Tom Luxsox Coins

Cents Roll

Sewing with t-shirts seems to be all the rage these days. If I had a nickel for every sewing project I've ever stumbled across that calls for an old t-shirt or two, I'd probably have enough money to discard my sewing hobby completely and just buy couture from now on!

But it makes sense that t-shirt sewing continues to dominate the sewing and crafting blogosphere; t-shirts are made out of knit fabric, which is the most comfortable and ubiquitous fabric in clothing, so why not sew with it? Plus, if you buy a huge, oversize t-shirt (or steal one from your Uncle Bernie), all you have to do is cut it below the arm pits and you've got a pretty large piece of jersey, all for a few pennies (if anything).

We've all got loads of free t-shirts lying around (or hanging around, if you're more of a closet person). They give free t-shirts away at just about every school event or activity, fund-raisers, 21st birthdays, sporting events...Basically I have more t-shirts than I know what to do with. And if you've somehow managed to evade the t-shirt collecting frenzy, you can always purchase a pack of men's under shirts in bulk for a couple of bucks.

And here are my two cents on sewing with t-shirts:

- To save time, use the bottom of your t-shirt as the edge of your project, so you have one less hem to make.

- If you're making a project that requires stability, make sure you use fusible interfacing or stabilizer with stretchy fabrics like t-shirts.

- If you don't have a large t-shirt collection at home and you're scouring thrift stores for cheapies, look in the plus size or men's department. They're more fabric for the same price!

- T-shirt fabric can be ruffled just as easily as non-stretch fabric, as you can see in this fabulous pillow project.

- Save your t-shirt scraps (sleeves, neckline, etc.) and make t-shirt accessories from them, like this T-shirt headband or a T-shirt necklace. Knit fabric will roll and stretch nicely if you pull it tight, creating these gorgeous necklaces.

- Don't put t-shirt projects in the dryer, especially if you've made ruffles, pleats, flowers, or other embellishments out of your t-shirts.

Karissa Tell is an Editor for http://www.FaveCrafts.com - a popular online resource for all things crafting, from Christmas crafts and crafting with kids to free knitting patterns and free crochet patterns.

Costumes 204317 Carnival Tickets Roll 25 Cents $19.29 Includes (1) roll of 25 Cents Carnival Tickets. Each roll includes (2000) tickets. Tickets are available in assorted colors.

Costumes 204316 Carnival Tickets Roll 25 Cents $19.29 Includes (1) roll of 25 Cents Carnival Tickets. Each roll includes (2000) tickets. Tickets are available in assorted colors.

99 Cents $5.99 99 Cents

For 80 Cents! $39.99 Gaetano Previati For 80 Cents! - Giclee Print

Three Cents Opera (Ger) $17.99 Three Cents Opera (Ger)

Budweiser 15 cents $11.99 Budweiser 15 cents - Tin Sign

Budweiser 25 Cents $11.99 Budweiser 25 Cents - Tin Sign

Admission Twenty-Five Cents $19.99 Admission Twenty-Five Cents - Premium Poster

COKE - Delicious 5 Cents $12.99 COKE - Delicious 5 Cents - Tin Sign

COKE - Always 5 Cents $12.99 COKE - Always 5 Cents - Tin Sign

Coffee 5 Cents $9.99 Jennifer Garant Coffee 5 Cents - Art Print

Wishes 5 Cents $7.99 Tony Casper Wishes 5 Cents - Art Print

Troise Cents Soldats $49.99 Gerda Wegener Troise Cents Soldats - Giclee Print

Salon des Cents $54.99 Alphonse Mucha Salon des Cents - Giclee Print

The Rice Weeders (For Eighty Cents) $39.99 Angelo Morbelli The Rice Weeders (For Eighty Cents) - Giclee Print

5 Cents and 3 Pipes $19.99 David Roseburg 5 Cents and 3 Pipes - Photographic Print

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Salon Des Cents, 1893 $39.99 H.G. Ibels Salon Des Cents, 1893 - Giclee Print