Put the warm days and long nights of summer to good use by learning some new DIY craft skills.

Summer is a wonderful time to be lazy and do nothing, but also an excellent opportunity to take the time to make something. Put those warm days and long nights to good use by learning some new DIY craft skills. Here are some of our favorite creative projects — some can even be done while laying in a hammock.

Image: ar.nieza

1. Make T-shirt Yarn
We all have an abundance of old tees laying around the house. Put them to good use by making them into something useful — T-shirt yarn. It’s simple and you’ll actually end up with a ball of soft (just like your favorite tee) continuous yarn that you can then use to crochet, knit or knot. Check out this video tutorial by Relevé Design to learn how.

Image: sukigirl74

2. Learn to Crochet
No disrespect to knitting, but crocheting feels more like a summer skill. You barely need any supplies and it can be done anywhere (even in the hammock). Make a cute bikini, a patio stool cover or put that T-shirt yarn you just made to good use! Vogue knitting will teach you the basics.

Image: Honestly WTF

3. Make Friendship Bracelets
Remember how much fun you had with these when you were a kid? Well, friendship bracelets are still just as fun to make (and wear). Once you master the technique, demonstrated here by Honestly WTF, you can start playing around with different color variations, thicknesses, decorations and bling. The possibilities are endless. Make sure to actually make some for your friends, because they’ll want some.

Image: Mr. Kate

4. Make Prints
Printmaking is a fine art, but it’s also very DIYable. With a bit of creativity anything can turn into a stamp or a canvas. Make some fine art for your walls using acrylic paint to print, swap it out for fabric paint and spruce up a few old garments or make a nice set of invites for your next summer soirée — the sky is the limit. Check out this easy printmaking tutorial by Mr. Kate for some really nice tips.

Image: Serious Eats

5. Say ‘Yes I Can’
If you’ve ever tried growing your own tomatoes, you’ll know that time when they all seem to be ripe at the same time, forming a massive mountain impossible to eat your way through. Instead of letting them go bad, can them — or any other fruit and vegetable for that matter. It’s easy, fulfilling and will save you lots on money come winter. Invite your friends over for a canning party to get some extra hands. Serious Eats has a good beginner’s guide to canning.

Top image by Mr. Kate

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Ten great DIY projects you can make from an old T-shirt.

If you’re anything like me, you have tons of old T-shirts laying around in your drawers collecting dust. Instead of dumping them all in a collection bin, turn them into something useful. You’ll be amazed at how many things you could actually make from a humble tee. Here are ten of our favorites.

Wrapped Bracelets
You can never have enough bracelets, and there are so many great ones you can make yourself. All you need to create these wrapped bracelets are some old tees and bangles you no longer use (or look in the thrift stores for them). Follow these simple instructions by Camilla Fabbri and start wrapping.

Market Tote
Plastic bags are slowly but surely being banned in cities around the country. This stylish market tote is great to carry with you, whether you are shopping at the supermarket or the farmers market. Follow this simple tutorial by delia creates and make one in every color.

Scarf
If you have a sewing machine, this DIY scarf is very easy to make following this tutorial by wienerdog tricks. Use one T-shirt for a monochrome, more refined look or go wild and mix colors or create a tribute piece from all those old band tees you’ve held onto since forever – the possibilities are endless.

Knotted Headband
This stylish headband is super easy to make, with nothing but a few cuts, knots, and glue. If headbands aren’t quite your thing, you can easily make it into an equally stylish belt by just making it longer. Check out this tutorial by Lovestitched for inspiration and how-tos.

Knotted Rug
I love DIY projects that look like they came straight out of a fancy design store, and this knotted flokati-style rug is a great example of that. It does take a bit of manual labor but, following this tutorial by Xoelle, it’s quite easy. And your friends will surely be impressed that you actually made it.

Necklace
Quite far from those macaroni necklaces we all made in school, this DIY necklace is simple to make with just a few tools, following this tutorial by Whole Living. Make it grown up and elegant in one color, like above, or choose a tee with a more intricate pattern or print for a funkier take on the same theme.

No-Sew Vest
If you have about five minutes to make something out of that old tee, try this simple no-sew vest by Wobisobi, which requires nothing but a pair of scissors to make. A great summer piece to throw on over your favorite tee to create a layered, casual look.

Skirt with Pockets
This DIY recycled T-shirt skirt by Out of Order is as simple as it is clever. No material is wasted – even the sleeves are used to make pockets. Use it as a simple summer skirt, or do as demonstrated in the photo above and decorate it with buttons down the front for a more dressed-up look.

Placemats
Dress up your table for a summer party with DIY placemats made from T-shirt fabric scraps. This tutorial by Creative Jewish Mom shows you how to create a simple homemade loom that you’ll use to weave the scraps together – no fancy equipment required.

T-Shirt Yarn
A great way to make use of old tees is to make them into T-shirt Yarn. It’s simple and you’ll actually end up with a ball of soft (just like your favorite tee) continuous yarn that you can then use to crochet, knit or knot. Check out this video tutorial by Relevé Design to learn how.

See Also:

10 DIY Bracelets You Can Make This Weekend

DIY: 10 Summer Shorts You Can Make At Home

DIY: 10 Statement Earrings You Can Totally Make

Top photo by pfctdayelise, Creative Commons

The post DIY: 10 Things To Do With an Old T-shirt appeared first on EcoSalon.