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DIY 5 Step Band Tee -to- Beach Bag Transformation

It’s that time of year again, where all I can think about is spring break and escaping from reality, at least for a bit. With travel planning, comes lots of expenses, which in my mind is where the crafting begins! Follow these 5 easy steps to transform an old band tee (or any Goodwill find) into the perfect beach bag for spring break!

 

Here’s all you’ll need: 

  • T-shirt 
  • Scissors
  • Ruler/Measuring Tape 
  • Beads

 

Step One:

Cut off all seams of the shirt (neckline, sleeves & bottom hem). Keeping the longest cut, the bottom hem, set aside for a later step.

Next, cut the far left and right side of the t-shirt up 10 inches. Continue cutting up to the 10 inch point around the shirt leaving 1/2 inch gaps in between each slit. 

Once completed, pull on each strip to get the full fringe effect. 

Step Two:

Tie the front cuts to the back cuts and secure with a double knot.  Continue this step until all the fringe is secured.

Once all strips are tied, stretch out the shirt to so it returns to its original shape. 

Step 3:

 Similarly to step 1, make ½ inch slits along the sleeve. Tie them together as previously shown, leaving the top set of strips untied, creating a gap to later insert the strap.

After you complete this,  stretch the sleeves like before to get rid of any bunching. 

Step 4:

Take the bottom hem (that was cut off and set aside in Step 1) and cut it once so it is one long strap. Weave it through the gaps in the tops of the sleeves that were left untied and then tie the long strap back together, double knotting it for extra security.

Step 5:

Embellish your bag by adding beads to the bottom fringe! Wooden beads are my favorite, but you can use any kind! Simply slip them on, and tie a knot at the bottom of the strip so the bead stays on! 

Now you are ready to take on the beach with your unique beach bag! You can also use your new upcycled bag as a weekender, or sustainable grocery bag to spread the love all year around! <3