Give up on Plastic!
Make a reusable tote bag from an old T shirt using scissors and simple knots, and learn how reducing plastic helps local wildlife.
Step-by-step guide to make a reusable tote bag from an old T-shirt
Step 1
Lay your clean old T-shirt flat on a table and smooth out any wrinkles.
Step 2
Cut off both sleeves along the seam so the armholes are open.
Step 3
Cut a wide U-shaped scoop from the neckline to make the bag handle.
Step 4
Turn the T-shirt inside out so the knots will be hidden later.
Step 5
Fold the shirt in half vertically so the front and back edges line up and smooth it flat.
Step 6
Use the marker to draw a straight cutting line across the shirt about 10–12 cm from the bottom hem to mark the fringe length.
Step 7
Cut vertical strips about 1.5–2 cm wide from the bottom hem up to the marked line through both layers to make fringe pieces.
Step 8
Unfold the shirt so each front fringe strip lines up with its matching back strip.
Step 9
Tie each matching front and back fringe pair into a tight double knot across the bottom to close the bag.
Step 10
Turn the bag right-side out and smooth the knots so the bottom looks neat.
Step 11
Talk with an adult about one way single-use plastic bags can hurt local wildlife.
Step 12
Decorate your bag or a small paper tag with a drawing or short sentence showing how your reusable bag helps animals.
Step 13
Share a photo and a short description of your finished tote bag on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a clean old T-shirt or a marker if we can't find them?
If you don't have a clean old T-shirt, use a large cotton pillowcase or thin sweatshirt and follow the same steps (cut sleeves or make armholes and a U-shaped handle), and replace the marker by marking the 10–12 cm fringe line with tailor's chalk or safety pins.
My knots keep coming undone or the fringe doesn't match up—what should we do?
If knots slip or fringe strips are uneven, refold the shirt so front and back edges line up, use sharp fabric scissors to recut matching 1.5–2 cm strips up to the marked 10–12 cm line, and retie each front-and-back pair into tight double knots before turning the bag right-side out.
How can we adapt this T-shirt tote activity for different ages?
For toddlers have an adult pre-cut sleeves and the U-shaped scoop and let them draw or color the decoration, for school-age kids let them cut the 1.5–2 cm fringe and tie the double knots with supervision, and for older kids let them work independently and add extra features like sewn pockets or a lining before finishing.
How can we make the finished reusable bag more special or useful?
Personalize your tote by fabric-painting or stenciling an animal-friendly message on the bag, adding a sewn pocket or fabric lining before tying the fringe, and threading beads onto the knots or attaching a decorated paper tag to show how it helps wildlife.
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Facts about reducing plastic waste and protecting local wildlife
♻️ Up to 1 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide each year — switching to a reusable tote helps cut that number!
✂️ No sewing needed: with just scissors and a few simple knots you can make a durable bag for groceries or books.
👕 One old T‑shirt can be upcycled into a sturdy tote in minutes, keeping fabric out of landfills and giving it new life.
🌊 Scientists estimate about 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans each year — every reusable item helps reduce that load.
🐢 Sea turtles and other wildlife often mistake floating plastic bags for jellyfish, which can cause choking or deadly blockages.
How do you make a reusable tote bag from an old T‑shirt?
What materials do I need to make a T‑shirt tote bag?
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How does using a reusable T‑shirt bag help local wildlife?
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