Braided T-Shirt Belt
In this Instructable, I am going to show you how to create a cute braided belt out of an old t-shirt.
Materials
1. T-shirt
2. Scissors
3. Colored Pencil
4. Ruler
The more colorful the t-shirt is, the more colorful the belt will be. Also, designs on the shirt make interesting details around the belt after it has been braided together. If the t-shirt you are using is white, and you would like it another color, look into using fabric dye or tie dye.
2. Scissors
3. Colored Pencil
4. Ruler
The more colorful the t-shirt is, the more colorful the belt will be. Also, designs on the shirt make interesting details around the belt after it has been braided together. If the t-shirt you are using is white, and you would like it another color, look into using fabric dye or tie dye.
Time to Begin
Start by turning the shirt inside out, and make the shirt as even as possible. Next, take your ruler and line it up just next to the end of the sleeve. Using your colored pencil, make a line down the shirt.
Now, place the ruler right next to the end of the collar line. Make the ruler as straight as possible and again make a line down the shirt.
These two lines you made will be reference lines for the braid pieces. They will also remove the excess sleeve material and the collar material.
Repeat these lines on the other side of the shirt. When you finish this step, you should have four reference lines down your shirt!
Now, place the ruler right next to the end of the collar line. Make the ruler as straight as possible and again make a line down the shirt.
These two lines you made will be reference lines for the braid pieces. They will also remove the excess sleeve material and the collar material.
Repeat these lines on the other side of the shirt. When you finish this step, you should have four reference lines down your shirt!
More Lines and Some Cuts...
Time to make two more lines and then you will be ready to make some cuts.
Now measure the distance between the two reference lines on one side of the shirt. My distance was approximately 4inches. The distances should be relatively similar on both sides of the shirt.
Now depending on how wide that distance is, cut that distance into two or three equal parts. Since my distance was 4inches, I cut each side in half leaving me with four 2inch strips.
Now, mark your lines (in my case my center lines) and using the ruler make a straight line down the shirt.
Once you have all of your lines marked on the shirt, you can begin to cut the shirt. When cutting, make sure to cut both sides of the shirt at the same time. Try and follow your lines as best as possible.
Now measure the distance between the two reference lines on one side of the shirt. My distance was approximately 4inches. The distances should be relatively similar on both sides of the shirt.
Now depending on how wide that distance is, cut that distance into two or three equal parts. Since my distance was 4inches, I cut each side in half leaving me with four 2inch strips.
Now, mark your lines (in my case my center lines) and using the ruler make a straight line down the shirt.
Once you have all of your lines marked on the shirt, you can begin to cut the shirt. When cutting, make sure to cut both sides of the shirt at the same time. Try and follow your lines as best as possible.
Knot Together and Braid
By this point, you should have at least three equal strips cut from your shirt.
Take the strips in hand, and begin to knot two strips. Before tightening the knot, slip the middle strip into the knot hole and tighten. This will knot all three strips together.
Once they are knotted together securely, you can begin to braid the strips together.
To braid:
Take the Left most strand and bring it over the Center strand. The Left strand now becomes the new Center strand. Now take the Right most strand, and bring it over the Center strand. The Right strand now becomes the new Center strand. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
Left over Center, Right over Center.
*Note: When you get up to the part of the strips that has the seam which connects the front and back of the shirt, you may need to trim the strips. The seam on the strips makes this part of the strip bulky which messes up the braiding process. By trimming a little off the sides of the strips in this area only, it evens out the braid.
Finally, when you near the end of the strips make a knot using the left and right strips. Make sure to knot them around the middle strip so that you knot all of the strips together.
Take the strips in hand, and begin to knot two strips. Before tightening the knot, slip the middle strip into the knot hole and tighten. This will knot all three strips together.
Once they are knotted together securely, you can begin to braid the strips together.
To braid:
Take the Left most strand and bring it over the Center strand. The Left strand now becomes the new Center strand. Now take the Right most strand, and bring it over the Center strand. The Right strand now becomes the new Center strand. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
Left over Center, Right over Center.
*Note: When you get up to the part of the strips that has the seam which connects the front and back of the shirt, you may need to trim the strips. The seam on the strips makes this part of the strip bulky which messes up the braiding process. By trimming a little off the sides of the strips in this area only, it evens out the braid.
Finally, when you near the end of the strips make a knot using the left and right strips. Make sure to knot them around the middle strip so that you knot all of the strips together.
Time to Wear!
Place it in your belt loops, or wrap it around you waist! Enjoy.