Three Uses For Old T-Shirts

By Ellie Kindlund on August 31, 2016

Freshmen, with a wearable memory from every team, event, and camp in the last five years, you’re looking for uses for old t-shirts, because as you move into the dorms, you don’t want 25 athletic t-shirts in your precious drawer space.

The three ideas below will make you smile whether you can’t bear to part with your tees, want to exchange them, or think they’re beyond hope.

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1. FOR THE MEMORY-KEEPER

Repurpose: try a t-shirt quilt! Pinterest is full of uses for old t-shirts. If you know anything about quilting, you can figure it out yourself pretty easily, but if you don’t, find a friend, aunt, or church lady who does and help them stitch it up at the sewing machine.

A cozy blanket will never hurt to have in your dorm, and you’ll love seeing your favorite (too small?) shirts and sweats immortalized for decades to come.

With the help of a friend from church, I made this t-shirt quilted body pillow — perfect back rest for sitting on my bed. It’s a hit!

Old t-shirts in quilt pillow

I made this body pillow using old t-shirts, fun patterned fabrics from the fabric store, and stuffing!

Similar uses for old t-shirts are pillows requiring just scissors and a lot of tying by hand, or, for the brave, new clothes.

2. FOR THE THRIFTER

If you love sifting through the good, the bad, and the ugly at thrift stores, you can guess what the next on our list of uses for old t-shirts is. Thrift stores sell tons of donated t-shirts for college-student cheap.

While it may seem weird to wear a shirt from someone else’s marathon or high school band, a quirky or clever t-shirt can make a great workout or sleep shirt (or, see the crafty uses for old t-shirts above!).

So while you peruse Goodwill or the like, bring in a box to donate as well. You’ll be doing good and making room for new-to-you clothes!

3. FOR THE PLANET-SAVER

Maybe your shirt is all the way past hope of reusing or donating — never fear, you can send it to be recycled. When the other uses for old t-shirts fail you, don’t trash them. See if you can drop them off at one of these yellow Planet Aid bins or a similar recycling service.

They can turn old clothes into new athletic fields, new clothes, or even paper money! Say goodbye to your dingy tee and hello to a couple of crisp Benjamins! (I can’t promise you’ll ever see a hundred dollar bill, silly college student, but someone must have that much money …)

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