How to Make a Round Braided Rug-Style Trivet from Old T-Shirts
If you’ve been hunting for a satisfying weekend craft project that also gives new life to fabric you’d otherwise toss out, this one is going to become a favorite. Making a round braided rug-style trivet from old t-shirts combines an old-fashioned technique with modern upcycling, and the result is a thick, sturdy, heat-resistant pad that looks beautiful on any kitchen table or countertop. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or picking up a craft project for the first time, this tutorial will walk you through every step in detail — from selecting your shirts to finishing off your braid — so you end up with something you’ll actually be proud to use and display.
Why T-Shirt Fabric Is Perfect for This Project
Before diving into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why old t-shirts make such excellent material for this kind of project. T-shirts are made from jersey knit fabric, which has a natural stretch to it. When you cut jersey knit into strips and pull gently, the edges curl inward on themselves, creating a rounded, almost rope-like strand without any sewing required. This curling behavior is what makes the braiding process so clean and forgiving — you don’t end up with raw, fraying edges the way you would with woven cotton.
Jersey knit is also thick enough to provide some insulation, which is exactly what you want from a trivet. A finished braided trivet made from several layers of t-shirt fabric will protect your table from hot pots and pans effectively, and because you’re working with multiple strands braided together, the thickness builds up quickly. The fabric is soft but durable, it washes easily, and it compresses slightly when you coil it, which helps everything stay tight and even.
T-shirts also come in a nearly infinite variety of colors, so you can plan a palette that matches your kitchen, make something with rainbow stripes, or simply use whatever shirts you have on hand and let the colors surprise you.
What You’ll Need
You don’t need a lot of supplies for this project, and most of what you need you likely already own.
T-shirts: Plan on using three to five adult-sized t-shirts for one standard trivet that measures about seven to nine inches across. Larger trivets or pot holders will need more. The shirts should be clean and free of holes that would compromise the strips. Thicker shirts give you chunkier, more substantial braids, while thinner shirts produce more flexible, tighter coils.
Sharp fabric scissors: This is not the place for dull scissors. Cutting clean strips through jersey knit is much easier with a sharp blade. If you have a rotary cutter and cutting mat, those work wonderfully and speed the process up considerably.
A ruler or cutting guide: Consistency in strip width makes for a neater braid, so having a ruler nearby helps you stay on track.
Strong thread and a needle, or fabric glue: You’ll need something to secure the beginning and end of your braid, and to stitch the coil together as you work.
A large safety pin or braid clip (optional): Anchoring your three strands before you start braiding makes the process much easier.
A flat work surface: Coiling and stitching the trivet is easier when you can lay everything flat on a table.
Preparing Your T-Shirt Strips
The preparation stage is where a lot of people make their first mistake, so it’s worth taking your time here. The goal is to cut continuous strips of fabric that are as long as possible, because the fewer knots and joins you have in your braid, the smoother and more attractive the finished piece will be.
Start by laying your t-shirt flat on your cutting surface. Cut off the hem at the very bottom of the shirt — that hemmed edge is stiffer and doesn’t behave the same way as the rest of the fabric when you braid it. Discard the hem or save it for another project.
Next, cut across the shirt horizontally, working your way up from the bottom, to create loops of fabric. Each cut should be about one and a half to two inches wide. Don’t cut through both layers of the shirt and then stop at the edge — instead, use a technique that connects each loop into one continuous strip. Here’s how to do it:
After you’ve cut your horizontal strips, you’ll have a series of fabric loops. To join them into one long strand, lay the loops flat and cut diagonally from one loop to the next at the fold. If you’ve ever seen a continuous spiral cut on paper, this works the same way. Essentially, you’re making a slight diagonal cut at alternating sides so that instead of individual rings, you get one long spiral strip of fabric.
Once you have your strips, hold one end and give it a gentle pull along its length. The jersey knit will naturally curl inward as it stretches slightly, forming a soft, rounded strip. This is good — it’s exactly what you want. Run your fingers down the length of each strip to encourage that curling and to work out any spots where the fabric is twisted in an unflattering way.
Aim to cut strips that are as consistent in width as possible. If some strips are noticeably thinner or wider than others, they’ll show up as uneven spots in your braid. For a trivet, strips between one and a half and two inches wide tend to work best — wide enough to build up quickly, narrow enough to stay manageable.
Building Your Braid
Once you have a good supply of strips ready — it’s better to have too many than too few, since you can always save extras for another project — it’s time to start braiding.
Gather three strips in colors you like together and tie them in a simple overhand knot at one end, or stitch them together at the top if you prefer a cleaner look. Secure this tied end to something stable. Many crafters clip it to the edge of a table with a binder clip, pin it to a pillow on their lap, or simply hold it between their knees. The key is that the top of your braid should be anchored so the tension stays consistent as you work.
Now braid as you would braid hair: take the right strand and cross it over the center strand, then take the left strand and cross it over the new center strand, and repeat. Keep the tension even — not so tight that the strips distort, and not so loose that the braid looks floppy. A good rule of thumb is to pull each strand firmly but not aggressively, keeping the braid flat and consistent.
As you work, make sure the strips are curled inward rather than lying flat. If a strip starts to unravel from its curled shape, smooth it back as you go. The curled edges are what give the braid its round, rope-like profile, and they also help the finished trivet sit neatly without looking messy.
Joining new strips: When one of your strands runs out, you’ll need to add more length. The easiest way to do this is to cut a small slit (about half an inch) near the end of your current strand and near the beginning of a new one. Loop the new strip through the slit of the old one and then through the slit of itself, like a lark’s head knot. Pull it snug. When this junction gets braided in, it disappears almost entirely and the join is very strong. With a little practice, you’ll barely be able to find the joins in your finished braid.
Keep braiding until you have a length of braid that’s enough to coil into the size trivet you want. For a seven-inch trivet, you’ll need roughly four to five feet of braid. For a nine-inch trivet, plan on six to eight feet. It’s always better to braid more than you think you’ll need and trim later.
Coiling and Stitching the Trivet
This is the stage that transforms your braid from a long strip into the round, rug-style shape that makes this project so charming. The technique is straightforward but requires patience, because you’re essentially stitching as you coil, and that stitching needs to be sturdy enough to hold up to regular kitchen use.
Start at the center. Take the knotted or tied beginning of your braid and curl it into a tight little circle. This first coil is the heart of your trivet — keep it as even and compact as you can. Use a needle and strong thread (upholstery thread or doubled regular thread works well) to stitch through the adjacent loops of braid, connecting them securely. Some crafters use fabric glue for this step and find it holds just as well.
Once your center is secure, begin coiling the rest of the braid around it in a flat spiral, stitching as you go. After every inch or two of new coil, stitch through the new braid and into the layer it’s resting against, essentially lacing the coils together. The stitches don’t need to be decorative or visible — their job is structural. Work from the top of the trivet as you stitch, pressing the coils flat against the table so the trivet stays level and doesn’t dome upward.
There’s a common tendency at this stage to coil too tightly at first, which causes the trivet to curve upward like a bowl rather than lying flat. If you notice this happening, loosen your coil slightly and let the braid lay with a little more relaxed tension as you work outward. A flat trivet is both more functional and more attractive than a curved one.
Continue coiling and stitching until you’ve used all of your braid or reached the diameter you want. For a finished edge, fold the tail end of the braid under itself and stitch it firmly to the last coil, hiding the raw end beneath the outer edge of the trivet. Run several stitches through this tail to make sure it won’t come loose.
Tips for a Polished Finish
A few small details separate a trivet that looks handmade-in-a-good-way from one that looks just messy.
Keep the tension consistent throughout. This is the single biggest factor in how even and attractive your finished trivet looks. Loose spots in the braid create loose coils, and loose coils give the trivet a lopsided, unfinished appearance. Take breaks if your hands get tired rather than rushing through sections when your grip relaxes.
Press it flat. Once your trivet is finished, lay it on a flat surface and press down on it firmly with your hands. If you have a heavy book, set it on top and let it sit for an hour. This helps everything settle into an even, flat shape.
Stitch from both sides. If you notice any areas where the stitching feels loose, flip the trivet over and add a few reinforcing stitches from the back. The underside of a braided trivet is less visible than the top, so you can stitch more freely there without worrying about aesthetics.
Wash before first use. Run your finished trivet through the washing machine on a gentle cycle and lay it flat to dry. This sets the shape, tightens everything up slightly, and removes any loose fibers. Many crafters find that their trivet actually looks better after a wash than it did before.
Color and Design Ideas
One of the most delightful things about this project is the design freedom it gives you. Because you’re working with three separate strands in the braid, you can create all kinds of color effects depending on how you combine your t-shirt strips.
Using three strands of the same color produces a clean, monochromatic look that’s very modern and graphic. Using two strands of one color and one strand of a contrasting color gives you a subtle striped or twisted effect that adds depth without being busy. Using three completely different colors creates a lively, braided look that shows the classic texture of the stitch beautifully.
For a more planned design, you can also change colors at regular intervals as you join new strips — for example, switching the center strand to a new color every few inches creates a striped effect that spirals outward as you coil the braid. This is a little more complex to track but produces a really striking finished piece.
If you want your trivet to coordinate with existing kitchen textiles, sort through your t-shirts before you start and select colors that complement your dish towels, napkins, or table runner. The t-shirt fabric will have a slightly different texture than woven textiles, but a shared color palette ties everything together beautifully.
Caring for Your Braided Trivet
Because your trivet is made entirely from cotton jersey, it’s machine washable, which is a significant advantage over some other trivet materials. Wash it in cold or warm water on a gentle or normal cycle. Avoid hot water, which can cause the fabric to shrink and potentially warp the shape of your trivet over time.
Lay it flat to dry rather than putting it in the dryer, at least for the first several washes. The dryer’s tumbling action can loosen stitches in a new trivet before everything has had a chance to fully settle. After a few washes, most braided trivets become sturdy enough that occasional machine drying on low heat is fine.
If the trivet starts to look slightly lumpy or uneven after washing, simply press it flat with your hands while it’s still damp and let it dry that way. It will regain its shape easily.
Making a Set or Scaling Up
Once you’ve made your first trivet and gotten the hang of the technique, you’ll probably want to make more. A set of three trivets in coordinating colors makes a beautiful housewarming gift or holiday present. Because t-shirts are so inexpensive to source (thrift stores are a goldmine for this project), the cost of materials is almost nothing, and the handmade value is genuinely high.
You can also scale the technique up to make larger pieces — a small table mat, a placemat, or even a larger pot holder. The same braiding and coiling method applies regardless of size; you simply braid longer and coil wider. For very large pieces, some crafters switch from hand-stitching to using a sewing machine with a wide zigzag stitch, running it along the join between each coil for a faster, very secure result.
Making a round braided rug-style trivet from old t-shirts is one of those projects that rewards you on multiple levels at once. You get the meditative pleasure of working with your hands, the satisfaction of using material that might otherwise end up in a landfill, and a genuinely functional, beautiful object at the end. The technique is rooted in a long tradition of rag rug making, adapted here into something small enough to finish in a single afternoon but meaningful enough to make again and again. Pull out those old shirts, grab your scissors, and get started — the finished trivet waiting for you at the other end of that braid is well worth the effort.
