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by Chloe Greenfield
If your drawers are bursting with old t-shirts you no longer wear—but can’t quite let go of—you’re in the right spot. You don’t need to be a crafty magician with a sewing machine to give those tees a fabulous second life. With just some scissors, maybe a bit of stretching or knotting, you can transform a tired shirt into something functional, fun, and eco-friendly in under 10 minutes.
Why toss when you can upcycle? Let’s chop, knot, and stretch our way to sustainability—one tee at a time.
This guide is 100% no-sew. All you need is a pair of scissors, a flat surface, and a willingness to cut into that concert tee from ‘09.
Single-use plastic bags? Nope. That old t-shirt with the mystery stain under the arm? Yes! You’re about 5 steps away from a soft, stretchy, washable grocery bag.
These make excellent produce bags too—and you’ll love how they stretch to fit bulky farmers market finds.
Before you buy another roll of disposable paper towels, consider this: that old shirt can shine your windows and polish your table like a pro. Cotton and cotton-blend tees are perfect for turning into reusable cleaning cloths.
Fold them, roll them, or cut into squares—store in a basket under your sink and reuse until retirement. They pair wonderfully with Greener Clean: DIY Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products for Every Room.
Macrame who? You can sway with a much simpler hanging solution that requires only a t-shirt and some basic knot-tying.
Knot only is this cute (see what I did there?), it keeps textiles out of landfills and adds charm to your space.
If cling wrap gives you eco-guilt, let’s upgrade! You can use the sleeve of an old t-shirt to cover bowls, wrap bread, or keep greens fresh in the crisper.
Simply…
Store these in the fridge with your veggies to keep them moist without trapping in plastic chemicals.
Cut t-shirts into strips—voilà, instant yarn! You can braid, crochet, or finger-weave without touching a needle.
Some easy no-sew ideas:
Feeling like a DIY queen or king yet?
Turn a tee into a cute scarf that doubles as a cozy travel pillow or emergency head-wrap. Here’s how:
Look for soft cotton or jersey shirts without side seams—graphic designs or tie-dyes make it even more fun!
Small tees, big fun. Narrow strips make colorful accessories—just tug strips to curl and stretch them, then knot or braid as desired.
Make:
Invite your kiddos or friends to help—it’s a great group activity that keeps hands busy and hearts light.
If you’ve made it this far, it’s time to join the MySimple.life T-Shirt Upcycle Challenge!
Try at least one of these ideas this week and snap a pic of your creation. Tag us on Instagram @mysimple.life.official and use #SimpleTeeChallenge. We’ll feature our favorites and celebrate your sustainable style.
Every reused t-shirt saves roughly 2,700 liters of water—the amount used to make a new cotton shirt. Small choices really add up!
Loving the upcycled life? Pair your t-shirt hacks with more sustainable swaps:
Let’s turn what we already have into something better—and have a blast doing it.
Got a pile of shirts begging for purpose? Grab your scissors, cue up your playlist, and turn old threads into new treasures. 🎉
Chloe Greenfield
Chloe's journey into eco-friendly living began when she accidentally brought her reusable coffee cup to a meeting and was dubbed "the tree hugger" by her coworkers. Leaning into the label, she discovered a passion for sustainability and simple living. Now, she's on a mission to make sustainable habits fun, relatable, and easy for everyone—no tree-hugging required (though she still does it sometimes).
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