3 Ways To Use Old T-Shirts To Weave Potholders (Revisiting A Classic Kid’s Craft)

After cutting up a bunch of my boy's old striped polo style shirts to make t-shirt yarn, I just couldn't bear to toss the remnants, namely the section above the armpits, so rather than clean for Pesach I embarked on a small research project regarding using a pot holder loom to make potholders from t-shirt yarn and other remnants!  When others embark on research say of rare insects or you name it, that is esteemed work, right? In our crafty world, certainly exploring pot holders is just as important, or is that my alter ego talking who just doesn't want to get on with the cleaning? Regardless, I do hope you'll enjoy this little research project, I know I certainly did! Oh and by the way, if you are looking for a fun weaving project that makes something larger than a potholder, check out my DIY t-shirt remnants woven placemat, so cute!

So you ask, what are the three ways to make t-shirt remant potholders using a potholder loom? Here you go, have fun with it!

Technique 1: Use potholder loops made from t-shirt remnants.

• This is great for kids, and you can see the step by step process here. The results here however are a bit on the rough side, on the edges mainly, as you can see in the top right of the photo above. Funny enough, though when we did it five years ago, here (same link) the edges looked quite good, guess it really depends on the material you're using.I have also used this technique using loops made from tights, which is so simple (and we used the potholder to make a cat baby toy!)
• Perfect for using up small pieces of t-shirt material
• One can even make loops from small pieces of commercial t-shirt yarn, gotta try that one myself!

Technique 2: Use potholder loops made form t-shirt remnants together with DIY t-shirt yarn

• Of the three techniques, (right side of photo above) I had the best results with this one, though the results would have been even better if my t-shirt yarn has been a bit less bulky (namely cut in a thinner strip)
• Because of the bulkiness of my yarn I was not able to make a square on the loom, only a rectangle, as beyond that the weaving was too tight to bother with
• Please refer to specific instructions for this technique on my post, DIY loom potholder using t-shirt yarn and loops from remnants

Technique 3: Using only DIY t-shirt yarn on both warp and weft

• I started this one thinking this would be the best, as well as the quickest, but because of the stretchiness of the t-shirt yarn weaving with it is problematic. One should likely only use every other tooth with this method, and keep things loose.
• My pot holder is very tight and thus warps, and the rustic charm of technique 2 is lost here, don't you think?

That is all for my little experiment, of course I have been very enthralled by those giant looms used to make large potholder technique rugs…….hmmmmm. Okay enough of that, those disorderly cabinets and closets are calling me!

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