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You've got a great idea! Turning an old shirt into a cute tote bag is a fantastic way to upcycle and create something unique. T-shirts, especially, are perfect for this as their knit fabric is forgiving and doesn't fray easily, making them ideal for a beginner-friendly project.
Let's make a simple, unlined tote bag with a flat bottom that's perfect for carrying light items, books, or as a reusable shopping bag. We'll focus on methods that are easy and relatively quick.
How to Make a Cute Tote Bag from an Old Shirt
This project is super customizable based on the shirt you choose – a graphic tee, a favorite band shirt, or a soft, plain cotton top can all become adorable bags. We'll use a 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance for all sewing steps.
I. Planning Your Cute Shirt Tote
Before you cut, think about the shirt you're using and the finished look you want.
Shirt Choice:
Size Matters: Larger shirts (adult L, XL, or XXL) yield bigger bags. A kid's shirt will make a very small bag.
Fabric Type: 100% cotton T-shirts work best because they're easy to sew and don't fray aggressively. Avoid super thin, stretchy, or delicate fabrics like silk or rayon for your first attempt.
Design Placement: If your shirt has a graphic or logo, plan where you want it to appear on your finished bag's front.
Bag Size & Shape: We'll make a simple rectangle with a boxed bottom.
Handle Style: We'll create handles from the shirt itself for a cohesive look.
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II. Gather Your Materials
This project requires very few supplies beyond the shirt itself!
Old Shirt: 1 clean, ironed T-shirt (or similar knit top). A large adult T-shirt is recommended.
Matching Thread: All-purpose polyester thread.
Basic Sewing Supplies:
Sewing Machine
Sharp Fabric Scissors or Rotary Cutter and Mat
Quilting Ruler or Measuring Tape
Fabric Chalk or Mark-B-Gone Pen
Pins or Fabric Clips
Iron and Ironing Board
Seam Ripper (just in case!)
III. Plan Your Cuts & Prepare Your Shirt
The beauty of using a shirt is that the bottom hem becomes the top of your bag, and the sleeves can become the handles!
A. Prep Your Shirt:
Lay your shirt flat and smooth it out, lining up the front and back perfectly.
Iron out any wrinkles.
B. Determine Bag Dimensions:
For a medium-sized tote, you'll typically cut the main bag body from the bottom of the shirt, and the handles from the sleeves.
C. Your Cut Pieces:
Main Bag Body:
Cut straight across the shirt, just below the armpits, removing the sleeves and the top portion of the shirt. You'll be left with a large rectangle (or slightly tapered rectangle, depending on the shirt's cut) that includes the original bottom hem. This hemmed edge will be the top opening of your tote bag.
Trim if necessary: If your shirt tapers a lot, you might want to trim the side edges so that the cut rectangle is straight from top to bottom. Make sure the front and back layers are aligned perfectly.
Example Size (after cutting): An adult XL shirt might yield a body roughly 20-22 inches wide and 18-20 inches tall (including the original bottom hem).
Handles:
Take the sleeves you cut off. You'll cut two strips from them.
Cut 2 rectangles, each roughly 2.5-3 inches (6.3-7.6 cm) wide x 18-20 inches (45.7-50.8 cm) long. Aim for the longest possible strips from the sleeve, avoiding seams where possible. If your sleeves are small, you might need to piece two smaller strips together to get the desired handle length (stitch them right sides together at the short ends, press seam open).
IV. Let's Start Sewing Your Tote Bag!
Since T-shirt fabric is knit, it won't fray like woven fabric, making seam finishing optional for a quick project. However, always backstitch at the beginning and end of every seam for security.
Step 1: Sew the Main Bag Body
Lay your large shirt rectangle (main bag body) right sides together, aligning the side raw edges perfectly.
Pin along both side edges and the bottom raw edge. Leave the top (original hemmed edge) open.
Using your 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance, stitch down one side, pivot sharply at the bottom corner, stitch straight across the bottom, pivot again, and stitch up the other side to the top.
Press your seams open to help the bag lie flatter and reduce bulk.
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This step gives your tote a flat, defined bottom, making it more functional. If you prefer a simple, flat tote (like a pillowcase), you can skip this step.
Lay the main bag body flat. At one of the bottom corners, bring the side seam and the bottom seam together, aligning them perfectly. This will naturally form a triangular shape at the corner.
Decide on your desired box depth. For a medium bag, a 3-4 inch depth is good. Measure from the tip of this triangle inward along the seam line a distance equal to half of your desired box depth (e.g., for a 4-inch depth, measure 2 inches / 5 cm).
Draw a straight line perpendicular to the seam at this measured point. This is your new stitching line.
Pin firmly along this drawn line.
Stitch precisely along the drawn line, backstitching securely at both ends.
Trim the excess fabric from the corner, leaving about a 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) seam allowance beyond your new stitching line.
Repeat this exact process for the other bottom corner of your bag body.
Result: Your bag now has a defined, flat bottom. Keep it wrong side out.
Step 3: Prepare and Attach Handles
Take one of your handle fabric strips (e.g., 3" wide x 20" long).
Fold it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press firmly.
Open it up. Fold each long raw edge in towards the center crease you just made, and press again.
Fold the strip in half along the original center crease. You now have a handle that is about 3/4 to 1 inch wide with no raw edges visible. Press firmly.
Topstitch down both long sides of the handle, about 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) from the edge. This secures the folds and makes a neat handle.
Repeat for the second handle strip.
Attach Handles to Bag:
Turn your main bag body right side out.
Lay the bag flat. Measure in from each side seam along the top (original hemmed) edge by about 4-5 inches (10-12.7 cm). Mark these points.
Place the raw ends of one prepared handle on the top edge of the bag at your marks. Ensure the handle is not twisted. Pin securely.
Stitch the handle ends in place. Sew a strong square with an "X" inside it (an X-box stitch) for maximum reinforcement, as these handles will carry the weight. Sew just above the original hemline of the shirt.
Repeat for the other side of the bag with the second handle.
Step 4: Optional: Topstitch the Top Edge
While your bag already has the original shirt hem as its top edge, you can add an extra line of topstitching about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) from the top edge for a more finished look and added durability.
Your cute, upcycled tote bag from an old shirt is now complete! It's perfect for casual outings, a trip to the library, or just adding a personal touch to your everyday carry.
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