>Project ReStyle: Easy No-Sew T-Shirt Necklace

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BeforeAfter
I’m kind of ridiculously excited about this Project ReStyle challenge, and I’m really looking forward to learning some new crafting skills throughout the year. For my first ReStyle, I started with something really simple. I love the color of this boyfriend tee from Target, but it has a small stain on the front which renders it unwearable. Using this video tutorial from Threadbanger as inspiration, I transformed it into a necklace. 
Read more after the jump to find out how to make your own! 

Step1

All you need is an unwanted cotton t-shirt, a pair of sharp scissors, and about half an hour. 

Lay the shirt on a flat surface and smooth it out with your hands. Start by cutting off and discarding the hem.

Step2

Beginning at the bottom of the shirt and working your way up, cut 1-inch strips to make loops. Vary the width of your strips based on your desired necklace thickness. I wanted a lot of tubes, so I kept my strips small. You can also cut a variety of sizes for one necklace if you want a less-uniform texture.

Step3

Stretch out the loops you just made so the cotton curls in on itself and forms long tubes.
Double up each tube, matching up the seams at one end.

Step4

If you break a loop at the seam while you’re stretching it out, just tie it back together with a simple knot and trim the excess. {This really is a fool-proof project}

Step5

Group all of your tubes by size, keeping the seams together at one end.

I used a women’s tee, so the tapered fit resulted in a great variation of tube sizes. If you’re using a men’s tee, you can cut the tubes into various sizes and tie them back together as shown above.

Gather them all together, with the longest tubes on the bottom and the shortest on the top, but save one!

Step6

Cut the tube you saved in half to make it a long string. Tie the string in a knot near one end of the section of seams. Tightly wrap the string around all of the seams to cover them. Be careful not to get the tubes twisted or tangled as you’re wrapping.

When everything is smooth and covered, tie off the other end of the string in a knot (using one of the necklace loops if you need to).

That’s it!

1 down, 51 to go… 

About Keira Lennox

I'm a small town girl from the sunshine state with an affinity for bookstores, beauty counters and unfussy style. I spend my days running my flower shop, and my nights blogging about what I love and what I wear. (Or watching Netflix and drinking wine.)

164 thoughts on “>Project ReStyle: Easy No-Sew T-Shirt Necklace”

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  2. Pingback: 9 Easy-Peasy Ways to Upcycle Old T-shirts - Sun Island Jamaica
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    Reply
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  21. Note: this is best with a t-shirt that only has one seam. Then you can match the one seam at the top. If you have two seams then one will always been seen.

    Reply
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    1. Hi Gwen! Glad you gave it a go! You can definitely use a couple of shirts in one necklace to beef it up a bit, or try cutting the strips a little wider.

      Reply
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  39. Did your shirt have side seams in both sides? If yes, what did you do , so you didnt have the ugly seam in the bottom of every string vissible (not in the neck where you cover)?

    Reply
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  44. I did this & it was so easy and is really cute!! I have a question though: mine is shedding. How did u stop it from doing that? Thanks so much for taking the time to share this idea!! I have gotten so many complements!

    Reply

    1. Hmm… I honestly haven’t worn mine enough to have this problem! But there’s a product at most craft stores called “no fray” and it comes in a spray form. You could try spraying your t-shirt necklace with that to protect the edges! :)

      Reply

  45. This is super cute…I can’t believe I am the only one having problems trying to mimic this though. My t-shirt strips aren’t rolling into tubes! Any ideas on what I’m doing wrong?

    Reply
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  48. I made the t-shirt necklace last night for a birthday present. I found a really soft t-shirt that I thought would be perfect for this project – not so much. It pilled little purple balls of material ALL over me, my floor, work surface, etc. Since the party is tonight, I got up at 4am, grabbed an old tshirt (regular kind this time), and it turned out GREAT! Thanks for sharing the idea and instructions.

    Reply
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  54. A lady at church shared Pinterest with us and then a couple of the ladies at church had the T shirt necklaces after Christmas. I decided to make one for my daughter for her birthday. I had a hard time logging on to the right thing on Pinterest but found your blog and went to it. Thanks for the great instructions. I hope mine turns out as well. I am making red since that is my daughter’s favorite color and she wears a lot of red and black. I may make a black one also if the red turns out well.

    Reply
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  59. Just made my own! Loved the outcome. I added large craft beads to a few strands just to jazz it up a bit. Thanks for the instructions and inspiration!

    Reply
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  63. Just made one out of an old green tee while 4 girls ran around our house for a play date. I had 7 yr old and 4 yr old helpers and it still turned out great! Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
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  67. I love this! I made one today and it’s beautiful … made me go through bags and bags of clothing that I’ve yet to donate anywhere and pull out everything in semi-okay condition, just so I can make more. Thanks!

    Reply
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  70. Oh my gosh, this just happened to my white version of this tee! I accidentally hung it on a wire hanger and it got rust stains in the shoulders! I’m going to have to do this with it!

    Reply

  71. What do you mean by “double up each tube”? Does this design make the seams opposite the seam in the back right smack dab in the middle of the necklace, or am I not following correctly?

    Reply
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  78. >i am seriously in awe of this and, for some reason, do not believe that I could make anything as close to fantastic as this is. Have you worn it yet? I would love to see it in action!

    Reply

  81. >lovelovelove! Yesterday I took an old purse in a fabulous shade of red and made some sassy earrings with a matching cuff bracelet for tonight's outfit and now I'll have a necklace to add. Thanks oodles and oodles, xoxox one creative mamahttp://makedoseebe.blogspot.com/

    Reply

  82. >Absolutely love this idea! This morning's job: to look for a stained tshirt– I might just have to have an "accident" during bfast just to justify cutting up a shirt! ;-)

    Reply

  84. >AWESOME! I can't wait to try this. Did you come up with this yourself? If so, it's just plain brilliant. Can't wait to check out your other restyles!!

    Reply

  86. >I woke up needing something yellow for the Super Bowl today and immediately thought our your restyle. Unfortunately, I then remember that I had donated the yellow shirt that I wanted to use for it when I cleaned out my closet over the holidays. Bummer. I hope I can use this idea sometime in the future, though.

    Reply

  93. >this project is great. my 12 year old sister made me and my two other sisters these for christmas. Obviously it is as easy as it is fun. thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply

  110. >Hi from Brazil!I have just read this tutorial .It is awesome! In a few seconds I grabbed a tee I have in the drawer and I will give it a try. Thanks for this wonderfull tutorial.

    Reply

  111. >LOVE this…such a great idea. Although now I want to go find a green t-shirt, buy it, and then cut it up. Not really the point;)

    Reply

  118. >Hello again! :) I just wanted to let you know I used your tutorial to make not one but two of these beautiful statement pieces. One, I kept for myself and the other I'm giving away to a reader. Just wanted to let you know and say thanks!

    Reply

  120. >Srsly! I need to try this pronto. I've got a couple t-shirts I don't wear anymore and this is the perfect solution. – Katy

    Reply

  125. >Hey Lady!! I just came across your blog from Collette's blog and I am in LOVE!! I LOVE to do projects like this but never think them up on my own! I am DEF going to be doing this one! I want to do a bright color like this too!!I will have to go check out the link too!Happy New Year to you!XXEveryone Loves Lipstick Style Blog

    Reply

  126. >I have a few tee shirts that need new lives- thanks for this awesome idea! I LOVE the color of the tee you used and I'm glad you decided to restyle it, because I just know that color compliments your skin and hair! Cant' wait to see how you style it. :)

    Reply

  128. >I know you said it was fool-proof, but that actually looks really really hard. Haha. I know I have more than enough old t-shirts though. I'll have to try this. I love the idea of using that material for a necklace.

    Reply

  134. >So great! i just reposted this on my blog of things I'm loving this week. Cant wait to try this and post my results. Have an old vibrant tee that could use a second chance at life :)

    Reply

  143. >This is so great! Thank you so much for sharing. I have a shirt that I still like, but have a little bit of stain and I can turn it into a necklace like this. :) Thanks a bunch!Adin B

    Reply

  146. >what a neat idea!I can't wait to see your other challenges!! Also, I was thinking it'd be neat to string some sparkly beads on various places of the necklace to add a little bling. :)

    Reply

  148. >Wow Keira, this is really cool! I never repurpose clothing items, but it a really great idea! I'm going to have to look into that Project Resytle!

    Reply

      2. Yeah…I’m sure that diy fashion is the reason other countries hate us. Oh wait, it’s actually just assholes like you.

        Reply

      3. I love this! Can’t understand why anyone wouldnt love it! About to make one now!! Fantastic idea! Very creative!

        Reply

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