2023-05-06 16:00:12
There’s no need to throw away a shirt because it has a stain, a cut, or signs of wear. With the following tricks, it is possible to turn it into a new garment or accessory.
In people’s wardrobes, there is usually no lack of garments as popular as shirts. However, there are numerous circumstances that make them unusable for their primary function. Either because the size was small or because they are very worn. But with the following ideas to recycle a men’s shirt, it is possible to give them new life.
Removing stains, sewing potential holes or putting patches on it is not the only way to renew this garment. With a few slight modifications, shirts can have numerous functions. Thanks to its design and quality, certain specimens can go on to decorate cushions, save money and mutate into other useful garments.
Why apply the ideas to recycle a men’s shirt?
Many men’s shirts are made with quality materials that do not go out of style. The main reason for its disuse, in general, is the wear and tear over time. They can also generate tears that seem irreversible or stretch the fabric too much and enlarge it.
In all these cases it is possible to apply a series of ideas to recycle a men’s shirt. Simply gather basic tools like scissors, needles, pins, and tweezers and get to work on your renovation. Some specimens, such as those in Oxford fabric, have the advantage of being functional to become ornaments or different accessories.
The best ideas to recycle a men’s shirt and renew its functionality
Don’t rush to throw away or donate that shirt you no longer use. After carrying out a good wash, it is possible to give it a second chance as an ornament for the home or as a different garment.
The thick white and colored threads that make up the dotted feel of the shirts are suitable for being transformed into bows, covers, aprons and even wallets.
1. Reduce size
With frequent use and washing in cold water, shirts may stretch more than normal. However, it is not a reason to rule them out. If the fabric is healthy, with the following method they can be adjusted so that they once again have the ideal size.
In principle, you have to put the shirt inside out, in order to take the measurements from the inverted side. For that, you have to use some pins and insert them into the leftovers of the sleeves, the bottom and the sides.
Once the marks are made, outline them with a pencil or pen to have a clear reference before cutting. Following that line, remove the excess with scissors. To finish, you have to close the shape of the shirt by knitting the edges by hand or with a sewing machine.
2. Making it smaller for women is one of the ideas to recycle a men’s shirt
There are different ways to transform that unused shirt into a women’s garment that gives it new life. If you inherited shirts from a parent or sibling, the following methods can make it smaller and back in style:
- with hook pins. If the excess parts are adjusted with safety pins, it is possible to reduce the size of the shirt. This only works if the garment is to be worn with something over it, as these pins are visible.
- with washing machine. Many shirts tend to shrink by washing them in hot water. Carrying out a program in the washing machine that uses temperatures of 80 or 90 degrees Celsius is sufficient.
- with dryer. The dryer, by default, tends to treat clothes with high temperatures, so it can be an effective way to reduce the size.
- with knots. Tying your shirt with a front or side knot has been part of youth fashion for decades. Maybe that big shirt can be put back into use with this simple method.
3. Baby accessories
Some shirt designs look great on babies’ necks. It is enough to cut the center of it to give it the shape of a bandana, even it out and remove the excess. For more precision, a bandana template can be used as a reference.
In the same way, it is possible to make bibs to prevent the little ones from getting dirty. This is an ideal job on the sewing machine, although it can also be done by hand.
4. Create a wallet
It seems impossible, but it is very simple. The key to transforming a men’s shirt into a wallet is to use the sleeves.
After cutting them, some folds must be made in them and apply stitches by hand or with a sewing machine. The sleeve has to be positioned in such a way that it generates a recess to house bills.
5. Ideas to recycle a men’s shirt and turn it into different women’s clothing
One more step in the reuse of shirts is to turn them into a new garment. There are different methods that can take advantage of the design that was so liked in that fabric to give it new functions:
- Top. A feminine garment widely used during the hot months. Making it with a shirt is very simple: you just have to cut the neck and the sleeves.
- Dress. The dress involves more complex work. First you have to take a long-sleeved shirt and pin the sleeve and wrist area. The purpose is to sew an elastic on it, after turning the garment inside out. The same action must be carried out in the part of the waist, but with a thicker elastic.
- Blouse. It is about reducing the garment by cutting the lower area, the neck and the sleeves up to half.
- balloon sleeves. This type of sleeves, also known as abullonadas, are still on trend and easy to create. You just have to cut the sleeves of a men’s shirt and apply elastic to each one.
6. Covers
In addition to making wallets, the sleeves can also be used to create eyeglass cases. The same shirt buttons are used to open and close the new accessory.
Something similar, although with some more precise cuts, is possible to do with cushions. This way, favorite designs are used to be displayed again on the couch.
7. The shirt in the kitchen
Although it seems that they have little relation, the shirt can end up in the kitchen in the form of an apron, cutting all the sleeves. Or in the form of individual tablecloths.
8. Other ideas to recycle a men’s shirt
Beyond clothing, these garments can lead to very unexpected objects and accessories:
- pet coat. With a few slight tinkering, it is possible to keep pets warm during the cold months with old men’s shirts.
- Briefcase. It requires a more complex job, cutting the shirt and folding it to one side to obtain the cavity of a bag. Then attach the grip handles.
- Collar. By cutting the stiff collar of men’s shirts and placing a clasp in the middle, it is possible to obtain a fine collar.
Restoring and reusing are also ideas to recycle a men’s shirt
The shirt doesn’t have to end up on another piece of clothing or an accessory. If it is still in good condition, beyond some cuts or wear, it is possible to restore it, starting with a good wash.
If you have stains, include the action of a stain remover for several minutes beforehand. For potential tears, a patch can be sewn on top. In the event that the sleeves are very worn, cut them to make it into a short-sleeved shirt.
You might be interested…
#ideas #recycle #mens #shirt #give