Saturday, December 19, 2009

T-Shirt Beanie


I don't know about you guys, but I have t-shirts that I have saved from over ten years ago! Most of them are wearing thin and are destined for the trash heap. But, I came up with an idea to salvage a few of them. The best part about this tutorial is it's fast, easy, and you don't have to be an expert seamstress to get it to look virtually perfect.


First take an old t-shirt and a beanie that fits whoever it is you're making this for. I'm making mine for my 3 month old daughter. Lay the beanie at the bottom hem of the t-shirt, using the beanie for a pattern. Trace an outline with a disappearing quilting pen, or just hold the beanie firm and cut around it.




After this step, you should have 2 sides for your t-shirt beanie.










Next you're going to cut strips out of another portion of your t-shirt. Do a basting stitch down the center of the strips, being sure to do a reverse stitch at one end to hold it in place.








Pull on of the end strings of the basting stitch, gathering the strip of t-shirt into a ruffle.










Now, start stitching the ruffled strips to the front of your t-shirt beanie. Do strip after strip until you get something like this.

Then, pin the two pieces of your t-shirt beanie right-sides together and sew around the top. The original hem of the t-shirt will act as the bottom of your beanie and should remain open.




Ta-da! You have yourself a very cute, one-of-a-kind beanie. Although I did mine with ruffles, you could do it however you'd like. Just get a little clever and embellish it to your fancy.

15 comments:

  1. So cute Emily! I wish my baby was being born in winter so I could make her one. So cute. Maybe it will still be chilly in April?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am so going to make one of these for my daughter! Thanks for the amazing idea!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a fabulous project! Great idea!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Absolutely adorable idea!!! I have so many tees laying around because I can't bear to part with! This is by far one of my favorite ways of resuing them! Thanks for the awesome inspiration!

    Tara's TieUps Blog

    Tara's TieUps Store

    ReplyDelete
  5. So cute!! I linked to your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-ruffled-beanie-from-a-t-shirt/2009/12/23/

    --Anne

    ReplyDelete
  6. super cute! I cannot wait to make one for my little girl. It's cold here in New York!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just found your site and love it! I will definitely be back.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love it! I have a pile of clothes to take to the thrift store I may have to rethink them!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for this tutorial. It is so adorable. I am going to feature this on my blog on the 3rd. Watch out for it.

    Tierra
    pebblesandpoppys.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is so wonderful! I'm totally excited about making one for my newest little boy. I don't even care that he's due in June. Way too cute! I'm going to feature this on my blog as well:

    http://boyohboyohboycrafts.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. So darling! Another great way to use my t-shirts! I have already posted a tutorial for tee bags (t-shirt tote bags/shopping bags), and I'll post a link to your tutorial as well! Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Posted a link and pictures of the beanies I made using your tutorial--thanks again!

    http://amyraeannesadventures.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are great tees! I love T-Shirts. The first one on the list seems like it works only with a specific look but very creative anyway.I love all of them, I laughed quite a bit reading them.

    design t shirts

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for this tutorial. It is so adorable. I am going to feature this on my blog on the 3rd. Watch out for it.

    Awesome Tees

    ReplyDelete
  15. Because the results weren't to my satisfaction I purchased a heat press. A heat press is a machine designed specifically for custom tee shirt printing. You can choose the desired temperature you need and then press the shirt for the number of seconds required. black t shirts

    ReplyDelete