Making Yarn from T-Shirts

Do you have lots of t-shirts you'd like to repurpose into something fun? If so, this is how to turn them into yarn. You can then use that yarn to make lots of fun projects with your crochet hook.

Maybe knitting needles would work, too, but I don't know how to knit, so it's all crocheting here!

The goal is to have one long piece of t-shirt fabric. Smooth out the shirt on your cutting surface.
I folded mine in half because my cutting mat is tiny. Now cut the bottom part off. (You don't have to use a rotary cutter. In fact, I ended up using scissors to clean up the edges mine left.)Now cut the shirt off below the printing. You can't use the printed part of the shirt for this project, it doesn't curl well.
Flatten it out if you've folded it like me. Cut 1" strips but stop about an inch from the top. If you don't stop you will be sorry!Now, place the strips over your arm. It will look like some crazy '80's style fringe. You are going to cut from the first strip diagonally to beyond the second strip. Then you can disconnect the first strip to start making a long strip. (If you screw up the first one, no big deal. I had a few accidents.)

You will hopefully have one long strip.

Take the strip and pull it between your hands to make the edges curl.

Wind it into a ball and you're ready to start your first crochet project with your t-shirts!

Groupon

Do you receive Groupon emails every morning in your inbox? (Go to Groupon.com for an explanation if you have no idea what I'm talking about!)

I've been getting them for a year now and just ordered my first one today. It is a deal for Gap; you spend $25 and you get $50 in merchandise to use in the store only. I don't know if this is being frugal or not.

Though I do keep my clothing purchases to a minimum, sometimes I have to buy something! So hopefully this will help me purchase a new fall item for a reasonable price.

My husband considers things like this 'impulse buys'. What do you think?

Want to Make: Dusting Alternative

Ok, that title may be misleading. This isn't an alternative to dusting.
(Maybe you could just run a fan on every surface and that would save you from dusting.)

But instead of buying a Swiffer duster, make one yourself! I am doing this sometime soon, for sure! I already made my own Swiffer dust mop cloths.

Easy Idea for a Throw Pillow

I always see place mats I like at Target. Pier 1, too. This is a great idea for using a 2-layer place mat in a different way.

All you have to do is stuff a 2-layer place mat with stuffing and sew it back together. So easy!
I haven't completed this activity yet but I sure have big plans!

Cereal Prices Going Up?

I just read that cereal prices will be rising due to smaller wheat crops around the globe (but excluding the US).

I recommend not relying on cereal as your main breakfast source anyway (it is a highly processed type of food, full of simple sugars, and expensive). But if you are a cereal addict, you'd best stock up now. Try to find some coupons if brand name cereals are a must. If not, try checking out off-brands at Wal-Mart, Aldi, or Trader Joe. It might save you time to stock up, anyway.

You could say "No" to big cereal's alleged rising prices by branching out and making your own cooked breakfast cereals like oats or Bulgar and adding dried fruit or honey to make them palatable.