Uses for free t-shirts? - YouLookFab Forum

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Uses for free t-shirts?

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I volunteered last week for the Tour of Utah bicycle race when it came to town. Part of the deal was a mens t-shirt to wear during my shift. My first YLF resolution was to dump all my mens tees (DH hates me in them). I can easily get 5-6 of these a year for free doing community stuff. When I dumped them last year, I saved them, then cut them into yarn and knit up some throw rugs.

Now they are starting to accumulate again. I guess I could save them, but is there a better use? I'm going to make a pillow cover out of one I really like. Are they of real value at donation centers or do they just get shipped to the rag factories? What do you do with commemorative and freebie tees?

General

19 replies

Latest reply was from Quietgirl

JAileen

Veteran

I'm in an AIDS walk next week (with dogs!) and I'm giving the shirt to my son to go with the Hepatitis shirt he already has.

The thrift store I volunteer at sells these kind of shirts. They don't charge a lot, but every little bit helps.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

You can cut them and tie them to fit you better, if they are too big, but you really like the design. Or donate them to a homeless shelter, where I am guessing there is a better chance of it going directly to a real person in your community.

Liz

Ann,

Open Arms in Austin, TX takes castoff t-shirts... and does something wonderful. I was totally inspired by the women there. http://www.theopenarmsshop.com/stories/

Laurinda

Veteran

Great for you for volunteering!

You might mention to your favorite causes that you'd prefer they not give out T's (maybe there is another method for identifying staffers?), or that they include a women's version.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Jaileen - sounds like you have a lot going on! I knew when we moved here that I wanted to get involved where I could help. I told DH he'd better like flipping pancakes at fundraisers or we shouldn't live in a small town.

Liz - can't quite figure out what exactly Open Arms is selling, but the concept of sustainable enterprise is always cool.

Laurinda - I don't get the tee thing as the default. For the race (like the Tour de France only across Utah, in fact the same guy who wine TdF won ToU this year) the tees made sense. It was kind of like a major league baseball game being played at our local high school and the paid staff needed to be able to id people at a distance. Our town of 200 was the finish line for one of the stages, pretty exciting to have 100+ rider peloton come blasting down your main street with the motorcade and tv helicopters.

But you are right, for other things locally, tees just aren't necessary.

unfrumped

Veteran

These are such a pain when they do that unisex sizing. If there were a really cool design or the event were especially meaningful, you cant really use the big men's shirts as a cool graphic T. I usually let them go but if I were more crafty I might like the idea of a soft throw patchwork quilt!

unfrumped

Veteran

Photos can help let go, too. Have some great event pics of you in your T.

deb

Veteran

Use them as stuffing in dog beds. You can remove them and wash.

abc

Veteran

I cut them up and use them for rags around the house and garage.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

No answer but I'm super annoyed that in my 10K I went for a medium only to find it was a technical tee and is too big even on my BF. so for my next race (same people put it on) I went for a small, only to find it was the cotton tee and snug. ugh. Thing is, I really like the graphic of the triathlon tee, but it's the only one EVER that is not big on me. Figures. ><

Anonymous

There are people who do renovations and paint or other dirty jobs who pick these up at thrift stores to wear to work. Still I don't like to have to wear them. I would rather they spend more for an interesting graphic, make them in men's and do men's sizes and styles and sell them. I don't mind paying for a great graphic tee.

Kim

Veteran

If you can sew one seam you can make reusable grocery bags out of them. Functional and sentimental! Google diy tshirt to grocery bag and see how its done.

Here's one tutorial, there are lots more (and even videos on Youtube)

http://www.instructables.com/i.....-TOTE-BAG/

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

Kim - that is a fantastic idea! DH took the race t, but I might take it back and do this.

Meredith

Veteran

Kim, that is such a great idea!

viva

Veteran

You can sew a quilt or throw out of them, too, making a big square out of the logo area -- it ends up super comfy and soft and machine washable. Sadly, I know this because my nephew died suddenly at age 19, and in tribute his aunt made such a quilt for my sister-in-law out of Christopher's old t-shirts. She uses it as a throw, and we all love it. It doesn't have to be so sad though. It's actually a great quit, just as a quilt.

Thistle

Veteran

Love the grocery bag idea!

I usually give them to DH and he uses them for painting/lawn mowing etc.

amiable

Veteran

I make them into underwear: http://verypurpleperson.com/20.....g-panties/

Dana

(website)

Veteran

I recently read that drying your hair with an old t is much gentler than a towel. I tried it yesterday.

Quietgirl

Veteran

Are they interesting enough to really wear as a graphic tee? I am guessing that your husband hates them on you because they are so oversized. There is a fabric store in my area that teaches how to downsize a vacation tee shirts to wear as a fashion item. (I don't buy tees on vacation so the class wasn't for me.) That is one idea.

I would turn them into shirts for my dog. (He has hair not fur.) I bought this tee at Michael's and now it is his safety shirt for walks!

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