Make a Braided, Fringed Bracelet from a T-Shirt

Upcycle an old tee into a pretty cuff.

I'm pretty certain white t-shirts are stain magnets. Any white cotton tee that makes its way into my closet somehow ends up stained within a month, and though I can often banish stains naturally, sometimes there's just no hope.

There are tons of ways to find new uses for t-shirts by upcycling them into scarves , clothing patches or rags for cleaning. But fashion lovers who can't bear to let go of their fave threads will love this DIY braided, fringed bracelet (or cuff, depending on your definition).

Difficulty Level: Easy

1. Start Stripping
Lay the shirt flat and cut along the side seams; remove the bottom hem. Working up from the hem, cut 12 strips of fabric, each one-half inch wide, from the t-shirt. Also cut one narrow strip, about half the width of the others.

2. A Braid-y Bunch
Gather three strips and knot them together, leaving some extra at the end for fringe. Braid to the end and tie another knot to hold it for the moment. As an alternative, you can use clothespins to temporarily hold the braids. Repeat with the remaining nine strips. Bunch the four braids together. At the mid-point of the bunch, tie the narrow strip of fabric around the bunch, knot and trim the excess fabric. This tie will keep the braids together while you're working, and it helps stabilize the bracelet when you're wearing it.

3. Tied Up
Unknot the knots along one end and begin tying each strip to its adjacent strip. This will keep the braids from becoming unraveled, and secure one braid to the next. Repeat at the opposite end.

4. The Big Finish
To finish off the bracelet, tie together a strip from the middle of each end; repeat with strips at the far left and far right. Slip the cuff on, positioning the fringe along the outside edge of your wrist. -Cara Smusiak/planetgreen-discovery