You can reuse old, worn-out T-shirts by making them into handmade knit dishcloths.You could cut them up into small pieces to use around the house, but they could also be used as gifts.
Step 1: There is a neat pile of old T-shirts.
To make enough yarn for the cloths, you'll need a few T-shirts.Make sure the tops are clean.
Step 2: There should be a pile of like-material shirts for the T-shirts.
Some cotton T-shirts are blends, while others are 100 percent cotton.It's easier to have access to like materials in each pile.Take the organizational piles even further by putting T-shirts of similar colors together.Since you will be shredding these shirts and creating your own yarn from them, having like-colors in the same pile will allow you to create a certain color of yarn.It is a good idea if you are looking for something more uniform.
Step 3: You can make "yarn" from the T-shirts.
This step involves tearing each T-shirt into small strips of fabric, which are molded together to create the yarn for knitting the dishcloths.Attach the fabric to the strips.This can be accomplished by tearing the shirt into strips, starting at the seam, rather than using scissors.It allows you to create a rugged look with less loose threads.You can run your fingers along the sides of the shirt to remove any loose threads if you mark off 1” sections with a Sharpie.
Step 4: The strips should be joined together.
Cut a small slit in the top of the 1” strip after folding one end.The second strip needs to be repeated with this step.Place the two cut ends over each other and then pull one end of the second strip through the slit in the first strip and fold back into itself.Pull tightly so the two strips blend together.
Step 5: Design your towel.
You can either knit the dishcloths or use a lock and hook method.The t-shirts will give you a ball of thread or yarn to work with.You can use the T-shirt yarn to make a lock or hook pattern by threading it through the pre-patterned strips, or you can knit it.A lock and hook dishcloth is not as flexible as a knitted one.T-shirt strips could be used to embellish existing dish towels with fabric designs.It is possible to create patchwork designs or even crochet a small design to apply to existing dishtowels.
Step 6: The cast was on 36.
Step 7: Knit.
Step 8: Start knitting the pattern.
The beginning and end of the rows are for the border.Row 1 - K3, K2, K1, P3 and K3 all 4 times.
Step 9: Rows 1 - 6 are repeated seven times.
Step 10: Row 1 is repeated.
Step 11: To finish the border, knit all the stitches of the last four rows.
Step 12: It's time to cast off.
Step 13: A clean T-shirt is needed.
Step 14: A square is the size of a dishcloth.
A good measurement is about 20 cm squares.Cut it with a sewing pencil.You have three squares of the same size if you repeat two times.If there is a funky logo on the T-shirt that would fit inside the square, cut it out.It can be added to the top layer.If you have an old towel that is no longer needed, you can cut a square from it to use as a base layer.The next step is to put this layer into the base position with the other three squares.
Step 15: When all three squares are aligned, place each square on top of the other.
If you have a sewing machine, you can sew around the edges by hand.It can be done in front of the TV, and it doesn't have to be neat sewing.Before you assemble the three squares, make sure you sew the logo in place on the top layer of the dishcloth.
Step 16: Use.
The dishcloth is ready.It's a good idea to hang it to dry after each use and then throw it in with a washing cycle to refresh it.Adding a hanging loop is a good idea for drying.