Recycle Your Husband's Old T Shirts
My husband, has what we can only refer to as, a t-shirt collection. From the reasonable to the ridiculous, he has collected and worn it. The quippy phrases boggle the mind "Squirrel, it's what's for dinner", "Looking for groupies", etc, etc. There are so many that I can barely close the dresser drawer, it takes the jaws of life just to put the laundry away. Behold...
One shirt at a time, I am slowly reducing the collection to the oldest and most tattered, not fit for recycling. Anyway, if this works on your man, then hopefully this tutorial below will be helpful.
Materials:
- Really cool old t-shirt
- Thread
- 1/4" to 1/2" elastic
- safety pin
- 1 cute child to wear pants!
We begin with one of Dad's treasured gems: the hookah caterpillar Grateful Dead shirt
This one has 2 great images on it that I want to capture in Rowan's pants. You can fold your t-shirt to incorporate the images like I did here.
Once you have your fold right, take a pair of your kiddos pants, fold them in half and lay the straight side on the fold. This is your pattern. Next you are going to cut around the pants just like you were tracing the outline on a piece of paper. Remember to include a seam allowance when you cut. About half an inch would be good.
Here we have cut our pieces for our kids' pants.
Notice I was able to capture both of the super cool images! Also notice that when I laid out the pants I used as the pattern, I made sure that the bottom of the pattern pants lined up with the bottom of the t-shirt. That way I already have a finished hem on the bottom of my pants when they are done, and I save myself the extra hemming step.
Now I place my pattern pieces right sides together and pin in place.
The black lines show you where you will be sewing. Don't sew past this point on either side.
Once you sew them up, re-orient the pants by grabbing the top of the sewed portion and pulling open the pants. This part was not intuitive for me, just keep messing with them until they appear. Once they are re-oriented they will look like the pants above.
Now line up the crotch seams, pin, and sew the legs together.
Next roll hem the waistband. Fold, then fold again and pin in place.
Sew the hem on the waist band leaving a small opening. This is where you will thread your elastic through.
Choose whatever size you prefer, or have on hand. This project is about recycling, so I pieced together some scrap pieces of elastic and used the 3/4 inch size.
Put a safety pin in the end of your elastic and thread it through the small opening you left in the waistband.
Once it is threaded all the way through, make sure there are no twists in your elastic and sew the two ends together using a zig-zag stitch.
Sew the waistband opening closed.
Tada! A super cool pair of grateful dead pants for Rowan, one less t-shirt to stuff into the drawer for Mommy, and one sexy man in a Dad sort of way.
Here they are on Daddy's little deadhead...
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Weberme
Apr 07, 2016
I have many T-shirts that do not fit sons or husband anymore and they will make some real cool pants. I really like the simple step by step instructions with the photos. Is it really hard to line up the crotch seam? Seems like that is going to be the toughest part.I loved that you recycled and glad that you shared this so I can recycle too. Thanks.
pld
Apr 17, 2012
How about some recycling for dress or other men's shirts? My father died recently. He wasn't much of a tee-shirt wearer (I found a good home for his undershirts with a nonprofit that helps families after fires), but I do have some of his former work shirts. Any good recycling ideas for them? I have donated some of them to a summer arts program to use as coverups for kids. Thought it would be nice to remember Dad with some crafting that I or my sister could wear. These are sizes L to XL; arm lengths work as is as we're all short in my family (my sister's the family amazon at 5'4"). Thanks.
lynnwolfus 0086694
Apr 23, 2012
i found this tutorial... http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2009/11/sleevy-pants.html
lil leprechaun
Aug 06, 2011
Very cool idea. I have that many "old" t-shirts as well and several grand kids running around. So I gues they will all be getting some "new" pants. LOL Thanks for the inspiration. Lil Leprechaun
ppanza1711 0012487
Jun 19, 2011
ingenious! you did a super recycling job. Love to recycle things. Any More ideas? Phyl P
roxang888
May 16, 2011
HI! I recycle my husband's Tee's by making them my baby's bib. The neckhole fits her small head and the full shirt covers not only the chest but her lap and arms as well. Works really well for us :-)
cande
May 15, 2011
Before folding over your waist band make 2 buttenholes in the front, cut before sewing down waistband. Take a 32"shoestring. Cut in half and join with about 6" elastic, thread and you have a tie in front to one size fit the pants
Riana
Jul 15, 2010
This is awesome. I think some of my son's old shirts are going to become pants for my niece. And I have a couple old nightshirts for myself that might become lounge pants, even. Very cool idea!
Crafter 6700421
Apr 17, 2010
How can you not love this idea!!! Perfect and my husband has the tee's.
happywme2
Apr 03, 2010
I think this is a wonderful Idea!! My grandson will love this for pajama pants. I am in the process of making him a quilt out of his old t shirts, and he even helped lay out the tops in the order he wanted them. My daughter bought an inexpensive blanket to sew in for a lining and we had enough to make it reversible even!! He is an only child and had lots and lots of outgrown tops. In fact every day he says, gramma when are you going to finish my quilt??
happywme2
Apr 03, 2010
I think this is a wonderful Idea!! My grandson will love this for pajama pants. I am in the process of making him a quilt out of his old t shirts, and he even helped lay out the tops in the order he wanted them. My daughter bought an inexpensive blanket to sew in for a lining and we had enough to make it reversible even!! He is an only child and had lots and lots of outgrown tops. In fact every day he says, gramma when are you going to finish my quilt??
chickenleggs2hotma ilcom
Mar 23, 2010
really cute, opps awsome! If the boys hear me call them cute they won't wear them. My daughter will want one also. no skirt or dress for her she says.
Crafter 5817832
Mar 23, 2010
The first comment said that you also have directions to make a little girls dress from a T-shirt. I'd sure like to have those directions, too! nlmajzel@gillespieinternet.com
pjstitches
Mar 22, 2010
Love this idea and the one to make a t-shirt dress for a little girl. Next, it's on to t-shirt grocery bags and (who-knows)... Thank you for the idea starter! pj
beverly largent
Mar 22, 2010
ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING!! My mother, and all grandma's going back as many generations as they could remember, INCLUDING one grandpa, SEWED their own clothes and had busineses and THIS IS HOW THEY DID IT!!! EXCELLENT job for bringing BACK what used to be an oldie, but absolutely wonderful! I have done this oldie for years. So glad to see this coming back!!! Thanks for bringing it out again!
Vaughnde
Jan 24, 2010
What a Fabulous Idea! I'll have to pass t his on to my daughters as they both have boys and the oldest also has a girl.
Member 6961174
Jan 21, 2010
love this idea, I think i'm going to try this for my little one next time i have a t shirt I can't wear anymore
Kleemation58
Jan 16, 2010
Great idea for those of us who just CAN'T part with all those old T-shirts! Very cute!
Member 16901
Jan 16, 2010
I wish I could sew!!!! Heck I'd love a pair of these and I'm in my 40's!!!!
Elic
Jan 16, 2010
I don't have children, but we have TONS of tees that are too good - and have interesting sayings on them My roomie is losing weight (had bypass surgery) and I bet I could make shorts for her with these cool tees for lounging around the house (since she works from home anyway) and say $$ on new pants - at least until she's at her new weight! Even then - well, she likes to save $$
another northern c rafter
Jan 12, 2010
Smart idea! I enjoy re-cycling a 'this' into another more useful 'that'. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
MS quilter
Jan 04, 2010
Love this idea! You could also make a t-shirt dress for a little girl.
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