This post originally appeared a year ago, but since I'm still using the towels today and still getting more race t-shirts I thought it would be a great post to re-share. If you re-create this DIY be sure to share and email pictures of what you did! I'd love to share with readers.

I can safely say that every runner boasts a drawer overflowing with race t-shirts. It seems that more races these days, even the small 5K are giving out tech-t shirts. But even then you only have so much room. Some race t-shirts I decline upon registration or donate right away. Some become nightgowns for my daughter or dust rags for cleaning days. But there are those few shirts that I just don't want to get rid of: the memorable races, the PR's. Most of them, especially the cotton ones, sit in the bottom of my running drawer because more often than not I reach for a tank top or a long sleeve (mostly because New England weather changes so drastically that one run you may wear a tank top and then the next a long sleeve, with no need ever for those "in between" t-shirts).

I've seen quilts made from old t-shirts, which is a great idea. But a t-shirt quilt doesn't really fit with my bedroom decor and would probably end up in a sitting in a box somewhere, just like the cotton t's at the bottom of the drawer. So I decided if I was willing to take a pair of scissors to them, I may as well make them useful. Enter: the t-shirt treadmill towel. Perfect for wiping sweat while remembering those memorable races.

I took three t-shirts that I haven't worn in years (although they did get some good judging Baku the pit stains;-P) chopped them up, sewed them to some terri cloth scraps that I had laying around and made myself a few handy little sweat towels, perfect for treadmill runs.

Here's how you can do the same:

What you'll need:

1. Old Race t-shirts

2. A sewing machine. Sewing these by hand would take a while and if you were desperate you could super glue them? But that might be a little rough to swipe across the face. Best bet if you don't have a sewing machine is to barter with a friend who has a machine.

3. Terri cloth (can be purchased at any fabric/craft store) or repurpose an old towel.

How to do it:

1. Roughly cut out the design from the t-shirt leaving enough room to trim it down to the size you want your towel.

2. Place your rough cut t-shirt on top of the towel material and cut a rectangle from the two fabrics; keep in mind 1/4-1/2" margin for the seam. A rotary cutter and mat work great for this.

3. Place right sides together (logo of t-shirt face down on towel material). Sew on three sides, creating a "pillow-case"

4. Turn right sides out and sew along the top to close. I used a zig-zag stitch.

5. If you choose cut out the logo from the front of the t-shirt and appliqué onto the terri-cloth side using a top stitch. It's OK to applique this on after the rest of the sewing is done. It helps hold the towel together a bit when it gets washed.