D.I.Y. T-shirt necklace

Turn an old t-shirt into a necklace! 

This project is a great way recycle an old shirt you don’t wear anymore into a great accessory.

Warning: This project is not one for kids. Copper foil is quite sharp. If you want to do this project with kids I would suggest cutting up straws and using them instead of the foil.

You will need: 

Old t-shirt

Copper foil

Scissors

Thin dowel rod (pencil will do the job)

All purpose glue

Step 1

Cut your t-shirt into strips about an inch wide. Hold each end of the strips and pull them so they curl up like you can see in the picture. 

Step 2

Plait three of the strips together. If you are not sure how to plait check out this youtube video. For the best result use a strip of sticky tape to hold the end of the plat in place.

Step 3

Tie a knot at each end of the plait. This will form the top of the necklace. Make sure you have loose ends on either side of the plait. You will need these later

Step 4

Cut a strip of the copper foil the width you want the embellishments to be. I made mine about an inch wide. Roll the copper strip around you dowel rod.

Step 5

Once you have curled the copper around a few times and you think it is thick enough cut the strip and roll the piece against the table to get the last part of the coil as tight as you can. 

Step 6

Take the copper embellishment off the dowel rod. Now make a bunch more! Make as many as you want! 🙂

Step 7

Thread one copper beads onto one of the t-shirt strips you haven’t used yet..

Step 8

Apply some glue to one of the loose ends on end of your plaited piece.

Step 9

Take the strand you put the copper bead into and stick one end to the plait. Slide the copper bead over the join. This covers any messiness and gives the join extra strength.

Step 10

Thread more of the copper beads onto that same strand.

Step 11

Repeat steps 8 and 9 to join the other end of the strand to the other end of the plait.

Step 12

Repeat steps 7 – 11 to make the other two loops of the necklace.

FINISHED! 🙂

If you want a fuller effect you can just double the numbers. Make a plait with 6 strands and make 6 loops. The options are endless. 🙂

So what do you think??

What have you made from old clothes?