as a finger.

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Step 4: Turn the shirt inside out and tie each fringe from the front of the shirt to the corresponding fringe on the back. Do a double knot.

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Step 5: Turn it back rightside out and – TADA! – you’ve got a shopping bag.  So cute, huh?

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Again, check out the original DIY tutorial for all the details on how to make the bag.

 

Other fun Internet-inspired DIY projects that I’ve tried:

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DIY Swiffer Pads and Solution

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Winter Blend Spice Mix for Coffee

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DIY Cupcake Stand

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DIY Cleaning Solution with Baking Soda

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DIY White and Oil-Rubbed Bronze Chandeliers

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DIY: Toy Rotation

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DIY Mirror Frame

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DIY Painted Clay Pots

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DIY Painted Baskets

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DIY Pumpkin Spice Mix

 

Happy DIYing!

{ 16 comments }

 

  • kristin | W [H] A T C H March 4, 2015, 8:16 am

    diy pumpkin spice mix — yes, please!

  • Heathers Looking Glass March 4, 2015, 8:38 am

    What a good idea! I am not very crafty but have done a few pinterest things around the house

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed March 4, 2015, 9:41 am

    I love this!!!

  • Tiff March 4, 2015, 9:49 am

    Great idea! I also love your other DIY ideas. We framed an old bathroom mirror too, and the entire bathroom looks so much fancier because of it!

  • Lisa @ RunWiki March 4, 2015, 10:05 am

    I’ve seen a few of these, but there are some new ones to me! I love DIY- I don’t always have the time to execute, but when I do it’s always rewarding. Great round up!

  • Alison (Fueling for Fitness) March 4, 2015, 10:29 am

    Normally, I’m too lazy for DIY projects, but I LOVE the idea of turning my old race shirts into reusable shopping bags!! Thanks for the idea. 🙂

  • Courtney! @ Redefining Athlete March 4, 2015, 11:31 am

    Oh man. I featured a similar idea on my blog for a DIY Valentine’s gift guide, but the no sew variety is SO much better!!

  • Alex @ True Femme March 4, 2015, 1:30 pm

    This is such a cute idea! I don’t have race shirts but I have a plethora of random shirts from college that I don’t want to get rid of (memories) but I don’t really wear. I’m thinking one of those t-shirt quilts? I’m not crafty enough to quilt but in theory it sounds good!

  • Breanne March 4, 2015, 1:34 pm

    Love love love this idea! I have so many old shirts that when I closet purge I think “get rid of it you don’t wear it!” and then immediately my brain says “BUT BUT BUT!” and this could be the answer! (I also saw much more involved turn it into a quilt idea recently, but I think I’ve purged too many to make that viable at that point and plus I don’t sew. ;))

  • em@simplypresent March 4, 2015, 7:30 pm

    Ah! I LOVE this post. I’m such a crafter and always looking fore new projects. Making a bag out of old t-shirts is a great idea. I have so many shirts I don’t wear, but they’re sentimental so I don’t want to give them away. They’d be great shopping bags!

  • Katy @ Have You Hurd? March 4, 2015, 7:51 pm

    Such a cute and EASY idea! I’ll def be doing this with some of my old basketball t-shirts!

  • Andrea March 5, 2015, 9:43 am

    That race t-shirt reuseable bag is the best idea! I have so many old race/intermural sports tees that I have no idea what to do with. You can only have so many dust rags.

  • Mabel @ Ma Bella Vita March 5, 2015, 2:37 pm

    This sounds like such a cool idea. However, I think I’d feel a little guilty cutting up my race shirts. I get too attached to things! 🙂 Maybe when the shirts are like 10 years old with holes on them I may give this a try lol

  • Emily March 6, 2015, 10:20 am

    I <3 the race shirt bag idea. I have this shirt I'm wearing right now that was badly designed for a shirt, but I think it would make a GREAT bag. 🙂 Thanks for this.

  • Katie March 6, 2015, 11:10 am

    Ugh – yes! Hear you on the boy vs. girl clothes. My daughter was in 12 month clothes at 6 months and my son still fits into 6 month clothing at 6 months and they are the exact same size.

  • Dottie @ crazyfitmommy March 8, 2015, 3:31 pm

    I love the idea of making old race shirts into shopping bags. I’ve been saving mine to make into a blanket, but it’s such a time consuming project that I haven’t been able to even start it yet. I may go with this option until my kids get a bit older and I have more time for DIY projects…

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