Transform old t-shirts into unique necklaces

Starting Point: An old t-shirt and a string of beads in the same color (or not! :))

Instructions:

1. Cut the t-shirt to remove all seams, leaving only the front and back.

2. Cut the entire front and back into thin strips (max 1 cm, ideally less) along the longer side, ensuring that one strip is longer than the others. A rotary cutter makes this task easier and faster, but regular scissors will work just as well (don’t worry about imperfections; they will add charm to the piece).

3. Once all the fabric has been cut into strips……

4. …you will have a pile of strips ready for the next step.

5. Take each strip and stretch it, one by one. A firm pull is enough…

6. … to transform the original flat strips into slightly curled ones.

7. Set aside the longest strip and two regular-sized strips. Gather the remaining fabric strips along with the beaded string(s), ensuring that the longest strip is in the center of the bundle. The two extra strips will be used in the next step.

8/9. Using one of the extra strips, tie one end of the bundle of fabric strips + beads (you can first use an elastic band to make it easier). Simply wrap it around several times and tie two tight knots at the end…

10. … so that it looks like this!

11. Repeat steps 8, 9, and 10 on the other side.u

12/13. Trim the ends to create a more uniform look (being careful not to cut the longest strip).

14/15/16. Repeat step 12/13 on the other end.

17. After this, the longest strip will stand out.

18. Trim the ends of the longest strip, leaving enough space to tie the necklace around your neck (test before cutting).

19. And you’re done! For a special finishing touch, twist the fabric and bead strands together to better blend the different materials.