Uprecycled: Kid's T-Shirt Tote Tutorial

Last year a friend of mine gave us several Patriotic T-shirts for my daughter. We got alot of use out of them last July, but as kids do, Audrey's grown like a weed, and this Independance Day she's too big a girl for the little shirts!
Here's a great way to upcycle your kid's T-shirts into fun tote bags once they've grown out of them! I thought this bag might be great to bring to a Fourth of July parade this year for candy collecting purposes! You certainly could use the same method for creating tote bags out of "mommy-sized" T-shirts and use them for knitting supplies, picnic goodies, beach neccessities, or anything else your heart desires! This bag is so quick to make, you'll have turned your kid's too-small tee into a one-size-fits-all bag in no time!
What you'll need...
Kid's t-shirt, 2 large buttons, needle and thread, rotary cutter and mat, scissors
1. Cut the bottom 3" from your child's t-shirt.

2. Turn the t-shirt inside-out and cut off the sleeves just past the seam.

3. Using a 3/8" or 1/2" seam, sew along the arm holes and across the bottom of the tee.

4. Turn the bag right-side-out.


5. Take the 3" strip you removed from the bottom and cut it open at one of the side seams, creating one long strip.

6. Fold the strip in half, right sides facing, and sew down both sides, creating a tube with one open end.

7. Turn the tube right-side-out and whipstitch the open end closed. This will become the bag handle.

8. Take one side of the handle and attach it to the shoulder seam by sewing on a large button through both the handle and the tee. Repeat on the other side of the handle.


Wasn't that simple? Now go out and enjoy this beautiful July!