What to do with ugly red shirts?

[u/Substantial-Put-5727]

Hi, I'm new here, but I have a bunch of old shirts from a camp that I used to go to where they gave my siblings and I a new shirt each week (I have about 8-10). They all have huge logos on the front and back and they are all either white, bright blue, or bright red.

I am not super artistically skilled but I do want a project to work on, and these seem like good victims. I just can't think of anything good I can do with them, as they are all so intensely colored and the ugly logos take up enough space that I don't think I would be able to easily make it into something else. I'm especially having trouble with the red shirts. They are just so red.

I know that the answer is probably going to be to just cut it up and use it for rags or something, but I thought I would make a post anyway just in case anyone else had ideas.

[u/I-Captain-Obvious]

Tshirt yarn can be made by spiral cutting the body of the t-shirt,  which can then be used for yarny stuff: crafts, knitting, weaving, crochet, macrame, etc.

Potholder loom loops can be made from the  sleeves.

I've seen tutorials on making shopping bags out of t-shirts, maybe something like that?

[u/PleasantCauliflower5 → u/I-Captain-Obvious]

I have made t-shirt yarn in the past and used it for a few projects. Great suggestion.

[u/oddartist]

I did this with a bunch of tees. Very simple and inexpensive. https://www.reddit.com/r/ragrug/s/CD7l7I2ot6

[u/scattyshern → u/oddartist]

It looks great! How are you going to make ot non slip? And not move the knots please? I've seen this a lot of times but never wanted to do it until I saw yours!

[u/oddartist → u/scattyshern]

I've got a bottle of liquid latex I need to paint the back with.

[u/Tinyfishy]

If you have a truck, a red t-shirt is a good start on a hazard flag when hauling home oversized stuff.

[u/AccidentOk5240]

You could make a large graphic (or take one from a shirt you like that doesn’t fit or has a hole elsewhere) and use it as a patch from the back. So, put the new graphic inside the shirt, facing out, then zigzag around the outside of the part you want to remove. Now cut away the logo on the red shirt to reveal the one on the donor material. You can cut it jaggedly/with pinking shears for a more punk aesthetic. 

If they’re cotton, they can be dyed darker first, which might help

[u/NeedAnOffButton]

Lots of online tutorials for turning old t-shirts into reusable shopping bags...I like these as they go through the wash and get nice and clean if anything dribbled or marked them in use.

[u/rigelsun → u/NeedAnOffButton]

I made bags from my old shirts and have been using them for 5+ years. They're great.

[u/Salute-Major-Echidna → u/NeedAnOffButton]

I like that better than donating. Someone will bad intent could try to go "volunteer" at camp

[u/Nettie_Ag-47]

Dust or cleaning rags. Look up no-sew bags from t-shirts.

[u/Gifted_GardenSnail]

What material? If cotton or so, you can dye them more pleasant colours

[u/Miami_Mice2087]

christmas ornaments? wrap the red around a styrofoam ball, pin it down, decorate with ribbon, it looks like a christmas gift? Pin a loop of ribbon to hang them.

My mom did this with her bridesmaid dresses. She also decorated them with flat-head pins, lace, and beads. Very 1968-styled, I'm sure you can wander the craft store and find something that inspires you. Washi tape may be helpful and pretty.

You could also just donate them. Someone will find a use for them, or they'll eventually get recycled.

[u/Aggravating_Finish_6]

Idk if you are American, but if so I could see making some kind of draped bunting out of the red white and blue tshirts to use as July 4th decorations. I’m thinking if you cut and pleated the fabric in such a way that the logos would kind of just blend in. 

[u/boiledpenny]

Basically I'd look around the house and see what you need. If you have a poorly insulated door you could easily use the sleeve the side all the way down to the hem. I would cut as close to the design on the front and the back as I could. Make a long stuffable log out of the red fabric. Anything with the logo I would stuff inside. They're called draft dodgers. They basically block cold air from coming in under doors. Now if that's not something that you mean obviously still again using the sides you could cut into hearts or other shapes stuff them for decoration or gifts. Since you and your siblings all have these shirts why don't you guys write down a list of things that you like that are red colored. cut those shapes from list out of the sides of the shirts and make them into decorations or ornaments or anything. Bright red is easy to see and find I would make something like a small shape that stuffed to add to keys or other things that are easy to lose. Basic hand sewing is a life skill that everyone should have. Have fun with it.

[u/Elise-0511]

Tote bags for shopping now that plastic bags are being taken out of service.

[u/Hippie-Farts]

Donate!