When you have kids, you go through a lot of t-shirts. Usually they outgrow them faster than you can replace them, but sometimes they end up with stains you can’t get out before they’ve finished their useful life. Some people turn them into cleaning rags, and then there’s people like me who see other ways to make use of them.

I had been throwing shirts into a basket in my craft room for quite some time. So luckily for me I had a lot of colors to choose from. I’m also one of those people that likes to have a big, visible keychain so I can quickly find my keys. So making this braid was the perfect project for me.

[There are full printable instructions at the end of this post]

Cut a long t-shirt strip in half (set the second half aside) and stretch it out. Make a lark’s head knot by folding the strip in half and slipping the looped end through key ring.

Now thread the two loose ends up through the loop and pull tight.

Take 15-16 long t-shirt strips and stretch them all out. Gather them all together, side by side. Fold the top few inches down and tie the strip that is on the key ring around all the strips. Tie a knot and add a little hot glue, then tie another knot and glue again. Trim the ends of the key ring knot completely off.

Turn it over and add a little hot glue to the strips where the bend is.

Trim the short ends of the strips off as short as you can.

Take the other half of the strip that you set aside in step 1 and using hot glue as you go, wrap it around the trimmed edges, hiding them.

Lay the keychain down facing right side up.

Separate the strands into two sections.

Grab two strips from the BACK left and cross them over and add them to the strips on the right.

Grab two strips from the BACK right and cross them over and add them to the strips on the left.

Repeat this process, working your way down until your braid is as long as you want it.

Turn the keychain over. Take another strip, stretch it out and wrap it around the end of the braid, tying in a knot and securing with hot glue. Trim off the ends of the knot.

Trim the fringe and you’re all done!

Printable version after these additional ideas!

More T-shirt Craft Ideas

Braided Recycled T-shirt Headband

Braided Recycled T-shirt Headband

Tie Dye Decoupage Monogram Frame

Tie Dye Decoupage Monogram Frame

Upcycled T-shirt Dress – from Infarrantly Creative

Upcycled T-shirt Dress

How to Make T-shirt Yarn – from Dollar Store Crafts

How to Make T-shirt Yarn

Recycled T-shirt Button Skirt – from 100 Directions

Recycled t-shirt button skirt

All sorts of T-shirt Crafts – from Fun Family Crafts

All sorts of T-shirt Crafts

Print Project

Braided T-shirt Keychain

Supplies

• Recycled t-shirts cut into long strips, about 15" long
• metal key ring
• Hot glue gun
• Scissors

Instructions

• Cut a long t-shirt strip in half (set the second half aside) and stretch it out. Make a lark's head knot by folding the strip in half and slipping the looped end through key ring. Now thread the two loose ends up through the loop and pull tight.
• Take 15-16 long t-shirt strips and stretch them all out. Gather them all together, side by side. Fold the top few inches down and tie the strip that is on the key ring around all the strips.
• Tie a knot and add a little hot glue, then tie another knot and glue again. Trim the ends of the key ring knot completely off. Turn it over and add a little glue to the strips where the bend is.
• Trim the short ends of the strips off as short as you can.
• Take the other half of the strip that you set aside in step 1 and using hot glue as you go, wrap it around the trimmed edges, hiding them.
• Lay the keychain down facing right side up. Separate the strands into two sections.
• Grab two strips from the BACK left and cross them over and add them to the strips on the right.
• Grab two strips from the BACK right and cross them over and add them to the strips on the left.
• Repeat this process, working your way down until your braid is as long as you want it.
• Turn the keychain over. Take another strip, stretch it out and wrap it around the end of the braid, tying in a knot and securing with hot glue. Trim off the ends of the knot.
• Trim the fringe and you're all done!