I had this stack of random tees — band shirts, funny slogans, thrift finds with cute graphics, even a couple with small holes or stains I could hide. Soft cotton, good quality, but just sitting there doing nothing. So, i decided to give them all a second life as tote bags. I ended up making five in one weekend and I’m obsessed.
How I Turned Them Into Bags
I kept it simple. For each shirt I cut straight across just below the armpits, keeping the top part with the neckline and sleeves as the base. Then I turned the bottom half into the body of the bag.
I stitched the bottom closed and added boxed corners for a flat base so the bag stands up nicely. That part was trickier than I thought — my first bag’s corners looked lumpy. I unpicked and tried again slower. Second one came out much better.
For the straps, I used the sleeves! I cut them off, opened them up, and sewed them into long straps. The best part? Each bag has matching graphic straps from the original shirt. Super unique.
One shirt had a big print right in the middle — I made sure it landed perfectly on the front of the bag. Another had a small hole near the hem, so I turned that side into the inside. Problem solved.
The After — My New Favorite Bags
Now I have a whole collection of custom totes. One with my favorite band logo for grocery runs, one with a silly cat print for library days, and a bright yellow one that makes me happy every time I use it.
They’re surprisingly strong — double layer of cotton in most places — and they hold a ton. I get compliments constantly and love telling people “yeah, it used to be a T-shirt.”
I cleared out a whole drawer and gained useful bags instead. If you have a pile of T-shirts you don’t wear anymore, please try this. It’s forgiving, creative, and feels so satisfying.
Come with me, let’s keep those drawers useful instead of full of guilt!
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