What is t-shirt yarn, the yarn behind crochet bags

T-shirt yarn isn't a thread like wool or embroidery cotton: it's a strip of fabric. Usually it's jersey, the same knit fabric as a t-shirt, cut into a ribbon and wound into balls. In Italian it's called fettuccia, “little ribbon”.

My bags are made with t-shirt yarn, often with two strands worked together. Before I tell you how I work it, here's what it is.

What it's like

• It's a flat ribbon. Pull it gently and the strip of jersey curls up on itself, becoming a soft, full cord.
• It's stretchy. Jersey gives when you pull it and springs back when you let go. That's why it needs a steady hand on the hook: pulled too tight it makes small, hard stitches; too loose and the fabric opens up.
• It's chunky. A ball of t-shirt yarn gives far fewer metres than a ball of wool of the same weight, and you work it with big hooks. A bag grows quickly, row after row.
• Every ball has its own story. As with any yarn, the colour can vary slightly from one batch to the next.

Where it comes from

Some of the t-shirt yarn on sale is made from the leftovers of knitwear factories: rolls of jersey that never became t-shirts and are cut into ribbon. Some is made on purpose, in solid colours, and you can buy exactly the same again. The first kind often changes colour and thickness from one ball to the next; the second is more even.

Either way it's real fabric, with a right side and a wrong side: look closely at a t-shirt yarn bag and you'll see the folded ribbon in every stitch.

Why it's perfect for bags

Worked tightly with a crochet hook, t-shirt yarn makes a thick, compact fabric. The bag holds its shape, the edges stay straight and your keys don't slip through the stitches. It feels soft, with the matt look of fabric, quite different from wool or shiny cotton.

And then there are the colours: solid shades, ombré ones, and the play of two strands worked together, which is at the heart of so many of my bags.

And to keep it looking good?

T-shirt yarn doesn't need much looking after, but it does need a little care: no wringing, no tumble dryer. You'll find everything in how to wash a t-shirt yarn bag.

Want to see which colours I have right now? Try them on a bag, or have a look at the ready-made bags.