How to Make T-Shirt Yarn Tutorial (T-Yarn)
If you’ve ever looked at a pile of old cotton T-shirts and wondered whether they could be turned into something beautiful, the answer is a resounding yes. T-shirt yarn, often called T-yarn or tarn, is one of the most satisfying and sustainable crafting materials you can make entirely at home. It’s thick, stretchy, colorful, and practically free if you already have worn-out shirts sitting in a drawer. Once you learn how to cut and prepare it properly, you can use T-yarn to crochet baskets, knit rugs, weave wall hangings, make bags, and so much more.
This tutorial walks you through everything you need to know, from choosing the right shirts to cutting perfect strips, joining them seamlessly, and storing your finished yarn for your next project. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned fiber artist looking to work with a new medium, making your own T-shirt yarn is an enjoyable, low-waste process that opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities.
What Is T-Shirt Yarn?
T-shirt yarn is exactly what it sounds like: yarn made by cutting T-shirts into long, continuous strips of fabric. When you cut a jersey-knit cotton shirt crosswise and stretch the strips slightly, the edges curl inward and the fabric becomes a round, rope-like strand that behaves remarkably like conventional thick yarn or cord.
The result is a bulky, super-soft material that works beautifully with large crochet hooks (sizes N through P and beyond), chunky knitting needles (US size 13 or larger), or even on a basic loom. Because cotton jersey is naturally stretchy, T-yarn has a pleasant give to it that makes it easy on the hands during long crafting sessions.
Beyond its creative appeal, T-yarn is also an excellent way to practice zero-waste living. Old shirts that are too faded, stained, or worn to donate can be given a second life as functional, gorgeous handmade objects. Even fabric scraps from other sewing projects can be incorporated into your stash.
What You’ll Need
Before you sit down to make T-shirt yarn, gather your supplies. You don’t need much, and most of what you need you probably already have at home.
T-shirts: The best shirts for T-yarn are 100% cotton or at least a high-percentage cotton blend. Pure cotton jersey stretches beautifully and curls into a neat tube. Shirts with polyester content will still work but tend to be less stretchy and may feel slightly stiffer. Avoid shirts with heavy screen printing across the body, since those sections won’t curl as nicely. Lightweight to medium-weight jersey fabric is ideal.
Sharp fabric scissors: This is the one area where you absolutely should not cut corners, so to speak. Dull scissors drag and fray the fabric instead of cutting cleanly, making the whole process frustrating. If you have a rotary cutter and cutting mat, those work even better for straight, even strips.
A ruler or measuring tape: Consistency in strip width gives you more uniform yarn. Most crafters cut strips between three-quarters of an inch and one and a half inches wide. Wider strips make thicker, heavier yarn; narrower strips make finer, more pliable yarn.
A flat work surface: A table, a cutting mat, or even a clean hard floor gives you the control you need to cut straight lines.
Optional — a fabric marker or chalk: Lightly marking cut lines on the shirt before you begin can help beginners maintain consistent widths.
A ball winder or your hands: Once your strips are cut and joined, you’ll want to wind them into a usable ball or skein.
Choosing Your T-Shirts
The quality and type of shirt you start with will have a big impact on the finished yarn, so it pays to be thoughtful here. Here’s what to look for.
Opt for large or extra-large shirts. The bigger the shirt, the longer your strips will be. A small children’s shirt might give you only a short length of yarn, while an XL adult shirt can yield a surprisingly generous amount. Large shirts are also easier to work with because you have more fabric to handle without the cuts getting awkwardly small.
Tubular construction is your friend. Many basic T-shirts are knit as a tube, meaning the body has no side seams. These are ideal because you can cut the entire tube in a spiral or in loops and end up with one very long, continuous strand. Shirts with side seams can still be used, but they require a slightly different method (which we’ll cover below) and tend to produce shorter individual pieces that need to be joined together.
Avoid thick hems and seams wherever possible. The collar ribbing and the hem at the bottom are usually too thick or too stiff to curl nicely into yarn. You’ll cut those sections away before you start.
Solid or striped colors produce the most visually cohesive yarn. If you cut a shirt with a large graphic or print, you might end up with a distracting patch in the middle of your yarn. That said, mixed and tie-dye shirts can create beautiful, random color effects, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Wash your shirts before cutting. Pre-washing removes any residue, softens the fabric, and ensures your finished yarn won’t shrink or bleed color onto other materials once it’s worked into a project.
The Two Main Methods for Cutting T-Shirt Yarn
There are two reliable techniques for cutting T-yarn: the loop method and the continuous spiral method. Both produce great results, but they work differently depending on your shirt’s construction.
Method One: The Loop Method (for Shirts with Side Seams)
This method is straightforward and works well for shirts that have sewn side seams running along both sides of the body.
Start by laying the shirt flat on your work surface. Cut off the bottom hem in a straight horizontal line, just above the hemmed edge. Then cut off the top of the shirt just below the armholes, removing the sleeves, shoulder seams, and collar in one cut. What you’re left with is a fabric rectangle, open at both sides.
Now fold the rectangle in half lengthwise, or simply cut through both layers, so you end up with a stack of flat fabric. Cut horizontal strips across the fabric, working from the bottom up. Each strip should be the same width — somewhere between three-quarters of an inch and one and a half inches is typical. Cut all the way through both layers so you end up with a series of fabric loops.
To connect these loops into a continuous strand, use a simple slip-knot join. Take two loops. Lay one on a flat surface and push one end of the second loop through the center of the first. Then fold that end back over the outside of the first loop and pull the second loop through itself. Tighten gently and slide the knot so it sits snugly. Repeat until all your loops are joined. Once you’ve chained them together, stretch the joined strip gently along its length to encourage the edges to curl inward and form the rope-like structure that makes T-yarn so appealing.
Method Two: The Continuous Spiral Method (for Seamless Tube Shirts)
This is the more elegant technique, favored by many experienced T-yarn makers because it creates one single uninterrupted strand with no joins. It does require a bit more initial setup but is well worth the effort.
Lay your seamless shirt flat and cut off the bottom hem and the top section (sleeves, collar, and shoulder area) just as you would with the loop method. You now have a fabric tube. Keep it as a tube — don’t cut it open.
Fold the tube so that the two open ends align, but leave roughly one to two inches of the back layer unfolded at the top. This offset is the key to the spiral method.
Now, working on the top layer of the folded tube only, cut horizontal strips of equal width from one side to the other, stopping about one inch before the edge of the folded portion (the offset section). Do not cut all the way through to that edge. You will end up with a series of cuts that go almost — but not quite — all the way across.
Unfold the tube and lay it flat. You’ll see strips almost fully separated, still connected at alternating sides in the offset region at the top. Pick up the fabric and rotate it until you can visualize the diagonal connecting pieces. Starting at one end, cut diagonally from the first strip’s free end to the next strip’s attachment point, then continue working along the uncut offset section in a diagonal pattern, connecting the strips into one continuous spiral. It can feel a little confusing the first time, so go slowly and you’ll see the single long strand emerge.
Once the full strip is cut, stretch it gently between your hands along its entire length. The strip will curl into that satisfying tubular shape. Wind it into a ball as you go.
How Wide Should You Cut Your Strips?
Strip width is one of the key variables in T-yarn making, and the right width depends on what you plan to make with the finished yarn.
For very fine T-yarn — something you might use on a size J crochet hook or size 10 knitting needles — cut strips about three-quarters of an inch wide. This creates a lighter, more flexible yarn best suited for garments, lightweight bags, or delicate woven pieces.
For standard T-yarn suitable for most basket, rug, and bag projects, strips between one inch and one and a quarter inches wide are a reliable all-purpose choice. This is the most common width you’ll find in tutorials and patterns.
For chunky, ultra-thick T-yarn designed for finger knitting, arm knitting, or very large crochet hooks and needles, cut strips up to one and a half or even two inches wide. Keep in mind that very wide strips can be harder to stretch into a neat tube, so you may need to work them a bit more by hand.
Joining Your Strips Without Knots
If you used the loop method and have a collection of rings you need to join, or if you simply have two lengths of T-yarn you want to connect mid-project, the knot-free fabric join is the technique you want. It creates a smooth, nearly invisible connection that glides easily through your stitches.
Hold the end of Strip A and the end of Strip B. With a small pair of scissors, cut a small horizontal slit about a half-inch from the end of each strip. The slit should be centered in the width of the fabric and about a quarter-inch long. Push one end of Strip A through the slit in Strip B, then push that same end of Strip A back through its own slit. Pull gently until the join cinches snug. The two strips are now interlocked without any bulky knot.
This method is so smooth that most of the time the join is almost invisible in a finished project, which makes it ideal for projects where you want a polished result.
How Much Yarn Will One Shirt Make?
This varies considerably depending on the size of the shirt and the width of your strips, but as a general guide, one medium adult T-shirt cut into one-inch strips will give you roughly 50 to 70 yards of T-yarn. A large or XL shirt can yield 80 to 100 yards or more. A simple small crochet basket typically requires two to four shirts’ worth of yarn. A basic rug might need eight to twelve shirts or more depending on size.
That’s why many T-yarn makers keep an ongoing collection. Ask friends and family to set aside old cotton shirts, check thrift stores for bags of mixed shirts sold by the pound, or watch for color-coordinated donations that would make beautiful, planned-colorway yarn.
Storing and Organizing Your T-Yarn
Once your T-yarn is cut, stretched, and wound into balls, keep it organized in bins, baskets, or bags sorted by color family. Since the yarn takes up quite a bit of space, large clear storage bins work well because you can see your color options at a glance. Many crafters display their yarn in open baskets as part of their home décor, and because T-yarn comes in such vivid colors, it doubles as a pretty visual display.
If you’re storing yarn made from shirts with potential dye instability, keep colors separated until you’re ready to use them, and consider giving the finished project a cold-water wash before use.
Ideas for What to Make with T-Shirt Yarn
T-yarn opens the door to dozens of wonderful projects, and the thick, forgiving texture makes it especially appealing for beginners and those who find fine yarn difficult to work with.
Coiled bowls and storage baskets are probably the most popular T-yarn project. The stiff structure of thick T-yarn holds its shape beautifully, so crocheted baskets firm up nicely without any extra stiffener. Floor rugs are another perennial favorite — a simple crochet oval rug in two or three complementary colors is an achievable weekend project that makes a real visual impact in a room. Market bags and tote bags are quick to crochet and incredibly durable. Pot holders, trivets, wall hangings, macramé-style decorations, dog leashes, and even simple hammocks have all been made successfully with T-yarn.
Because the material is so affordable and the finished items are so sturdy, T-yarn crafts also make wonderful handmade gifts and even items to sell at craft fairs.
Tips for Success
A few small habits will make a big difference in the quality of your T-yarn and the enjoyment of the process.
Always stretch your strips as you cut them, not just at the very end. Running each strip through your fingers with a light stretch right after cutting helps the curl form immediately and gives you a clearer sense of the final thickness before you wind it up.
Consistency in your cutting width matters more than perfection. A small variation here and there won’t ruin your project, but wildly different widths in the same ball of yarn can create an uneven texture in your finished piece. Taking a moment to mark your cutting lines before you begin saves time in the long run.
Experiment with combining multiple shirts in a single ball. You can intentionally blend colors for an ombre or striped effect, or create a random, scrappy yarn from whatever shirts you happen to have. The unexpected combinations are often the most striking.
Finally, don’t overlook the seams and hems you cut away at the start. The bottom hem of a T-shirt, for example, is a neat tubular strip of fabric that makes a sturdy handle, a cord for drawstring bags, or a reinforcement for basket rims. Nothing needs to go to waste.
Final Thoughts
Making T-shirt yarn is one of those wonderfully satisfying craft skills that connects you to both your materials and the creative process in a very direct way. You start with something ordinary — a worn-out shirt, a thrift store find — and through a few simple cuts and a little stretching, you transform it into a beautiful, colorful material ready for its next chapter. The projects you can make with T-yarn are practical, durable, and full of personality, and the fact that you made the yarn yourself adds an extra layer of pride and meaning to every stitch.
If you’re new to T-yarn, start with one shirt and just practice the cutting. Feel how the fabric responds as you stretch it, notice how the edges curl, experiment with different widths, and get a feel for how much yarn a single shirt produces. Once you’ve made your first ball, chances are you’ll immediately start eyeing the rest of your closet with fresh creative eyes.
Happy crafting — and happy cutting.
