One of the biggest fashion faux pas is failing to clean out your closet every year. Instead of cringing at lost items of clothing that used to be great, make room for the latest fashions while turning old clothing into beach accessories. One prime example of a DIY beach accessory that does not require sewing expertise is a no-sew t-shirt fringe bag. Clear out much needed real estate in your closet, and turn an old or unwanted men’s t-shirt into a trendy fringe beach bag. Get what you need, and make the rest for next to nothing.
All You Need Besides the Shirt for Hobo-Chic Bags
Making your own bag is easier than you think. An extra-large men’s t-shirt without side seams is ideal. A large shirt that your significant other continues to wear despite protests and dirty looks can be an even better option. Grab some scissors, a few dozen beads, a pen, and a ruler to get started. The entire process takes about as long as watching a television show, and it only costs a few dollars. Never worry about unidentified muck getting on your beach bag again. Simply wash it in the machine or make a new one.
How to Get It Done
It’s pretty simple to make t-shirt fringe bags. There are a few basic steps.
1. Turn the shirt inside out, and cut off the neck, the sleeves, and the bottom seam.
2. Measure 10” down from the bottom of both armpits, and make two marks.
3. Use a ruler and pen to draw a straight line between the two marks.
4. Cut ¾” strips along the bottom of the shirt, stopping at the line every time.
5. Yank on the strips to turn them into fringe.
6. Cut each piece of fringe diagonally.
7. Tie a bead onto the end of each piece of fringe.
8. Tie the front and back strips together with a simple square knot at the top.
9. Cut the shoulder pieces apart, and cut out the seams if necessary.
10. Pull the back shoulder pieces together and tie into a small, tight knot.
11. Pull the front should pieces together and tie into a small, tight knot.
12. Voila! It’s a great bag for the beach!
Accessories Make the Outfit No Matter What
A t-shirt fringe bag is easy to pull off when paired with a stylish casual dress and a great pair of shoes. Think hobo-chic, not plain hobo. An easy accessory for the beach is great for every day errands when paired with stylish clothing. Think about balance when creating bohemian looks. For example, pair a new top and quality sandals with a DIY bag and cutoff shorts. Balance hobo-chic accessories with polished clothing for a great look, from head to toe.
Know Your Limits and Avoid Looking Like a Walking Work in Progress
You might be able to sew a perfect sundress in an hour, or you might be able to sew something that looks like a home economics project. Know what you are great at, and know what you need to purchase. Build an extensive wardrobe around different accessories and great clothing. Perfecting beach style can be just that simple.
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This sounds like so much fun and is creative too. Since I have all those free T-shirts that my husband doesn’t wear I have many from which to choose.
Fun and creative way to make a bag. Plus, it’s personal this way. Very shabby chic and boho is very in right now. Now, to grab my scissors because I’m already thinking of shirts to use to add even more meaning to my bag and to repurpose the shirts. Thanks.
This is such a good idea. I’ve seen several different versions of this DIY project lately, but this is the first one I’ve seen that uses beads, which seems like a nice touch to me. Thanks for the how-to and the link.
Found lots of good DIY Pins from this site and pinned the Tee tutorial. Looks good.
After jumping over to the link and being able to visualize this I am totally in love. My husband has a drawer full of t-shirts that he doesn’t wear (you know all those freebies you get and never, ever wear) but won’t part with … “just in case”. Well the time has come to put them to good use. This will be a great tote for my niece!