DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Braided T-Shirt Yarn Coasters

T-shirt yarn is a great crafting material, especially because it repurposes old t-shirts! Making braided t-shirt yarn coasters is my favourite thing to do with t-shirt yarn because they are handmade but still look professional!

This craft is suitable for older children and adults. It is nice to have some of these coasters prepped and waiting so that you can sew them up while watching TV or having a relaxing evening.

Materials:

• t-shirt yarn,
• sewing thread and needle,
• elastic band,
• scissors

Instructions:

• For this craft you need three lengths of t-shirt yarn.
  • I like to use three different colours because it makes the braided look more obvious and you don't have to cut the lengths until after you've braided them together and know how long of a braid you need.
  • OPTIONAL: You can also use the same ball of yarn so that your braid is all the same colour. If that is the case then you will have to cut three lengths (about 2.5 to 3 meters each) of the yarn.
• Layer the three ends of the strips and hand sew them together with a needle and thread.
  • Keep in mind that your sewing doesn't have to be perfect because you won't be able to see the stiches anyways.
• Now braid the three strips of t-shirt yarn together.
  • Take the leftmost strip and fold it over the middle strip (you will be left with a smaller triangle now).
  • Now take the rightmost strip and fold it over the middle strip (you will be left with a new smaller triangle now).
  • Continue to do this alternating left and right folding. If you ever lose track of which side you have to fold over, you always fold the strip into the middle of the smaller triangle.
• As you braid you may want to check if you have done enough. I wrap an elastic band around the bottom of my braided part and then twist the braid into a tight spiral to see how larg emy circle is.
• Continue to braid and check if you have enough until you have a long enough braid for the size coaster you want.
• Secure the bottom by wrapping a rubber band around it and cut off the remaining t-shirt yarn.
• Now begin to wrap the spiral together slowly and hand sew it with a needle and thread to secure the spiral.
  • TIP: If you sew just along the inside edges of the spiral, then you won't see the stitching. I am not the best sewer, which makes me love this project so much... no one can see my awful stitches *giggle*
  • TIP: This step is quite long so I recommend prepping a few braids and having the around to just work on as you relax or watch television.
• Once you get to the end you will have to do some creative sewing to finish off the spiral. I just tried to sew each individual strip of t-shirt yarn to the edge of the spiral.

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