Tee-Shirt Recycled into a Handbag
Recycled your old tee-shirts into a cute handbag. I crocheted this purse using two t-shirts and a part of another for the striping. I added a flower as an embellishment and here is my final result.
Click to supersize photos
Here is a photo showing how I cut around the tee-shirt to create “yarn” to crochet with. You just continue cutting in one continuous strip and go around corners as shown. If you do need to join two strips, either overlap and weave under your ends or join splicing strips together by either hand or machine stitching the ends together. Another method that doesn’t require sewing the strips together is to make a small slit hole at the end of the two strips you need to splice together. The slit should be cut lengthwise only about 1/2 inch from the end of the strip and should only be big enough to allow the next strip to pass through it. Hold the two strips with the holes together then take the uncut end and lace it through two holes. Pull the strip completely through the holes and pull tight to make the splice as small as possible.
Have fun with this project by recycling your tee-shirts into a charming eco-friendly handbag. The materials are free and so is the crochet pattern below.
Free Crocheted Recycled Tee-Shirt Bag Pattern
Bag measures 10 inches wide and 9″ long with 8″ handles.
Material: Three different colored tee-shirts cut into 1/2″ to 3/4 inch strips
Hook: Metal N (9 mm) crochet hook
Chain 12
Rnd 1
Using blue tee-shirt yarn, Sc in 2nd ch from hook in each chain stitch to end, work 3 Sc in the end st. Work Sc in each stitch down the back side of chain, ending with 3 Sc at end st of round. Do not join rnds. Just continue to work in rounds.
Rnd 2
Sc in each st down to the two end sts. Work 3 Sc in ea of the two end sts and then Sc in ea st down to the other end. Work 3 Sc in the other two end sts.
Rnd 3
Sc in each st down to the two end sts. Work 2 Sc in ea of the three end sts and then Sc in ea st down to the other end. Work 2 Sc in the other three end sts.
Rnd 4
Sc in the front loop only on ea st on this round only. This creates an edge for the bottom of bag. Sc down to end working in front loops only, work 2 Sc in the 2 end sts, then continue down working Sc in ea st in front posts only down to other end. Work 2 Sc in the two end sts of round.
Rnd 5-6
Working in both loops now and throughout, Sc in ea st of rnd. At end of rnd 6, Sl St in last 2 sts of rnd and leave a tail end on inside of bag to FO.
Rnd 7-14
Change color by attaching at side with Sl St using new tee-shirt yarn color (Dark tan shown.) Work 8 rnds of Sc in ea st around. Sl St at end of last rnd ending at side of bag to FO edge smoothly.
Rnd 15-16
Change color to light cream color as shown, Ch 1. Sc in ea st around and continue not joining but just working in rounds.
Rnd 17-18
Switch back to blue tee-shirt yarn. Ch 1. Sc in ea st around and continue not joining but just working in rounds.
Rnd 19
Mark center 10 stitches on each side of bag for handle opening. Sc in ea st to mark for handle opening, Sk those 10 sts, Ch 16, Sc in ea st remaining at front. Repeat this for the other side of bag. Check to make sure your handle openings match both side and adjust sts as needed.
Rnd 20
Sc in each St around to handle. Work Sc evenly around the chain of handle (approx. 21 Sc), then Sc around in each stitch until you reach handle on other side. Work Sc sts evenly around chain of handle, then Sc around in each remaining stitches of round.
Fasten off and weave ends under on inside of the bag.
Flower:
Using tan tee-shirt material cut in 1/2 inch strip, Ch 3, Sl St to join. Ch 5 and join with a Sl St into the center hole. Repeat 4 times for 5 flower petal clusters. FO and pull end to center & weave under. Using blue tee-shirt material, join to center of tan flower. Sl St around in each of the 5 petals at the center and leave end long to secure to inside of bag.
If you have any questions or find discrepancies in this pattern, please email me using contact tab above.
Abbreviations:
Ch – Chain
Dc – Double Crochet
Dec – Decrease
Ea – Each
FO – Finish or Fasten Off
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Rnd – Round
Sc – Single Crochet
Sk – Skip
Sl St – Slip Stitch
Sm – Same
St – Stitch
This pattern is copyrighted by Cindy of My Recycled Bags {dot com} and may only be used for private individual use. No commercial sales or use of my patterns or photos are permitted. Links to this pattern are acceptable and appreciated. ©2009
****Please do not copy my patterns on your blog site or post my patterns on Internet sites. I do not allow my patterns to be republished without expressed written permission. Posting of my patterns, without written permission is in violation of my copyrights and is content theft.
Tags: free-pattern, purse, recycling, t-shirt-yarn, t-yarn, tee-shirt, upcycling
May 23, 2009
I can see that you have a very nice collection of bags here, and you are using commentluv too 🙂
I will make sure to add your blog to my list of 100 blogs using CommenLuv for my daily comment coffee time!
Hesham’s last blog post..Namechk: The Availability of a username or Tracking People?
May 23, 2009
What a fabulous idea for upcycling t-shirts. As a mom of 2 teenage boys, I always have old t-shirts on hand… now instead of sending them off to Goodwill or using them as dust rags, I can make something fun to use with them!! Thanks!! -jami
jami’s last blog post..news
May 24, 2009
Great idea! Like “jami”, I’ve always taken my family’s old T-shirts to GoodWill. Now I have a free source of “yarn”!
May 25, 2009
How creative to do such work, well done Cindy !!
bernie kasper’s last blog post..†Madison Indiana Courthouse Fire “
May 25, 2009
your recycled product always creative..
elvira’s last blog post..red riding hood doll
May 25, 2009
Great way to use an old t-shirt to make a great bag!!
SewDelish’s last blog post..Button Crafting – Is it a Necklace, a Belt or a Bracelet?
May 25, 2009
Hey Cindy!
I love this bag and that you made it with t-shirts!!! I’m gonna have to try it 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing!
Rachel’s last blog post..What Do You Like to Felt?
May 26, 2009
This would make a great beach bag because you could easily stick in the washing machine to clean the sand out of it.
Condo Blues’s last blog post..Can You Recycle Concrete?
May 27, 2009
You did it again Cindy! What a wonderful bag!
Stephanie’s last blog post..Carnival #117
May 27, 2009
Wow, that’s pretty crazy that you made a bag like that out of a t-shirt.
pays to live green’s last blog post..May’s Contest Ends in One Week
May 28, 2009
What a brilliant bag – I imagine making it out of T Shirst it would be nice and soft as well as durable! I have knitted with plastic bread bags beofre but this T Shirt idea is fabulous. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Lisa’s last blog post..Winter Warmers
Jun 03, 2009
[…] Free Crocheted Recycled Tee-Shirt Bag Pattern Source: MyRecycledBags.com […]
Jun 06, 2009
really good idea for creative job,thanks!!!
global warming’s last blog post..environment-friendly technology
Jun 06, 2009
[…] Cindy at My Recycled Bags has recycled old t-shirts to make a really cute purse. […]
Jun 11, 2009
[…] presents Tee-Shirt Recycled into a Handbag posted at My Recycled Bags.com. Cindy offers a free crochet pattern and details on how to create a […]
Jun 11, 2009
What a wonderful project and a great way to make use of those old t-shirts! Thanks for submitting your article to my craft carnival. You can find it here: http://keikigifts.brighterplanet.org/tutorial/crafts-carnival-7
Jun 11, 2009
[…] that neat? And look at the cute things she makes with it; trivets, scrubbie/dishcloths, and even a purse! I love that purse! These aren’t knitted, but crocheted and I DO know how to do that! […]
Jun 19, 2009
[…] pattern for crocheted purse from recycled t-shirts […]
Sep 04, 2009
Your idea is great! I think i will try to do a bag like yours for my daughter.
Many thanks for the tutorial!
Annalena (Italy)
.-= Annalena´s last blog ..Collana Fili di Zucchero.. =-.
Sep 29, 2009
One can never have too many bags, and this one is even more fabulous because it uses recycled t-shirts! Thanks for the pattern!
.-= Sierra Pelona Crochet´s last blog ..Heart of the Sunset Strand =-.
Oct 19, 2009
Nice job on the bag and a great idea! There is no shortage of used T-shirts out there. You should do a video on this. Definitely would make unique gift for someone too.
.-= hunter@ christmas gifts´s last blog ..Gifts for Her – Women’s Bracelet Watch =-.
Jan 12, 2011
Thank you for sharing these patterns. I have started a 4-H unit with some of my grandchildren. I have been a recycler when it wasn’t fashionable just because I believe we need to be good stewards of everything we have. These patterns will hopefully start my creative juices as I help some of my granddaughters learn how to crochet and use what many throw out. Thank you again. Blessings.
Aug 15, 2011
[…] Crochet a Recycled Tee-Shirt Bag […]
Mar 16, 2012
Happy to see this pattern. I recently made a rug out of t-shirt yarn. I don’t like it because I made my own pattern, and the edges curl up, etc. I will reuse the materials to make this bag. Thanks!
Jul 15, 2013
[…] Para leerlo en español, accede a través de este enlace al patrón. […]
Nov 14, 2014
The split splice joining method … I just exclaimed “…that’s brilliant!!” out loud 🙂 Thanks for all your generosity in sharing and especially that tip 🙂
Happy crafting xx
Dec 23, 2014
[…] Tee-Shirt Yarn Handbag […]