FASTEST RECYCLED T-SHIRT TOTE BAG

Are you looking for a great, low-cost recycling project to do at home or with a group? This is IT! This is a great way to use last season's team t-shirts or a previous year's event t-shirts! Re-purpose an unwanted t-shirt today and easily turn the shirt into a re-usable tote bag.

With just two quick seams and some fast cutting---you are finished! These t-shirt totes are strong and washable! Use for groceries, library books, tennis balls, gym clothes or pool supplies---use for anything you need to carry!

Did You Know.... Plastic shopping bags are typically used less than 30 minutes and only 1 % are recycled. The average American adult uses approximately 288 bags a year, or 22,000* in an average lifetime... make and use a Recycled T-Shirt Totebag today! *Source: 2008 Piedmont Environmental Alliance, NC

This is my first Instructable- any comments are appreciated. I am doing this recycling project for my Girl Scout Gold Award- I hope to share the information with as many people as possible! Thanks for your interest- 

UPDATE: Thank you for your support and words of encouragement- I have successfully completed my Girl Scout Gold Award Project!  Thank you for helping me spread the word- just say no to paper or plastic!

Step 1: STEP ONE

COLLECT THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES:

-Heavy weight cotton T-shirt (heavy weight fabric & Youth size XL or Adult S or M work best)

~ 3- 5 straight pins

- Pencil or pen

- Dinner plate

-Scissors

- Sewing machine

Comments

[matula]

nice one. it works.

[lrohret]

Definitely the best shirt-to-bag ible! Well done, and congrats on the gold award!

[kcampbell17]

love this idea great way to repurpose

[charmom15]

I love this idea!! Thanks!

[megankeisher]

Thank you for posting this. These are indeed some fantastic ideas. You are indeed very green. They will also be useful for our family room decorating; thanks again for sharing with us.

[girlscouts4ever]

I love your Gold Award Project!!! Congrats!! This is definitely an example of the current "Take Action" projects and Truly a sustainable project!!! Thank you for educating us at the same time as providing us with directions to make it happen.

I tried to download the pdf file but it won't let me for some reason. Is there a way I should be doing it other than trying to just push the button that says "download pdf"? or should I contact you personally for the pdf file?

I have twin girls and they are currently working on their gold award projects. My younger daughter is starting her silver award project.

Again Congrats!
Holly

[grandmommysgems]

My Mom's in a nursing home/rehab facility and how nice would it be to make these for the residents to put on the back of their wheelchairs. I'm definitely going to make one for Mom. Would be a good GS project. :)

[SMBonante]

If you use the "zig-zag" style stitch, it makes a re-enforced seam, so it would be stronger. I would agree with going over it twice anyways...but I've found that the zigzag setting (Don't know what it's technically called) makes a stronger seam than the straight stitch.

[caityjay]

When I want a really strong seam, I usually do a straight stitch for the first seam, then use the zigzag for the second go. That's definitely what I'll do when I make these!

[WhyHello]

Thank you =) I'll use that on my bag now

[autumnwind3]

It's technically called a zig-zag stitch! You were spot on! (We sewers are a practical lot.) The primary advantage of using the zig-zag stitch instead of a straight stitch is that it has more give and stretches with the knit fabric. Straight stitches are more likely to break if the material stretches a lot. (Like if you put milk in this bag instead of chips!) Generally, it's always best to use a zig-zag stitch for reinventing t-shirts. I love this site! This is my first comment! Yay, people with sewing machines who aren't afraid to use them!

[girlscouts4ever]

This will make a fantastic project for my multi-level troop!

[Pancake!]

Cool 'Ible! I made one of these and I love it! :)

[daesgirl]

I made 4 of these today! Thanks! Now to find more shirts!

[1Dforalways]

sweet i'll use this as a sleepover bag

[jvitanza1]

[erdunke]

what a bright idea...I Like it.

[Susannaartteacher]

Awesome idea! I tried it with an old sweatshirt and because I don't have a sewing machine, I hand stiched the bottom.The whole thing took me less than an hour! I even added a cute little felt flower for decoration! So fun and cute. Thanks for sharing!

[ms.carter]

I don't have a sewing machine either, but want to do this, thanks for posting that hand sewing works.

[eelo]

This was a great idea that I used in my classroom. One of my male students experimented with a larger shirt to make more of a backpack/sling. He cut a larger (deeper?) neck opening and the larger shirt made a bag big enough to sling over his shoulder.

Thanks, and congratulations on your Gold Award.

[Mauigerbil]

Thumbs up! A GS shirt!

[bridgetrat]

Thanks for the great idea! We will be using this with our Daisy/Brownie Girl Scout troop for their service project: making 100 activity bags for the pediatrics dept at the local hospital!!

[Troop203]

Congratulations on your Gold Award - it's a huge achievement!
I just wanted to let you know that my Cadette troop will be using your instructions to assist our sister troop of Daisies and Brownies to make these bags.
Your project is still helping sister scouts years later! Thank you!!

[binaspencer7]

for real thats it wow im amazed and in love
thanks

[abibby]

Just made one of these bags from an old plain navy blue polo shirt, it literally took minutes to make - fantastic!!

Going to find something nice to brighten it up now.

[kforester]

You can add ruffles by using another shirt even a different color too!!

[sheather38]

My daughter's Junior Troop made one each a few weeks ago at a sleepover and loved it. They have decided to make these for their Bronze Award and passing them out with instructions inside during cookie booths. They already have over 100 t-shirts donated. Thank you so much for the idea and easy to follow instructions! Troop 19, San Jacinto Council

[kmcnaron]

Thanks for the wonderful idea and super simple and clear instructions. Made a "test bag" tonight with my 10 year old daughter. She was able to do it herself with minimal help threading the sewing machine and she LOVES the results. She used her favorite t-shirt that she had grown out of, and it is big enough to hold the new junior girl-guide and her journey book. I will be using this with my junior girl scouts in 2 weeks. THANKS --- awesome Gold Project.
(Troop #815, VA Skyline Council)

[tknight morton]

This is one of the smartest ideas I have seen! Love it! Will be doing this with my Junior Girl Scouts this year. Keep up the good work and congrats on your Gold Award. (from Troop #387, VA Skyline Council)

[sewmargaretsew]

That's just great- love to hear about other Girl Scouts making these bags!

For for my gold award, I conducted about a doz. sewing workshops where I taught others to sew the bags. Then on my own made about 200 that I handed out to grocery shoppers. The ones I gave to the grocery store shoppers contained a link to my instructable so they could also learn how easy it is to make the totes and avoid using paper/plastic bags.

Best to your Girl Scouts-
Margaret in NC

[eelo]

This is a fantastic idea, and your photos are very helpful. I did this today with my 6-7-8th grade students. Thanks, and I hope by now you got that Gold Award.

[sewmargaretsew]

:) Yes, I received the Gold Award. Hope your students enjoy their bags!

[crazyaboutbeads]

Cool! That's so simple....wow, I'm hooked. I'm really hooked. Don't call today, I'm busy making a t-shirt bag. :)

[Yoshi cat]

Made tons of them! Thanks!

[ldwinal]

This is great! I will definitely be looking for retro tees at thrift stores now.

You can also turn one of the removed sleeves into a mini-bag to store your tote. Just an idea. :)

[shoegirl58]

I made 3 of these in no time flat. So easy and a great idea. I'm going to try a few using old "wife-beater" t's. No cutting with those. Just sew up the bottom.

[sandy-g]

EXCELLENT....I love it!!!

[kshingleton]

Thanks for posting, what a great way to give new life to my husband's stack of old concert t-shirts!

[imia]

Luv it! You should add steps with pics to show how to make the gusset at the bottom. really easy project. I'm gonna try this with kiddos but sans sewing machine. We'll see how it goes.

[lilwitteck]

Woot!! Just made one :D It was soo easy and the only thing that took any time at all was cleaning off my moms sewing machine :) Great instructable!