How To Reuse A T-shirt: Make A Reusable Grocery Bag

A fun idea that will reduce landfill waste and save you money is to make your own shopping bag by reusing an old t-shirt. This simple project costs only pennies and takes about 5 minutes to complete. Your t-shirt shopping bag will fold small enough to fit in your purse or in the console of your car. Now you’ll have a use for all those old t-shirts that you can’t bear to give away, and you’ll also be helping keep plastic shopping bags out of landfills.

Another benefit of shopping with your homemade reusable grocery bag is that some stores will give a 3-, 5- or even 10-cent discount for every reusable bag (or reused bag from any store) that you use during your shopping trip. Check with your store to see if this is the policy, and don’t be shy about politely reminding a forgetful cashier to subtract your discount from your shopping total.

What You Need

• Heavyweight cotton t-shirt
• Scissors
• Round bowl or lid, 10 to 12 inches in diameter
• Pen
• Sewing machine (or see the No Sew Method)

How to Make a T-Shirt Bag

1. Turn the t-shirt inside out, and sew a straight line across the bottom seam.
2. Line up all the seams. Cut off each sleeve just inside the sleeve seam.
3. Trace a half-circle around the neck hole using a round bowl or lid. I used a men’s large t-shirt and a bowl with an 11-inch diameter. Cut along your pen mark through both layers of the t-shirt to create a bigger opening.
4. Flip the t-shirt right side out again. There is no need to finish the edges around the neck or sleeves. You’re done!

No Sew Method

1. Cut a slit in the hem of the t-shirt.
2. Straighten a paper clip into a needle and tie a piece of ribbon onto one end.
3. Thread the ribbon through the hem and pull to cinch. There will be a small opening in the bottom of the bag around the drawstring.

More Helpful Hints

• Use a tank top or sleeveless shirt.
• Use a sweatshirt for a heavyweight, sturdy bag.
• Use an embellished or beaded t-shirt for a one-of-a-kind bag.
• Pack a t-shirt bag in your suitcase whenever you travel to use as a washable laundry bag for dirty clothes.
• Recycle a child’s shirt into a small bag for the child.
• Turn the kids loose to decorate the t-shirt with fabric markers or tie-dye for a fun craft project.

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