DIY T-shirt Bracelet

I cleaned out my closet this weekend, and it’s a ghost town in there now. Everything that was too small or not flattering or looked like a power suit had to go. All the pre-baby clothes that I’ve hung on to forever, hoping that my hips will return to their former shape (yeah, not happening), got shoved into wardrobe boxes and out of sight into a storage room. Why can’t I make myself get rid of them completely?! Hope springs eternal I suppose.

I always end up with a huge pile of t-shirts that never got worn. Most were impulse purchases because someone was having a meltdown so I grabbed the whatever was close and headed to the registers. So I ripped up a few. And let me tell ya, that is very satisfying. You may recall a previous braided t-shirt bracelet I did last year (that folks went crazy for) so I figured it was time to braid again!

Supplies needed:

• Old cotton or jersey t-shirts
• Scissors
• Wooden beads – I’m a big fan of the natural wooden ones

Cut long strips about 1-2 inches wide from the old t-shirts. Tug on each strips until the edges curl in. Grab three strands, tape down the ends, and start braiding. Braid about 6 inches and start inserting the wooden beads. Put the bead on the strand that will be on the outside of the braid.

After you’ve added the beads, continue braiding for another 6 inches. Put it your wrist to see if the length is right to wrap 3 times. You can wear the longer version as a necklace or you can make a short bracelet that doesn’t wrap. So many possibilities!

To make a closure, tie a knot on each side. Snip two of the t-shirt pieces close to the knot. Use the remaining piece to knot the bracelet in place on your wrist. Trim any excess length. The t-shirt pieces have enough stretch that you can easily slip the bracelet on and off. But for a more polished look, you can glue the ends into a end cap piece.

And now that I have nothing to wear (except all of my new bracelets) it’s time to go shopping, right?