T-Shirt Tote Bag for Kids

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com #tshirt #totebag #recycle #repurpose

T-shirt tote bags are such a great way to repurpose an old t-shirt.  The cost is nothing, you can do so many different things with them and they are one of the easiest things you will ever make.  

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com #t-shirt #totebag #repurpose #recycle

I've been wanting to make one of these for a while but finally got around to it.  My youngest son had a cute Flag T-Shirt that he had grown out of {insert really deep sigh of sadness} and I just couldn't part with it so I made it into a tote bag for him.  This would be perfect for him to take lunch to the park, snacks to the drive-in or to use to hold his snacks for summer camp.  The list goes on and on.

Supplies:

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com first step

T-shirt

scissors

sewing machine and thread

plate or something round to mark the area you will be cutting out.

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com sleeves-off

1.  Cut off the sleeves leaving the seam intact.

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com mark-neck

2.  Mark an area around the neck and above the design using the plate.  

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com neckline-marked

3.  I used a pencil because I'm fancy like that but you could use a sewing pencil that will come off in the wash.  Once I marked my 'curved' area I removed the plate and then drew lines straight up for the handles.

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com ready-to-stitch

4.  Make your cut out of the line you just drew.

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com stitched-bottom

5.  Turn your shirt/bag inside out and stitch using either a straight seam or a zig zag seam.  The zig zag is better as it will allow for stretch of your tote.  I did both to reinforce the seam.

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com gusset #1

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com gusset

6.  Measure in 1 ½ inches from the bottom corners and make a gusset sewing straight across.

t-shirt tote bag11

 

t-shirt tote bag12

7.  Cut off the outer edge of what you just sewed.  

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com with-edging

8.  Turn right side out and stitch if you would like around the arm seams and neck seam to set it off or leave as it.  Since it's t-shirt material it won't fray.  

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com being-modeled

There you have it ~ an easy to make, repurposed, recycled tote bag for the little person in your life.  You could also make ones from larger shirts to use for grocery shopping, going to the farmer's market, flea market, etc.  

Recycled T-Shirt PillowcaseIMG_6011

A few years ago I made this pillow from my oldest son's favorite t-shirt.  

T-shirt-tote-bag-for-kids at cupcakesandcrinoline.com eyes-closed

 And this picture I added just because my little guy looked so cute with his eyes closed!  He doesn't have any grandmas so you have to humor me by letting me share stuff here.  🙂  

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6 Comments

  1. Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says:

    That is so creative Mary Beth! What a fabulous idea! 🙂

    Nancy

    1. Mary Beth says:

      Thank you so much, Nancy! 🙂

  2. Sooooooo adorable!!! You are so clever my friend!! Your helper is so cute - I just want to pinch his cheeks!! 😀

    1. Mary Beth says:

      Thanks so much, Heather! My helper would love it if you fussed over him ~ he's my snuggly one. 🙂

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