How to Make a Recycled T-Shirt Rug

Don't throw away those old T-shirts — they can easily be turned into a one-of-a-kind doormat to decorate the inside of your dorm room.

 You know that overflowing drawer of T-shirts? Turn them into something functional, like this recycled shirt rug.

Materials Needed:

• flat doormat
• 5-8 old T-shirts

• scissors
• hot glue gun and hot glue

Cut T-Shirt Strips

Starting at the bottom hem, cut T-shirts across into 2-inch strips (Image 2). Then cut the 2-inch strips into 4-5-inch long sections (Images 3, 4).

 

Tie T-Shirt Knots

Tie a knot into the center of each T-shirt section. Note: Prepare all the knotted pieces before you start gluing.

 

Add First Row of Knots to Rug

Place a strip of hot glue along one side of the doormat (Image 1). Stick each knot into the glue (Image 2). Continue the strip of glue and add more knotted pieces (Image 3). Glue the knots with 1/4 inch between them (Images 4, 5). Tip: If you're using a variety of colored T-shirts, glue the colors in a random pattern. It'll create a nice multicolored effect on the doormat.

Continue Gluing Knots to Mat

Keep gluing T-shirt sections in one straight line along an edge of the mat (Image 1). Continue to glue knotted T-shirt sections all the way up the edge of the mat. Move onto the next row. Place a strip of hot glue 1 inch from the previous row. Stick the knots into the glue strip, leaving 1/2 inch between each knot (Image 2). Continue to add glue and knotted sections until the full doormat is covered (Image 3).

You're Finished!

Use your personalized doormat to wipe off your shoes when you walk in from class.

The 10 Best Collections of Spring 2015

In the month-long marathon of shows, many a standout fashion moment caught our eye in New York, Paris, Milan, and London. To help you get a better sense of the clothes that you’ll be coveting next season, we’ve whittled the collections to a seriously chic short list of ten.

 

1 / 10

Louis Vuitton
Nicolas Ghesquière might have showed his latest collection for the house at the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s new futuristic Frank Gehry–designed building, and yet the fantastic Bon Chic Bon Genre blazers, peacoats, and fluid knit minidresses spoke to the fashion landscape of now, one where women slip easily between decades, amalgamating their favorite pieces.

 

2 / 10

Prada
Miuccia Prada’s very proper ladylike silhouettes were reconfigured with an imperfect beauty. In one of her strongest shows in a while, she pieced together exquisite fragments of vintage brocades with a deft and intriguing hand.

3 / 10

Céline
Phoebe Philo’s surprising and ebullient seventies florals saw her in a more romantic mood, confirming her status as the tempo changer of Fashion Week. Her knack? Provoking desire and providing polished wardrobe solutions.

4 / 10

Altuzzara
Joseph Altuzarra’s sweet tropes—gingham and pearls—were delivered lightly and provocatively. In a show of fragile strength, he embraced the new looser silhouettes as well as his signature curvilinear look.

5 / 10

Erdem
In the standout show of London, Erdem gave Victoriana a buttoned-up sensuality of lace and botanical prints, before migrating into alluring feathered evening dresses with a ramped-up romanticism. 

 

6 / 10

Bottega Veneta
Super-rich meets super–dressed down Tomas Maier offered deluxe versions of streetwear—denim, track pants, and sweatshirting—that exemplified the new casual. 

 

7 / 10

Rodarte
Amidst the quirkiness there is an increasingly commercial way of thinking. The Mulleavy sisters dove into new realms of wearability with embellished utility jackets and seventies-style high-waisted jeans, before swimming into a finale of netted mermaid dresses. 

 

8 / 10

Valentino
Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s ability to create exquisite fairy-tale fashion is well documented, and their latest offering was no less whimsical, with breezy silk print dresses and cutout tablecloth-linen roman sandals that recalled an Italian summer fantasy. The technical brilliance that grounded the collection—rippling treatments of georgette and mind-blowing embroideries—was no less awe-inspiring. ​

 

 

9 / 10

Givenchy
Riccardo Tisci showed one of his best collections for Givenchy to date, underpinning his vision for spring—one that ran the gamut of rocker girl cool, Tyrolean dress, and gothic romance—with singular conviction and technical refinement. Black-and-white lace baby-doll dresses with shoulder-baring poet sleeves and ivory-beaded riding coats made for a powerful and sensual tableau.

10 / 10

Michael Kors
Michael Kors was singing a happy tune with a collection that emphasized it’s a great moment for American sportswear. Flower-strewn tulle skirts mixed with clean-cut gingham shirting, while bonded (and lightweight!) suedes exuded easy and casual sophistication.

 

Flower Hair Bows

 The rounded ribbon edge is made with a washer and woodburning tool. Trace the end of the washer on the ribbon. This will cut the ribbon and seal the end at the same time.

Cut Ribbon to length; these petals are 1 3/4 inches.

 Repeat process to make five petals.

 Stitch petals together with a needle and upholstery thread.

 Pull the threads tight and tie off on the back of flower.

Supplies used in this flower: 1 1/2 inch Ribbon, 1 1/2 inch Metal Washer (hardware store), Woodburner (craft store), Needle and Upholstery thread

7 Little Black Dresses Simple For Prom Night

Star light, star bright, these sequined dresses are sure to make you stand out on prom night! Any of these numbers, which come in a variety of silhouettes, will photograph well and look just as good on the dance floor. 

If you don't know what to wear to prom, just remember the little black dress is a staple for many reasons. It's flattering, it can come in all sorts of fantastical forms, and it's rarely done wrong.