Making t-shirt yarn bags

All pictures are from our lovely customer Emma her Instagram is below

https://www.instagram.com/emevecrochet?stkn=MTc2MGE2aWp1YnU4aQ==

Crochet & Carry: Make Beautiful Bags From Ready-Made T-Shirt Yarn 🧶👜

If you’ve wandered into your local yarn shop lately, you’ve almost certainly seen it — soft, chunky, vibrant t-shirt yarn (also called t-yarn or fabric yarn) rolled into big squishy bundles, sitting right alongside the wool and cotton skeins. It’s bold, it’s soft, it’s sturdy… and it was practically made for bags!

This is all about working with the ready-to-use yarn you buy straight from the shop — no cutting up old tees, no prep work, just beautiful fabric yarn ready to turn into something wonderful. Let’s dive in!
🧶 Why Shop-Bought T-Shirt Yarn Is Perfect For Bags

This isn’t about cutting up clothes — it’s about using the specially made, pre-cut fabric yarn the shop stocks, and it’s absolutely dreamy for bags:

• ✅ Super sturdy & durable — holds shape beautifully, carries heavy loads without stretching

• ✅ Soft & comfortable — smooth cotton jersey, gentle on hands and shoulders

• ✅ Chunky & fast to work up — big yarn, big hooks, finished in an afternoon!

• ✅ Consistent thickness — no lumpy homemade strips, just even, smooth stitches every time

• ✅ Vibrant colours & prints — solids, marled, stripes, bold patterns — shops stock the happiest shades

• ✅ Washes beautifully — stays looking great, gets softer with every wash

• ✅ Eco-friendly by design — made from upcycled fabric offcuts, so every ball is kind to the planet
🛒 What You’ll Need

• T-shirt yarn — 2–4 balls from your local yarn shop (roughly 500–800g total; thicker yarn = fewer balls needed!)

• Crochet hook: Size 8mm – 12mm (bulkier yarn = bigger hook!)

• OR Knitting needles: Size 10mm – 15mm if you prefer knitting

• Scissors, large-eyed tapestry needle for weaving ends

• Optional: cotton fabric for lining, wooden/leather handles, magnetic snap 🧲
💡 Shop tip! Ask at the counter — many yarn shops sell coordinated colour packs or gradient bundles, perfect for colour-blocking or stripes!
🪡 Option 1: Easy Crochet Tote (Beginner-Friendly!)

The classic go-to — simple, sturdy, and ready in hours. No fabric prep, just unwind and stitch!

Hook: 10mm
Stitches used: Chain (ch), Single Crochet (US) / Double Crochet (UK)

Steps:

1. Make your base: Chain 25 (adjust for width). Work single crochet into 2nd chain from hook, then all the way across. Chain 1, turn. Repeat until you have a firm rectangle — roughly 12" × 6" (30cm × 15cm).

2. Build the sides: Continue working single crochet in continuous rounds around the rectangle — 1 stitch in each, 3 at each corner to turn smoothly. Keep going until your bag is the height you want (usually 12–14" / 30–35cm).

3. Add the handles: At the top edge:

◦ Crochet 8–10 stitches, chain 15–20 for the handle

◦ Skip the next 8–10 stitches and single crochet into the next stitch

◦ Crochet across to the other side, then repeat for the second handle

◦ Work 1 final round all around — right over the chain handles — to reinforce them!

4. Fasten off, weave in ends — done! 🎉
🧶 Option 2: Chunky Knit Market Bag (Thick & Textured)

If knitting is your joy, this chunky yarn works up satisfyingly fast with beautiful, tactile results.

Needles: 12mm
Gauge: ~6 sts = 4" / 10cm

Steps:

1. Cast on 20–25 stitches — remember, this yarn is thick so you don’t need many!

2. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 12–14" / 30–35cm — this creates a wonderfully thick, stable fabric

3. Shape the top & handles:

◦ Knit 5 sts, cast off 10–15 sts for the handle gap, knit to end

◦ Next row: knit to the gap, cast on 15 sts, knit to end

◦ Repeat the same process on the opposite side for the second handle

◦ Work 4 more rows, then cast off loosely

4. Fold in half, sew up the sides and bottom securely — sew twice where the weight hits!

5. Turn right side out — ready to carry! 🥳
💡 Pro Tips & Creative Twists

• 🎨 Play with colour! Alternate balls of different shades for stripes, use a contrasting colour for the base or handles — the shop’s range makes this so fun

• 🔒 Add a lining — cut cotton fabric to the same shape, sew it simply, slip it inside and stitch the top edge. No small items slipping through stitches!

• ✨ Upgrade the handles — make simple straps, then thread them through beautiful wooden or leather handles for that boutique finish

• � Any size you like — t-shirt yarn is incredibly forgiving! Tiny pouch, perfect project bag, or huge grocery tote — just adjust your starting chain/cast-on

• 🌿 Flat base hack — pinch the bottom corners inside, sew across the point to create a boxed base. It stands up beautifully and holds so much more

• 💪 Double it up — hold two strands together for an ultra-chunky, super-strong tote that will last for years
💛 Why It Feels Extra Special

There’s something so lovely about walking into your favourite local yarn shop, running your hands over those soft, colourful bundles, picking exactly the shades that make you smile… and then turning them into something useful that goes everywhere with you.

No cutting, no messy prep — just the yarn you chose, the stitches you made, and a bag that’s completely yours. Every time you sling it over your shoulder — heading back to the same shop for more yarn — you’ll remember: I made this. And it all started right there.
📌 Quick Recap
Ready-made t-shirt yarn + big hook/needles + a few hours = your new favourite bag.
No fabric cutting, no waste, just beautiful, sturdy, eco-friendly style.
Made a bag with shop-bought t-shirt yarn? I’d love to see it — drop a photo or your go-to tip in the comments! 👇

Happy making,
Barney💚