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CraftSanity – A blog and podcast for those who love everything handmade

A blog and podcast for those who love everything handmade

  • Home
  • Weaving Looms
    • Etsy shop
    • Loom video tutorials
    • About the looms
  • T-Shirts
  • Magazine
    • Order Print Magazine on Etsy
    • Order PDF of Magazine on Etsy
    • Order Magazine
  • Podcast Archive
  • Jen’s Bio
  • Contact
  • Subscribe to Email Newsletter
Green CraftingTVweaving

CraftSanity on TV: Making Potholder Loopers Out of Recycled T-shirts

by jennifer July 10, 2009
written by jennifer July 10, 2009

Remember these? This week’s craft “Take Five” TV segment is an ode to the looper pot holder. Oh, how I love the loopers. Seriously, folks, I doubt I’ll ever outgrow my the little pot holder loom.

I just learned how to make loopers out of recycled T-shirts and I want to share this great info with all of you. I got this great idea from the super creative Beerhorst family. The whole family will be featured in this Sunday’s Home & Garden section of the Grand Rapids Press. So prepare yourself to be inspired. (I’ll post links this weekend.)

Brenda Beerhorst taught her children how to make recycle loopers and her daugther, Pearl, 15, really took off with the idea and sells a line of recycled pot holders at Grand Rapids art markets under the label “Pearl’s Pot Holders.”

The Beerhorst family posted a great tutorial on Flickr that explains it all. You can adjust the measurements depending on the stretch of the fabric you’re working with.

I’ve been cutting t-shirts into rectangles that are about 2.5″ by 6″ so they’re easy for my daughters to stretch across the loom. Pearl cuts hers a little shorter, but it’s all a matter of personal preference. Just test out a couple pieces before you cut up a whole shirt. I use a rotary cutter, plastic cutting template and cutting mat to speed up the process, but scissors work just fine, too.

This is a great way to recycle old T-shirts hogging space in your drawer. If you want more colors, visit your local thrift shop. I lucked out and found two tie-dyed shirts on the same trip. They weave up great.

I have plenty of pot holders, so I’m likely going to sew my woven jersey squares together to make a wild patchwork rug or picnic blanket. You could also make totes and bags out of the squares, too. What have you made out of your looper pot holders? Please share your ideas below.

CraftSanity on TVGreen CraftingLooper pot holdersT-shirt loopers
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jennifer

Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood is a journalist, story collector, podcaster, editor/publisher, columnist, printmaker, loom maker, fiber artist, adjunct journalism professor and mom in West Michigan. Send her your handmade story ideas, best vegetarian recipes, and tips for making cool stuff by writing jennifer@craftsanity.com. : )

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58 comments

Chanell Tanikella September 18, 2017 - 7:26 pm

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Tatiana Cronin September 18, 2017 - 8:27 pm

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Saundra Diblase September 18, 2017 - 9:37 pm

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Rodrigo Woodling September 19, 2017 - 12:47 am

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Reynaldo Epting September 19, 2017 - 1:45 am

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Garrett September 19, 2017 - 8:52 am

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How To Make Potholders From Recycled T-Shirts December 13, 2018 - 11:43 pm

[…] t-shirt potholders on Pinterest, I decided to grab a $2 loom and experiment. This tutorial (and this one!) were really helpful, but it took me awhile to figure out how to make ruffled edges instead of […]

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How To Make Potholders From Recycled T-Shirts – I Do Not Know How March 6, 2019 - 2:46 pm

[…] t-shirt potholders on Pinterest, I decided to grab a $2 loom and experiment. This tutorial (and this one!) were really helpful, but it took me awhile to figure out how to make ruffled edges instead of […]

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How To Make Potholders From Recycled T-Shirts | I Do Not Know How – We Care About You Foundation March 6, 2019 - 4:28 pm

[…] t-shirt potholders on Pinterest, I decided to grab a $2 loom and experiment. This tutorial (and this one!) were really helpful, but it took me awhile to figure out how to make ruffled edges instead of […]

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