Working with T-shirt yarn can be a little tricky because the yarn is so bulky and, though it is stretchy, it can be a little tight on the needles. Here are some tips to make working with t-shirt yarn a little easier.
- Always use large needles. Maybe even larger than you think would make sense. Unless your yarn is very fine, a needle in range of size 11 US and up will work best for you.
- Try plastic or metal needles. Needles that are a little slippery can be helpful for working the stitches more easily and evenly.
- Take your time. When projects (like the T-Shirt Bag get big, they can put a lot of strain on your body, even when working with circular needles. Take it slow and rest often if you're feeling sore. T-shirt yarn is heavy!
- Try not to stretch. Cotton T-shirts are meant to be stretchy, but the less you pull on and stretch the yarn as you work the better off you'll be in terms of getting an even tension and having stitches that don't look distorted.
- Don't worry about perfection. On the other hand, it's difficult to cut numerous shirts so that they make yarn that's exactly the same width (unless you use a rotary cutter and a ruler), so there are naturally going to be variations throughout your project. You'll probably also run out of yarn in the middle of a row and have to change colors. That's fine. It all adds to the organicness of a recycled knitting project.
