Recycling a polo shirt can often mean giving it a new life through upcycling or repurposing rather than placing it in a traditional recycling bin. One common method involves preparing the fabric for use in craft projects, cleaning rags, or other creative ventures.
Method for Upcycling a Polo Shirt
A practical way to "recycle" an old polo shirt is to break it down into usable fabric pieces. This process, detailed in a guide from Rugs from Rags, involves several cutting steps to separate different parts of the shirt.
Here is a step-by-step guide based on this method:
- Step 1: Cut the bottom band off. Begin by removing the ribbed or hemmed band typically found at the bottom of the polo shirt.
- Step 2: Check for the hidden buttons. Before proceeding, inspect the shirt, particularly around the placket area, for any small or hidden buttons that might interfere with cutting or future use of the fabric. Remove them if necessary.
- Step 3: Cut the body tube off the shirt. Separate the main cylindrical body section of the shirt from the upper portion (which includes the sleeves and collar). This usually involves cutting along the side seams if they exist, or simply cutting across to create a tube shape from the torso section.
- Step 4: Stash the body. Set aside the large body piece(s) you just cut off. These sections often provide the most usable fabric for cutting into strips or larger pieces.
- Step 5: Fold the upper body and sleeves in half. Take the remaining part of the shirt (the upper body with sleeves and collar) and fold it neatly in half lengthwise. This prepares it for the final cutting step.
- Step 6: Cut off the cuffs, sleeve seams, and armhole seams. Carefully cut away the ribbed cuffs from the ends of the sleeves. Then, remove the seams running along the sleeves and the curved seams where the sleeves attach to the main body (the armhole seams).
By following these steps, you are left with various pieces of fabric from the polo shirt – the body sections, sleeves (minus cuffs and seams), and possibly the placket and collar depending on how step 3 is interpreted. These pieces can then be further processed, such as cutting into strips for rag rugs or squares for cleaning cloths, giving your old polo shirt a practical second life.
This method is particularly useful for fabrics like cotton or cotton blends commonly used in polo shirts, as they are versatile for various repurposing projects.
