CREATIVE CORNER

You’ve Got This

in the (Beach) Bag

By Alexandra Sullivan

If you’re looking for a creative project to do this summer that is also functional, you’ll love this DIY! Everyone has one of those T-shirts. You know the one, too big, kind of cute but not quite wearable anymore. So, grab that shirt and repurpose it as a beach bag! All you need are some scissors.

Supplies:

■ T-shirt or tank top ■ Fabric scissors ■ Creativity

Optional:

■ Needle and thread/ sewing machine ■ Embellishments ■ Fabric glue

Step One:

If you’re using a tank top, skip this step! Cut the sleeves off your Tshirt. Make sure to make it a clean and even cut, these will serve as the straps of your bag.

Step Two:

Next, cut the collar off your Tshirt in a deep scoop. Now you have the top of your bag.

Step Three:

If you don’t want a fringe on the bottom of the bag, turn the shirt inside out. If you do want fringe for that extra flair, keep it as is. Cut several vertical strips through both layers of the shirt across the bottom. Make sure that these strips are long enough that you’ll be able to tie them twice.

Step Four:

Knot the strips on the front of the shirt with the strips on the back of the shirt until the bottom of the “bag” is completely closed. You’ll notice that there are holes in between each knotted pair. The next step will close those holes.

Step Five:

Tie the back strands of each pairing to the top strands of the pairing next to it. Feel free to add more knots if necessary to add sturdiness.

Step Six:

Turn the bag right side out and voila! You have a new beach bag.

If you’re feeling extra creative, cut one of the sleeves as a pocket and glue or sew it on the front of your bag! You can also use embellishments such as patches, rhinestones or buttons to spice up the look of your beach bag.

This project is a great way to repurpose old shirts and make a project that’s sure to be a topic of conversation. It also serves as a great gift idea, especially if you utilize a meaningful T-shirt in the process. Using recycled materials to create new things is sure to not only better our planet but will better your beach day!

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