Some people collect stamps. Some collect coins. Others still collect LP records or toys. And some collect band t-shirts. Collectors will go anywhere, pay anything, and protect their prized possessions at all cost. How do you get start collecting band t-shirts? Let’s take a look at a few ways of getting started and also how to preserve your investment.
Probably the most enjoyable way to start your band t-shirt collection is by attending a concert. You get to go and listen to the band, enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the performance, and come home with a souvenir t-shirt in your hands as a reminder of the great time you had. If you have no intention of ever wearing the t-shirt, neatly fold it and place it in a large Ziploc storage bag. Place a small tag on the outside of the bag recording the date and time of the concert and the venue you were at. Then store the bag with your t-shirt in a container where you can add more to it as you get them.
If concerts aren’t really your cup of tea and your collection can be eclectic in that its not entirely made up of concert t-shirts, then start it by shopping the local mall store for band t-shirts. Store such as Spencer Gifts and Hot Topic carry a wide variety of shirts, from old bands that no long tour to current bands that have hits on the radio. Outlet stores are another great place to look as band t-shirts have never lost their ‘cool’ since their inception in the late 1960s.
Of course, not everyone has the disposable cash to spend on their collection. You want to get some t-shirts to fill up that storage box, but you know you’re broke. This is where looking in alternative locations comes into play. Scour the local thrift stores. Go to flea markets. Hit the yard sales. When people get tired or bored of their clothing, they tend to donate them to the local charity or set them out at yard sale. You can usually pick up the t-shirts for extremely cheap, say a quarter or two per each on. These places are a great source for your collection. One word of advice though is to toss your find in the wash before packing it away.
While some people will like the idea of keeping their t-shirt collection safely tucked away in plastic baggies and storage boxes, others may wish to display their stuff. This can be done in a few creative ways. If you have the space, framing the t-shirt is one cool way to display it. The only downfall to this is that only one side of the shirt can be seen at a time. Anyone that enjoys simple crafts and has access to a sewing machine can make throw pillows out of the t-shirts. You would basically cut the front and back into square panels, sew up the sides leaving a small open spot, stuff it and close it. It gives you pillows for your furniture as well as interesting conversation pieces. More adventurous crafters can also make quilt blocks out of each t-shirt’s front and back. Once again, they would cut the fabric into squares, and then sew them together on one side. How many squares across and down will depend on big you want to make the quilt. Fancy quilt stitching doesn’t have to be used either, although when you add a back to it, make sure you put a layer of stuffing between the sides for warmth. Think of how cool your bed will look when it’s all finished and how nice it is to see your collection displayed.
Probably the most enjoyable way to start your band t-shirt collection is by attending a concert. You get to go and listen to the band, enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the performance, and come home with a souvenir t-shirt in your hands as a reminder of the great time you had. If you have no intention of ever wearing the t-shirt, neatly fold it and place it in a large Ziploc storage bag. Place a small tag on the outside of the bag recording the date and time of the concert and the venue you were at. Then store the bag with your t-shirt in a container where you can add more to it as you get them.
If concerts aren’t really your cup of tea and your collection can be eclectic in that its not entirely made up of concert t-shirts, then start it by shopping the local mall store for band t-shirts. Store such as Spencer Gifts and Hot Topic carry a wide variety of shirts, from old bands that no long tour to current bands that have hits on the radio. Outlet stores are another great place to look as band t-shirts have never lost their ‘cool’ since their inception in the late 1960s.
Of course, not everyone has the disposable cash to spend on their collection. You want to get some t-shirts to fill up that storage box, but you know you’re broke. This is where looking in alternative locations comes into play. Scour the local thrift stores. Go to flea markets. Hit the yard sales. When people get tired or bored of their clothing, they tend to donate them to the local charity or set them out at yard sale. You can usually pick up the t-shirts for extremely cheap, say a quarter or two per each on. These places are a great source for your collection. One word of advice though is to toss your find in the wash before packing it away.
While some people will like the idea of keeping their t-shirt collection safely tucked away in plastic baggies and storage boxes, others may wish to display their stuff. This can be done in a few creative ways. If you have the space, framing the t-shirt is one cool way to display it. The only downfall to this is that only one side of the shirt can be seen at a time. Anyone that enjoys simple crafts and has access to a sewing machine can make throw pillows out of the t-shirts. You would basically cut the front and back into square panels, sew up the sides leaving a small open spot, stuff it and close it. It gives you pillows for your furniture as well as interesting conversation pieces. More adventurous crafters can also make quilt blocks out of each t-shirt’s front and back. Once again, they would cut the fabric into squares, and then sew them together on one side. How many squares across and down will depend on big you want to make the quilt. Fancy quilt stitching doesn’t have to be used either, although when you add a back to it, make sure you put a layer of stuffing between the sides for warmth. Think of how cool your bed will look when it’s all finished and how nice it is to see your collection displayed.
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