From the page: A second life for torn clothes

Idea 7

T-shirt bag or tote

Easy 15 min

The t-shirt bag became a worldwide craze in recent years as an answer to disposable plastic, but the logic is old: t-shirt knit is stretchy and strong, holding plenty of weight because the fabric spreads the load across the whole surface. And the best part: no sewing required.

What you need

  • A knit t-shirt (the thicker, the stronger)
  • Scissors
  • Chalk or pen for marking

How to make it

  1. 1

    Cut the sleeves close to the body — those openings become the handles.

  2. 2

    Mark and cut the collar in a wider arc, creating the bag's opening.

  3. 3

    Turn it inside out and make fringe by cutting 2 cm strips along the bottom hem, about 8 cm tall.

  4. 4

    Tie the front fringe to the back fringe, pair by pair, with two firm knots — the more knots, the more weight it holds.

  5. 5

    Turn it right side out and done: a bag ready for the market.

Finishing touches

if you want a reinforced bottom, sew a second hem on the inside. Decorate it with the sashiko patch from the top of the page.

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