The Race Shirts That Will Keep You Warm ( and a Discount Code)

If you are like me and have been running for awhile, you have these shirts that you get when you register for a race. Over the last few years they had started cluttering up my closet, but I didn't want to give them away as each represented a part of my running career.
One day while reading Runner's World, I saw an ad in the back advertising making race shirts into quilts. I quickly jumped online to look at the details only to find out that it was so very expensive. I was disappointed because I love blankets and this was the perfect thing to do with all of my shirts.

  A few weeks later I saw a Groupon for Project Repat. I was a little hesitant as their prices were far below any other company I have seen and I was worried about being ripped off. I did some research and found out more about the company. At first, I thought the Project Repat name was a little weird and kept wanting to call it Project Repeat. But Repat is short for repatriating textile jobs back to the US. They used to be in the t-shirt making business, but cheap oversea labor took those jobs away. Today they want to take those same shirts that they used to make and create blankets out of them. They are environmentally friendly and everything about the blanket is made in the USA. I found out that their blankets are so much cheaper because they are not actually quilting the blankets, but sewing the shirts together and adding a fleece back. I wasn't looking for any special quilting done for this blanket so I bought the Groupon. Looking at the different blanket sizes they offer and how many shirts make up each, I decided to get the full, which used 30 shirts. Their instructions stated that I was to cut up the shirts and only send them the side that I wanted on the blanket. That made sense so there was no confusion on what side to use and less to ship, cutting costs, but I was terrified to cut them up. I was so scared that the blanket would turn out horrible and I just ruined all my memories. I had a small panic attack cutting up each shirt, but made it through all 30 of them. In the end, I actually only had 28 shirts, so I sent in a couple of backs that were blank to fill up the last 2 spots. As for the design, you have a choice to place the shirts in a certain order or have the company choose what shirts go where. Since I didn't have a date order, a color scheme, or anything special in mind, I chose to let them place the shirts where they thought they looked good. I packed them up and sent them on their way.

In less then 2 weeks I had a package waiting for me on my porch. I was so excited that I tore it right open and found the most beautiful blanket I had ever seen. All 30 shirts were put together with a very warm and soft fleece back. I was so excited that I shared a photo of it with everyone I knew. So many people have commented on how stunning it was and what a great way to keep all those shirts. I use it all of the time while watching TV on the couch because it is just so soft and warm!

I plan on doing this again, but I have to collect more shirts first!  Just one more reason to keep on running.  Not only do I look forward to the medal I will collect, but the shirt that one day will make another blanket for me.  I want to do all of the runDisney events and eventually make a blanket with all of the shirts collected from those events.


I was so happy with my purchase that I contacted Project Repat and they have offered all of you readers a 15% discount on any blanket you purchase, just enter the code fairytales when you checkout.  This would be perfect for not only race shirts, but really anything.  If you have shirts hanging around that you just can't seem to let go of, this is the perfect way to put them to good use.  Your cherished memories from college, your favorite sports team, sorority/fraternity shirts, trip mementos (like Disney!), or even all those shirts your kids are too big for.  This also would make a great Christmas gift for someone and if you order now and get the shirts to them by November 15th, they will ship to you in time to put it under the Christmas Tree.

I look forward to collecting more shirts for my next blanket.  But for now I will snuggle under the one I have and remember everything that I have accomplished.

This post was brought to you by our Running Friend Heather. You can follow Heather on Twitter @Heatherlas


 

46 comments:

  1. Nice! Mom made a tshirt quilt for me with dance and swimming shirts when I was in college. I'm hoping she'll make one with my race shirts too. -C

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    1. I hope she does, too. They are just the best way to keep the memories.
      @heatherlas

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  2. I love that! I've been collecting TShirts for a while. I dont have that many cotton Ts however, so just waiting!!

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    1. They don't have to be cotton. Some of the shirts on the blanket are tech shirts.
      @heatherlas

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  3. Wow that is really cool, and the blanket turned out really nice! I'd be so nervous cutting up my shirts! I don't think I have that many, maybe a smaller throw would work out nicely :)

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    1. I was a wreck cutting them. It took me several days to get through them all as it just made me so anxious. They have a couple smaller sizes from what I did. It was the best decision I made in a long time. :)
      @heatherlas

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  4. I've seen these before and think they are such a great idea! I need to go back and dig through my race shirts and start saving for this haha.

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    1. I have a box now to save shirts for my next blanket. I can't wait to get another one.
      @heatherlas

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  5. The blanket looks great! I'm definitely thinking of doing this with my race shirts at some point since they seem to be accumulating at a pretty fast clip. I love that the company stands for repatriating textile jobs back to the US.

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    1. I know, the more I learned about the company, the more I really loved picking them to make my blanket. Hope you get to do it soon.
      @heatherlas

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  6. I definitely don't have a lot of race shirts but that's such a great idea.

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    1. You can do it with more then race shirts. I'm thinking of doing it with all those shirts I bought on different trips. But you will have more race shirts soon!
      @heatherlas

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  7. I LOVE it! I've been wanting to do this with my race shirts for a long time. Question...do the shirts all have to be cotton? Or can you add the tech material shirts in there too?

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    1. No, they don't all have to be cotton. Some of the shirts on my blanket are tech shirts. Hope you are able to get one made.
      @heatherlas

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  8. Aww, that sucks. You'll just have to run them all again. :) No, I haven't done Frostbite yet. It's on my list of potential races of 2015. A friend ran it last year and loved it.
    @heatherlas

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  9. I love this! I wonder if I have 30 race shirts...I may have gotten rid of some! I'll look....thanks for this!

    ~Wendy at Taking the Long Way Home

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    1. They have a couple smaller options if you don't have 30 shirts. You will love the blanket!
      @heatherlas

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  10. I really want to do this! I'll eventually do a race one but first I need one of all these shirts I have from college!

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    1. Yes! I was thinking to do another one with all the shirts I bought on trips, including all of those Hard Rock Cafe shirts. I hope you get to do one, or two. :)
      @heatherlas

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  11. I've always wanted to do this... I need to check out their prices!

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    1. You should. The blanket is amazing.
      @heatherlas

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  12. That looks amazing! I know people who love quilting but I don't have the equipment to do it myself.

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    1. I'm lucky to be able to even replace a button. I don't have any sewing skills and was so happy to find a place that does it for a reasonable price.
      @heatherlas

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  13. Replies
    1. Aren't they great? Glad you like yours too!
      @heatherlas

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  14. Very cool. I even shared on facebook!

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  15. Looks great!!! I actually didn't even know companies existed who did this until recently. A few years ago when I started on my 50 states goal, as the shirts started piling up I wondered what was I going to do with them all, because even at 32, you add them with the others and lets just say I have an entire pink tote in my room dedicated to storing race shirts:) I told myself when I was done I would make one of my own, (I am one of those weird people who enjoy sewing and quilting even if I don't do it often anymore:) So eventually, when I get all my 51 shirts:) I hope to have my own quilt!

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    1. That would be a real awesome blanket! Good luck with the rest of your states!
      @heatherlas

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  16. I would LOVE to have one made (maybe my newly retired mom could haha or could with Project Repat).

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    1. You defiantly should! It is so worth it. But I think I'd rather have a mom made one, but my mom doesn't sew.
      @heatherlas

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  17. LOVE it. Now I am so mad I either tossed of Goodwilled all my shirts.

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    1. Awww, that sucks! This means you will just have to enter more races now. :)
      @heatherlas

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  18. Great idea and I love the idea of bringing jobs back home in this kind of industry. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with us!

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    1. Yeah, the more I read the more I loved using them.
      @heatherlas

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  19. I'm with Abby---I wish I would've kept my shirts--this is such a fun idea!

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    1. I now have a box that I keep the shirts I don't wear in. Far away from the goodwill bag. :) Hope you continue to collect to get one for yourself.
      @heatherlas

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  20. I donated a bunch of shirts last year, but I'm going to see if I have enough for this. I use a throw blanket watching tv and blogging all the time, and this would be great.

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    1. I use blankets all the time while on the couch either watching TV or working on my computer (or both) and I love using it. Especially now that the weather is colder, it's so nice to snuggle under it. I hope you have enough to make one.
      @heatherlas

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  21. I've wanted to do this for along time, especially with shirts that I like the design but don't fit quite right. Thanks for the discount code!

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  22. I’ve always loved those blankets but sadly, have rarely kept many of my shirts. I’m tall and none of them EVER fit so I’ve usually ended up donating them. Very cool keepsake to have though!

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  23. This is SUCH a fantastic idea. I am in the process of storing my sons' special t-shirts that we have collected over the years. I think this blanket might make a sensational college graduation gift!!

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  24. I LOOOOOVE this! Looks great. I've thought about doing this with all of those race t-shirts I've collected that pretty much just sit in the closet. Thanks for the idea and the code!

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  25. It turned out great! I have a pile of shirts that I need to do something with...

    Thanks for joining us!

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