Tranform Old T-shirt to Drawstring Beanie in 10 Mins!

This drawstring beanie is perfect for fall.

It can be made almost for free and in 10 mins!

The beanie is adjustable and with the drawstring, it can be secured snugly around your head.

I use it while running and as a liner underneath my bike helmet.

Step 1: Step 1: Material and Tools

For making the beanie...

1. An old t-shirt

2. A ruler/tape

3. Scissors: The ones that can cut layers of cloths.

4. Chalk piece for marking on the t-shirt

5. Needle and thread for stitching

6. Drawstring: I salvaged mine from an old bag. You can use shoestrings or para-cord in it's place.

7. (optional) A sewing machine. This would make it much faster and neater. I dont have access to one, so I used needle and thread.

Note: Scissors and needle are quite sharp and can hurt you. Be careful while using them!

Step 2: Step 2: Make the Pattern

Turn the t-shirt inside out.

Orient it such that one the neck faces away from you.

Using the ruler, mark out the pattern shown in the image above.

Ensure that one side, either right or left, is the fold or joint on the t-shirt. This will make the final product much cleaner with seams on 4 sides.

Also include the folded, lower seam of the t-shirt in the pattern. This will be used to hold the drawstring later.

If your head is larger than average, then you can make the width 13 inch instead of 12 inch.

Pro-tip: Holding the chalk at an angle helps to draw finer lines.

The freehand curve can be drawn using a big bowl if needed.

Step 3: Step 3: Cutting

Start cutting from the joint of the t-shirt from the joint/fold.

Pro-tip: use pins on the t-shirt to prevent the layers from moving.

Be careful while using the scissors. It's alright even if the edges of the t-shirt appear rough after cutting. They are going to be on inner side anyway.

Step 4: Step 4: Stitching Preparation

Now open the cut out.

It should look like the one shown in the picture.

You need to stitch so that the edges marked in same colour are joined together.

If necessary, use the chalk to number the edges together.

Step 5: Step 5: Start Stitching

Start stitching above the folded seam of the t-shirt.

Do not stitch across the original folded seam. We will use this to tie the drawstring.

Stitch the outer edges first and then hold the inner two curved edges together and stitch them.

Pro-tip1: Using pins will prevent the cloth from moving and will give you much cleaner stitch.

Pro-tip2: Using a sewing machine makes this work much faster and cleaner.

Step 6: Step 6: Finishing the Stitching

The open edges of the folded seam of the t-shirt should be finished. This will prevent fraying of the loose edges.

Gently fold the loose cloth inside as shown and put a few stitches around to secure it in place.

Step 7: Step 7: Folding the Beanie (optional)

The beanie has about 2 inches extra material. You can choose to fold it upward to try it out before the next step.

Measure about 2 inches from the bottom and fold it upwards as per your taste.

I have folded it only 2 inches since I wanted to cover my ears. You can fold more as needed.

Step 8: Ste 8: Threading the Drawstring

Put one end of the drawstring in the opened seam.

Push it carefully all around the edge.

Pro-tip: Using a closed safety pin can speed up the process since it acts like a guide which can push through the cloth.

Step 9: Step 9: Wear!

Wear your beanie and adjust the drawstring to make it tight or loose as needed.

I use it while running and as a liner underneath my bike helmet.

I made this about 3 months back and it's still working nicely!