I want to share a cool way to repurpose old, worn shirts into what I call rag yarn. This “yarn” can then be used to knit, crochet, or even be braided and sewn into various craft projects. Old t-shirts or similar material work very well. I like to use stripes because they are easier to cut evenly, and make interesting color patterns.  Start by laying your old shirt out flat on a table top, keeping the front and back as even as possible.

Next you want to cut the top off, cutting as close under the arms as you can.

Now cut the hem off.

You are left with a nice chunk of material that is basically a tube. Starting at the end, cut from what was the side of the shirt. Cut ¾ to 1 inch strips to within 1 ½ inches of the top.

Do NOT cut completely off.

Repeat this, cutting strips the whole length of the piece.

Now open the piece and lay the part that is still connected flat on your tabletop.Starting from the outside, you want to make DIAGONAL cuts from one slot to the next.

If you cut straight, you will not have one long piece, but lots of unconnected loops! Continue these cuts the entire way, ending the same way you started.

If you did it right, you should have one long, continuous thin strip of material.

Starting at one end of your strip, stretch it. When it is stretched, the material curls, resembling yarn.

After I stretch it, I roll it into rag balls till I think I have enough for whatever project I have in mind.

You can make potholders, chair pads, rugs, and table runners…anything you can imagine!

It’s fun to color coordinate too, choosing shirts with colors that complement each other in your project. The top portion of your shirt can also be cut into rags to be used for cleaning, or for someone like my husband, into disposable grease rags. Give it a try, and see what you can come up with! 

I wanted to share a recipe I made for the first time that turned out really yummy! The original recipe was for carrot nut bread but as I so often do, I changed it up to work with ingredients I had to use up. Very slight, simple changes to just a couple things. I call it Apple Nut Bread. I will give the original recipe, and mark in parenthesis where I changed things. That way, you all could try both if you like! I’m sure the original would be really good too. 

Carrot Nut Bread: 

1 cup grated carrots ( I used = amount of my own canned apple pie filling) 

¾ cup brown sugar ( I used ½ cup of sucanat) 

1 tsp baking soda 

2 ½ tsp baking powder 

2 TBSP shortening ( I used real butter) 

1 tsp salt 

1 cup warm water or milk 

2 eggs 

1 ½ cups flour ( I used unbleached) 

1 cup whole wheat flour 

½ cup chopped nuts ( I used almonds) 

Measure flours, baking powder, soda, salt, and sugar into bowl and mix. Add liquid, eggs, and melted shortening to dry ingredients. Mix well. ( I mixed by hand) Fold in chopped nuts and grated carrots. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Let stand 5 minutes, then bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour. ( It only took 50 minutes for me.) 

The original recipe comes from a cookbook I have titled Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking, A Mennonite Community Cookbook. There is a note at the bottom of the recipe that says “Delicious for school lunches”. No matter if you make the original, make the changes I did, or make your own version, give it a try. It is scrumdillyishous!