>
All you need is an unwanted cotton t-shirt, a pair of sharp scissors, and about half an hour.
Lay the shirt on a flat surface and smooth it out with your hands. Start by cutting off and discarding the hem.
Beginning at the bottom of the shirt and working your way up, cut 1-inch strips to make loops. Vary the width of your strips based on your desired necklace thickness. I wanted a lot of tubes, so I kept my strips small. You can also cut a variety of sizes for one necklace if you want a less-uniform texture.
Stretch out the loops you just made so the cotton curls in on itself and forms long tubes.
Double up each tube, matching up the seams at one end.
If you break a loop at the seam while you’re stretching it out, just tie it back together with a simple knot and trim the excess. {This really is a fool-proof project}
Group all of your tubes by size, keeping the seams together at one end.
I used a women’s tee, so the tapered fit resulted in a great variation of tube sizes. If you’re using a men’s tee, you can cut the tubes into various sizes and tie them back together as shown above.
Gather them all together, with the longest tubes on the bottom and the shortest on the top, but save one!
Cut the tube you saved in half to make it a long string. Tie the string in a knot near one end of the section of seams. Tightly wrap the string around all of the seams to cover them. Be careful not to get the tubes twisted or tangled as you’re wrapping.
When everything is smooth and covered, tie off the other end of the string in a knot (using one of the necklace loops if you need to).
That’s it!
1 down, 51 to go…
>Waow! Great… I love it! thanks to share the tip!
>this is so neat! i'll have to try it now!
>that's so awesome! Love the end result. Good work. I may just give that a try.
seriously..this one of the ugliest fucking things I have ever seen. No wonder other countries hate us.
>AMAZING Restyle! I love it! This is such a unique way to reuse an old t-shirt. Thank you for the post!
>That fantastic! I look forward to seeing how you style it :)
>ummm that is amazeballs! love it!
>Wow Keira, this is really cool! I never repurpose clothing items, but it a really great idea! I'm going to have to look into that Project Resytle!
>I can already tell I'm going to love this project! Can't wait to see you wear this!
>what a neat idea!I can't wait to see your other challenges!! Also, I was thinking it'd be neat to string some sparkly beads on various places of the necklace to add a little bling. :)
>Great idea and something so easy that even I might be able to try. Now, let's see it on you!The Auspicious Life
>wow, interesting :)nice work http://urbanprettygirl.blogspot.com/and a happy new year
>This is so great! Thank you so much for sharing. I have a shirt that I still like, but have a little bit of stain and I can turn it into a necklace like this. :) Thanks a bunch!Adin B
>This looks pretty doable and certainly very pretty.
>Wow, this does look super easy. Thanks for sharing!
>This is GENIUS! I can't wait to do this.
>Very cool! I would love to see a picture of you wearing it!
>How cool! I think I may have a t-shirt sitting in my closet that is too small now and the perfect candidate for this sort of re-style. ;)
>That is super cool!I think I have found a project for the weekCan't wait to try this
>Wow, that looks really cool! Can't wait to see how you style it.And aren't stains the WORST?! I hate them.
>Wow! How awesome and easy is that?! I will be trying this, hopefully next weekend. Thanks for the tutorial!
>So great! i just reposted this on my blog of things I'm loving this week. Cant wait to try this and post my results. Have an old vibrant tee that could use a second chance at life :)
>Oooh, I love this! I'm doing this right away, as soon as I find an unwanted tee!!
>Great how to. I will definitely try this out. That is if I can find a shirt that needs a new life.No Guilt Fashion
>Wow, really cute and easy! And I love that color green, especially when its so dreary this time of year :)
>Super Cute and What a great way to use an old t-shirt.http://amyfashionblog52.blogspot.com/
>This is lovely! I'd love to feature it on Bubby and Bean!
>I know you said it was fool-proof, but that actually looks really really hard. Haha. I know I have more than enough old t-shirts though. I'll have to try this. I love the idea of using that material for a necklace.
>aaahhh I like this. Very creative.
>I have a few tee shirts that need new lives- thanks for this awesome idea! I LOVE the color of the tee you used and I'm glad you decided to restyle it, because I just know that color compliments your skin and hair! Cant' wait to see how you style it. :)
>Hey Lady!! I just came across your blog from Collette's blog and I am in LOVE!! I LOVE to do projects like this but never think them up on my own! I am DEF going to be doing this one! I want to do a bright color like this too!!I will have to go check out the link too!Happy New Year to you!XXEveryone Loves Lipstick Style Blog
>So awesome, I love it!!!
>that color really is superb! Can't wait to see this necklace styled in a whole outfit :)
>This is so cool! I definitely have shirts like this with stains or they just fit weird, so I will definitely have to try this!
>Oh my gosh girl I LOVE your blog and this is brilliant. New follower!kisslula
>Srsly! I need to try this pronto. I've got a couple t-shirts I don't wear anymore and this is the perfect solution. – Katy
>Love. It. I'm TOTALLY making one. Thank you so much for the link. I've saw a necklace like this a few months ago but I couldn't figure out how to make it!! WEoooo Hooo!!!Leaving the House in THIS?!?!
>Hello again! :) I just wanted to let you know I used your tutorial to make not one but two of these beautiful statement pieces. One, I kept for myself and the other I'm giving away to a reader. Just wanted to let you know and say thanks!
>I love this idea. I love what you did. I don't think I could come up with 52 things. Is that what it is… 52 things in 1 year?
>love it. so chic and simple. i'm going to have to do a similar project for sure! thanks for sharing!
>THank you for the IDea! I think I will make one for myself. Peacemissyhttp://throughanindielens.blogspot.com/
>Purdy!
>So awesome! I love love love that green!
>Hum, I ever seen this do it here/ http://virginiepeny.com/soft-or-dark-jersey/
>LOVE this…such a great idea. Although now I want to go find a green t-shirt, buy it, and then cut it up. Not really the point;)
>Hi from Brazil!I have just read this tutorial .It is awesome! In a few seconds I grabbed a tee I have in the drawer and I will give it a try. Thanks for this wonderfull tutorial.
>Oh, how great is that?! And easy enough for me to do it ;-)). I'm gonna make one tonight! Regards Es
>very fun and very easy! I made several…http://thebestisyettocome-kayla.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabric-of-our-lives.html…and shared with my sisters. :) I'm a big fan of re-inventing tshirts. such a comfy statement necklace.
>I love this idea! I am definitely going to try this!
>i love this! can't wait to try.
>Very pretty necklace! Great idea, I'm impressed! Thanks for sharing :)http://roseetviolette.blogspot.com
>I love this idea/ I've linked to it on my blog. travelbunny.blogspot.com
>Love the tip, made my own out of a t-shirt I've been thinking about tossing! http://nomapisasubstitute.blogspot.com/
>This turned out really great! I love the color you chose too!
>LOVE it. I am going to have to try that!
>Wow, I never would have thought of this. I have so many t-shirst I could do this with! Thank you for the great tute!
>Thanks so much for publishing this. Mine turned out great and I even made a cute headband out of the extras.
>AWESOME. I will be doing this soon!!
>This looks super easy and super cute, I think I might try it! Thanks for the tutorial!
>Thanks for the great tutorial, Kiera! I made it and love it! http://snappycasual.tumblr.com/post/3645415676/t-shirt-necklace
>SCREAMING LOVE IT
>SCREAMING LOVE IT
>this project is great. my 12 year old sister made me and my two other sisters these for christmas. Obviously it is as easy as it is fun. thanks for the tutorial!
>I tried this today! Love it!
>Also brilliant…
>How do you keep the seams from showing? I tried this and the seams are really unattractive. Did I do something wrong?
>How do you keep the seams from showing? I tried this and the seams are really unattractive. Did I do something wrong?
>I love these, I recently made one out of a tie die t-shirt it can out greatDaisy Dayz HomeCross-Jones-Photography Home
>This is awesome! I am definitely going to try it.. thanks for sharing!
>I woke up needing something yellow for the Super Bowl today and immediately thought our your restyle. Unfortunately, I then remember that I had donated the yellow shirt that I wanted to use for it when I cleaned out my closet over the holidays. Bummer. I hope I can use this idea sometime in the future, though.
>This is amazing!!! I think I might have just donated a shirt that would be perfect for this. Oh no!
>AWESOME! I can't wait to try this. Did you come up with this yourself? If so, it's just plain brilliant. Can't wait to check out your other restyles!!
>Super !!http://moncarnetdinspirations.blogspot.com
>Absolutely love this idea! This morning's job: to look for a stained tshirt– I might just have to have an "accident" during bfast just to justify cutting up a shirt! ;-)
>lovelovelove! Yesterday I took an old purse in a fabulous shade of red and made some sassy earrings with a matching cuff bracelet for tonight's outfit and now I'll have a necklace to add. Thanks oodles and oodles, xoxox one creative mamahttp://makedoseebe.blogspot.com/
>I think this project is great, and the chosen color of the shirt too. I have written about it today in my little blog and I wanted to thank you.http://hellobetterday.blogspot.com/
>I MUST MAKE THIS! You are so brilliant!http://www.stylethroughhereyes.com
>i am seriously in awe of this and, for some reason, do not believe that I could make anything as close to fantastic as this is. Have you worn it yet? I would love to see it in action!
I pinned this on my pinterest and just made an awesome grey one! Thanks for the tutorial!
Made one for myself and one for my daughter today!
Totally fun!!
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Made two, one for me and one for my daughter. We did it together, it was a great project for that! Thanks for the tutorial!!!
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What do you mean by “double up each tube”? Does this design make the seams opposite the seam in the back right smack dab in the middle of the necklace, or am I not following correctly?
Oh my gosh, this just happened to my white version of this tee! I accidentally hung it on a wire hanger and it got rust stains in the shoulders! I’m going to have to do this with it!
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I love this! I made one today and it’s beautiful … made me go through bags and bags of clothing that I’ve yet to donate anywhere and pull out everything in semi-okay condition, just so I can make more. Thanks!
Really great idea. Love it and can’t wait to get out my scissors!
Just made mine, and I love it! Thanks!
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Just made one out of an old green tee while 4 girls ran around our house for a play date. I had 7 yr old and 4 yr old helpers and it still turned out great! Thanks for the idea!
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Amazing! I can’t wait to turn the old t’s in my closet into something cute and wearable!
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Just made my own! Loved the outcome. I added large craft beads to a few strands just to jazz it up a bit. Thanks for the instructions and inspiration!
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A lady at church shared Pinterest with us and then a couple of the ladies at church had the T shirt necklaces after Christmas. I decided to make one for my daughter for her birthday. I had a hard time logging on to the right thing on Pinterest but found your blog and went to it. Thanks for the great instructions. I hope mine turns out as well. I am making red since that is my daughter’s favorite color and she wears a lot of red and black. I may make a black one also if the red turns out well.
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What an awesome idea! Love this blog – some really great tips and tricks for reusing your wardrobe, a girl after my own heart! Will definitely keep reading for more ideas!
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I made the t-shirt necklace last night for a birthday present. I found a really soft t-shirt that I thought would be perfect for this project – not so much. It pilled little purple balls of material ALL over me, my floor, work surface, etc. Since the party is tonight, I got up at 4am, grabbed an old tshirt (regular kind this time), and it turned out GREAT! Thanks for sharing the idea and instructions.
wow! this is a great project! thanks so much for sharing instructions.
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This is super cute…I can’t believe I am the only one having problems trying to mimic this though. My t-shirt strips aren’t rolling into tubes! Any ideas on what I’m doing wrong?
Hi Laura! Are you using a 100% cotton tee? If you are, just pull the strips carefully and they should roll right up! ;)
Yep 100% cotton…still no rolling…hmm…
I did this & it was so easy and is really cute!! I have a question though: mine is shedding. How did u stop it from doing that? Thanks so much for taking the time to share this idea!! I have gotten so many complements!
Hmm… I honestly haven’t worn mine enough to have this problem! But there’s a product at most craft stores called “no fray” and it comes in a spray form. You could try spraying your t-shirt necklace with that to protect the edges! :)
Thanks! I will try that!
WOW! The choice of colour of the tee shirt is also great!
Love it. Fun and easy!
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Did your shirt have side seams in both sides? If yes, what did you do , so you didnt have the ugly seam in the bottom of every string vissible (not in the neck where you cover)?
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love it and just made it but it’s kinda thin! I wonder if it’d be better if I used another t-shirt.
Hi Gwen! Glad you gave it a go! You can definitely use a couple of shirts in one necklace to beef it up a bit, or try cutting the strips a little wider.
Fantastic idea………
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love this! here is the one i made with a diy flower:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152183030745462&set=a.10152142402075462.913767.665200461&type=1&theater
What?! You are so talented! Haha. This non-DIY girl is so impressed! ;)
with grace & gumption, Hilary
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trying this as soon as I find an old tshirt!
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