Product Description

Make it yours. This inspirational guide with DIY attitude has everything you need to know about the world’s great T-shirt: how to cut it, sew it, deconstruct it, reconstruct it, and best of all, transform it. • Features more than 100 projects (plus 200 variations) for customized tees, tank tops, tube tops, T-skirts—even handbags, a patchwork blanket, iPod cozies, leg warmers, and more. • Not a DIY expert? Not to worry. More than one third of the projects are no sew, meaning anyone who can wield a pair of scissors can put a personal stamp on her wardrobe. But the sewing basics are here too: backstitch and whipstitch, gather and ruche, appliqué and drawstrings. • And the mission statement for Generation T: Ask not what your T-shirt can do for you; ask what you can do for your T-shirt. And then Do-It-Yourself!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18729 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780761137856
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
The scope of Nicolay's how-to book is broader than its title suggests. It's a breezy, trendy call of encouragement to a young crop of do-it-yourselfers, with enough ideas to inspire experienced crafty types, too. The T-shirt is the starting point; the 108 end results—many of which have an edgy, even punk-like feel (much like the projects in Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch)—range from slightly modified tops requiring no sewing to much more intricate fashion products like the sexy "sidewinder" skirt and the two-piece "teeny bikini," with variations suggested for many projects. Offering celebrity tidbits ("In the 1950s and early '60s, James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Elvis Presley delivered a triple dose of T-shirt sex appeal onscreen and onstage, turning the garment into an icon of rebellion") and "tee trivia," a condensed history uncovers one of the world's favorite pieces of clothing. The book starts with an introduction to design terms, tools, measurement, materials and stitches, making it accessible to beginners. And because the author—who got into transforming Ts by gathering friends and hosting "Brooklyn Tee Parties" to resuscitate old T-shirts—is budget-conscious (and so are all the projects in the book), anyone can afford to experiment with this kind of fashion design. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Megan Nicolay has been traveling around the country like a pied piper of DIY, giving workshops and consulting at craft events since the publication of her bestseller, Generation T. She is a founding member of the Department of Craft, a New York City–based craft collective, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Let’s get a few things straight. Getting crafty with Generation T does not mean adding glitter to every accessory. It does not mean “BeDazzling” everything from your calculator to your toothbrush or affixing pre-tied bows to your blazer. No adhesives (that includes hot glue guns). No puffy paint. You need scissors, needle and thread, safety pins, and sheer moxie.

Generation T is all-inclusive—if you wear T-shirts, you’re part of it. If you own a pair of scissors, you’re already equipped to make one-third of the projects in this book. The others that do require a needle and thread can be made entirely by hand, no sewing machine needed—though some projects will go a lot faster if you use one.

But before you slash, read this chapter. “Tee Off!” is your reference; it includes the materials and the basic stitches and sewing techniques you’ll need to make all the projects in the book. Refer back to it whenever you hit the proverbial snag or need a quick refresher course.

Finding Inspiration

Beyond the 108 projects and 175 variations offered here, you can find inspiration for DIY fashion everywhere. From an item on a store hanger, a friend’s closet, or the outfit of a complete stranger walking down the street (just don’t shadow the person for more than a block). Grab a piece of paper, a napkin, a receipt—whatever’s handy—and sketch it out to try later at home.

If you see something you like in a magazine or catalog, tear out the picture and copy the design. Chances are you can make it—or something better. Observe the world around you. I keep my sketch pad handy and scribble down design notes about outfits I see people wearing on the subway platform, on the crosswalk, at an outdoor café. At a punk rock show I snapped pictures of fans backstage.

Some of my designs come into my head in very abstract ways—a shape inspires me here, a color catches my eye there, and then the two meet. Let yourself be inspired by your surroundings. I was sitting in Washington Square Park one summer afternoon, eating my lunch and sketching pictures of the arch under construction. Several of those sketches, combined with some from my daily street fashion observations, inspired the Cover Girl halter top design in Chapter 4. The lesson here is: Keep your eyes peeled, and your sketch pad handy.

Gathering Supplies

Each project in Generation T is written like a recipe, starting with a list of ingredients (a.k.a. materials and supplies) and followed by the steps needed to create it. Basic ingredients include a T-shirt (bare minimum), scissors (almost always), needle and thread, straight pins, chalk, and a ruler.

T-Shirts You’ll need one or two T-shirts for most of the projects here. So where can you find them? My largest collection includes old softball uniforms, from Little League tees (a very hot commodity on the thrift store circuit) all the way up to high school summer softball tees. If you don’t have quite the stockpile that I have, fear not. T-shirts are everywhere. Scout around for promotional giveaways (good sources for clever slogans or, at the very least, exciting splashes of color) and credit card sign-ups (you can always cancel them). Root around in your own bottom drawers for bar mitzvah tees, travel souvenirs, and rock concert treasures. You can even rescue one of your dad’s old T-shirts before it’s reduced to a household cleaning rag (never thought you’d be raiding Dad’s closet, did you?). You’d be surprised at how many free tee opportunities there are out there. (If you opt for the thrift-store purchase, just make sure you wash the tee before you start slashing it.)

When you’re choosing a T-shirt to refashion, pay attention to the weight of the fabric, as well as its stretch and color. The weight depends on the material (is it 100% cotton? a 50/50 blend?). T-shirts made from blended fabrics are slightly lighter than all-cotton ones and will drape more elegantly (they’re also more susceptible to static cling). Despite being heavier, all-cotton fabric is more breathable— which is why we wear it on the hottest summer days. You can make any project out of just about any T-shirt, but keep in mind what you want the final outcome to look like and use your common sense. If a shirt is stiff and rigid to begin with, it’s not going to make the flounciest skirt. And the super-soft lived-in T-shirt will never regain its shape, so don’t expect a structured A-line skirt out of that one.

On to the subject of stretch. The beauty of jersey knit is that it stretches a little in every direction. Single-knit jersey stretches from 20% to 25% across the grain (that’s horizontally across a T-shirt). Check out the stretch scale below. You can measure any piece of fabric against this scale to test its capacity for stretch.When spandex or other artificial materials are added to the mix, jersey can stretch more than 35% (and it retains its shape better).

I like to try on the T-shirt I’m using before I start a project—even if I’m making a skirt—to see how it stretches and hangs. It’s important to be aware of the original fit of the T-shirt (the fabric will hug the same way whether it’s across your bust or your butt). For instance, if your shirt has 3% spandex and is a little snug around your shoulders and torso, cut off the sleeves and make it into one of the fitted tank tops— you avoid the tight shoulders and accentuate the tight torso.

And lastly, color. Feeling timid about picking your color palette? Here’s an exercise: Throw all your T-shirts in a pile on the floor and look for colors and patterns that work well together (match complementary colors and mix primary and secondary colors). Also, pay attention to logos. In a project that calls for more than one T-shirt, pair a maroon shirt that has mustard-colored text or graphics with an all-yellow shirt. And as you place them together, remember that precision doesn’t matter in terms of the angle of the logo. If you get the chance, turn the logo on its side. Note: There’s no need to find T-shirts exactly like the ones used in this book; even if you do, your version of each project will, happily, be unique.

Customer Reviews

Brilliant!
I have a long history of buying lots of craft and instructional books, flipping through the pages once, then sticking them on a shelf while I try to figure out how to do my own thing. Not so with this book! I can't remember another book I've ever bought that was so darn inviting that I sat down and made lots of the projects the same day!

The instructions are VERY easy to follow, and they don't assume that everyone knows how to sew or has a sewing machine (though I do, which makes them even easier). She even explains alternate methods for cutting if you don't have access to a decent pair of scissors. The book is truly accessible to anyone with an old shirt! Plus she's got some really great ideas here, and so far everything I've made (about 10 of the projects over the course of 2 days) has turned out perfectly adorable. I do not exactly have a halter-top body, but somehow her designs have all looked fabulous, I don't know if she's some kind of genius or alchemist or what!

Since we seem to be stating our ages here, I'm 34 and will proudly wear many of these designs myself!! Though some of the sexiest tops and bikini bottoms will probably not be worn outside the house!

Just one note, you may want to take the sizing with a grain of salt when the design calls for a "Fitted T-shirt (Size Small)." Hate to tell the authors, but some of us find a Size Large to be plenty fitted! Just use your own common sense when it comes to that and you'll be fine. In fact, one of the things I love about this book is that I used to be a XXL and after losing weight I found many of my old favorites were way too boxy to even wear for sleeping. This book has given my old wardrobe new life! Not only do I not have to toss my soft old shirts, but they look cuter and sexier than ever before. I LOVE THIS BOOK!

we love this book!
I am 38, my daughter is 17.....we both love this book! And while I may never wear most of the designs in this book, I like them all and will wear some, my daughter and her friends can use them all.....the ideas are great, explanations clear, and can be accomplished by even a beginner. I have many years of craft and hobby sewing experience, which I think helped in some of the projects I made, but weren't necessary. The only problem I have encountered was the sizing in the bikini pattern, I made it as directed for my daughter, and it was too small, we passed it on to her tiny friend, and she thought the top too small, as well, so, perhaps enlarge the pattern measurements and make a test top of paper before cutting up that cool tshirt.

Shockingly useful
I ordered this book after some frustrating shopping for detailed tees (I found very few that were flattering, interesting, and fit well, and what I found was EXPENSIVE).

I am thrilled with this book. Here's what I like:

- There's a remarkable variety of looks represented in the projects. Some scream punk, some hint at it, and some look like you bought it in a pricey boutique.

- The quality of the detail is excellent. A lot of DIY tees look like a six-year-old went through the laundry basket with a pair of round-tipped scissors. With these designs, it's very clear that you _meant_ for it to be exactly as it is, even when it's full of holes and raw edges.

- The projects are remarkably easy. They're all based on cutting, pinning, tying, or easy sewing. And at least one of them is undoable; you tie but don't cut.

- this is not just for 15-year-old tarts. The patterns vary in edginess and bareness, so most people should find something they're comfortable with. Several would look equally good on my 17-year-old cousin, on 26-year-old me, and on my 55-year-old mom (who is as gorgeous and un-frumpy as they come, but never inappropriate for her age). Plus, a lot of the barer designs would look great layered over a tank top for a more modest look.

- a lot of the tee and tank designs are bra-friendly, and many could be adapted to be.

- the instructions are very clear (with lots of illustrations), and they are very technique-based. So once you make (or even understand) one project, you can take those techniques and branch out into your own designs.

- these are incredibly cheap to make: a couple of bucks if you buy a new t-shirt, a few cents at a garage sale or thrift store, or free, if you go digging in your dresser drawers.

- It includes a t-shirt wedding dress. Now, most "novelty" wedding dresses are pretty hideous. This, however, is... stunning. If I weren't already married, I'd have seriously considered it (although probably made it in a silk jersey). I might make a shorter version for a nice summer dress.


Things to be aware of:
(I can't really call them complaints)
- the sub-title is "108 ways to transform a t-shirt". This is true, but 35 of those are non-garments (legwarmers, a rug, purses, etc.) Half of those use scraps from other projects, which was nice to include.