Team Colors Braided T-Shirt Bracelet

• Sometimes Homemade
• August 29, 2013
• 3 Comments

It’s unseasonably hot here right now with temps in the high 90’s to over 100 this week. The hottest week of the year, yet this weekend is the start of college football season. Even if it doesn’t feel like fall, it’s time for tailgates and cheering on favorite teams. In our house, we’re Iowa Hawkeyes fans. We used to go to more games, but in the last few years we’ve been happy to make it to one each season. We’re headed to the first home game of the season this weekend, and I wanted to have a little something extra other than my t-shirt to show some team spirit. I decided on making this black and gold braided t-shirt bracelet.

I  originally saw the idea for this bracelet on Henry Happened. A few months back I had made some woven t-shirt bracelets, so I still had some yellow t-shirt material leftover from that project.

Supplies:

• Old t-shirt or jersey material.
• 1 yard of satin cording
• needle and thread (or tacky glue if you prefer to do a no sew method)

Start by cutting 1 inch wide strips of your t-shirt material. I used a rotary cutter and mat which is super fast and easy. Scissors work fine too though. It’s okay if your strips aren’t completely even. Then stretch your strips out.

After you’ve stretched out your t-shirt strips, you’ll cut them into three 12 inch lengths. Then cut your satin cord into three 12 inch lengths.

Hold your cords together at the ends and put them together by alternating between t-shirt and satin cord. Take your needle and thread, knot the end, and then about 2 inches down from the ends, sew all the lengths together. You should only need to go through and back a few times. Knot the end and cut your thread. Then lay each of your satin cords on top of each of your t-shirt strands and start braiding them together.

As you’re braiding, measure against your wrist size so you don’t make it too big or small. Remember it will have some stretch to it. I braided down to where I had about 2 inches left at the end. Then sew together the ends, just like you did at the top. Then on each side, cut off one strand of t-shirt and the satin cord fairly close to where you sewed them together.

Next, take the t-shirt strand from each end that you did not cut and tie them together in a double knot. Then snip the ends of those a little shorter.

This isn’t the best looking finish, so you’ll want to cover up the ends. Cut a 1 inch wide by 2-3 inch long strip of t-shirt material Wrap it around the knotted portion of the bracelet, fold the end under to get ready to sew.

Sew the knot cover together.  (You could also use tacky glue at this point to glue together instead of sewing).

And that’s it – a cute way to show your team spirit, school colors, or just use up some old t-shirts!

I’ll try to get a picture of us at the tailgate BEFORE we start sweating to death in the predicted 97 degree heat! Since my bracelet is t-shirt material, maybe it can double as a sweat band! GO HAWKS!