The T-shirt is the centerpiece of a girl's wardrobe. But even better, that same T-shirt is a blank canvas just waiting to express the personality and creativity of its owner. You can cut it, sew it, twist it and turn it. You can deconstruct it, you can reconstruct it. Recycle it, resuscitate it, refashion it, re-invent it. Make it punky, make it funky.
In the hands of Megan Nicolay who knows the DIY pride of accomplishment and the pleasure of making something chic and unique (and cheap) the T-shirt is like fashion ore,as she shows how to turn any ordinary, preferably well-used T-shirt into a halter, a tank top, a peasant blouse, or, for a total transformation, into a T-skirt. Or a hat. Or leg-warmers, a drawstring purse, an iPod cozy. Even a patchwork T-blanket.
In 108 unexpected, easy-to-follow projects, this pied piper of DIY shows first how to tee off with the basic materials plus add-ons (ribbons, lace,safety pins) and techniques (stitching, hemming, gathering). Then come recipes: 13 projects for customizing a T-shirt (i.e., doing everything to it you possibly can and still be able to call it a T-shirt); 21 projects for tank tops (less shirt, more style); and 14 projects for tube tops and halters (even less shirt and more style). There's the Two-Tiered Peasant Skirt, the Bow-Tie Beanie, the Sweet Dreams pillow. Plus gauntlets, pot holders and tablecloths, pillows and braided rugs. Not a DIY expert? No problem. More than one third of the projects are "no sew," so anyone who can wield a pair of scissors can put a personal stamp on her wardrobe.
"Interspersed throughout the book are tidbits of T-shirt trivia and anecdotes about celebrities and their tees. An excellent choice." Library Journal
"While the styles are counterculture, they are overall a creative and great way to experiment when recycling old t-shirts." Children's Literature
Make it yours. This inspirational guide with DIY attitude has everything you need to know about the worlds 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!
Megan Nicolay first transformed a T-shirt with batik at the age of nine, and has been at it ever since. Today she lives with her sewing machine in Brooklyn, New York, where she hosts Tee Parties and fills orders for special-request T-shirts. Her Web site, www.Generation-T.com, will feature a new design each month.
Contents
Introduction x
the brooklyn tee party: a revolution begins
Chapter 1: Tee off (p. 2)
The materials, the basic stitches, and sewing techniques youll need to makeall 108 projects in the book.
• finding inspiration (p. 3)• gathering supplies (p. 3)
• the anatomy of a t-shirt (p. 7)
• mastering the basics: measurements, pinning, threading the needle (p. 10)
• the stitches: running stitch, backstitch, whipstitch, zigzag stitch, cross-stitch, boxed crossstitch, finishing a stitch (p. 12)
• adding style: drawstrings, gathers, ruching, appliqué (p. 17)
• coloring outside the lines: adding embellishment (p. 19)
• dyeing, batiking, printing, bleaching (p. 20)
• zen and the art of t-shirt deconstruction (p. 23)
Chapter 2: Tee time (p. 24)
13 projects that involve customizing, cutting, clipping, tying, and pinning— as much deconstruction as you can do and still call it a T-shirt.
1. scoop, there it is (p. 26) 2. slash n sash (p. 28)
3. brokenhearted ( .30)
4. fringe benefits (p. 32)
5. pleasantly punk (p. 34)
6.. ruffle and tumble (p. 36)
7 comfort corset (p. 38)
8. its a cinch (p. 40)
9. mix n match (p. 42)
10. shoulder slash (p. 44)
11. pin-up (p. 45)
12. halftime (p. 46)
13. ode to the mullet (p. 48)
Chapter 3: par-tee on (p. 50)
The tank top—22 more projects that are less shirt, more style.
14. classic punk (p. 52) 15. shoulder chic (p. 54)
16. outer lace (p. 56)
17. lace age (p. 58)
19. fermez la ruche (p. 62)
20. its my party and ill tie if i want to (p. 64)
21. safety first (p. 66)
22. diamondback (p. 68)
23. a beautiful day in the hood (p. 70)
24. put me in, coach (p. 72)
25. its a string thing (p. 74)
26. sew easy (p. 76)
27. heavy meshinery (p. 78)
28. thats a wrap (p. 80)
29. six-pack (p. 82)
30. greek goddess (p. 84)
31. queen of braids (p. 86)
32. all strung out (p. 88)
33. tying game (p. 90)
34. punkd (p. 92)
35. strip search (p. 94)
Chapter 4: flir-tee girls (p. 96)
14 tube tops (and halters, too!)—even less shirt, even more style.
36. boob tube (p. 98) 37. bodice snipper (p. 100)
38. ready-made (p. 102)
39. bow me over (p. 104)
40. natural sass (p. 106)
41. scarf ace (p. 108)
42. rollover (p. 110)
43. bandeau, james bandeau (p. 112)
44. knotty by nature (p. 114)
45. halt right there (p. 116)
46. cover girl (p. 118)
47. t-bird (p. 120)
48. twisted sister (p. 122)
49. teeny bikini (p. 124)
Chapter 5: skir-tee girls 128
23 projects that take the T-shirt downtown— and were not talking about the financial district in New York City.
50. snips ahoy (p. 130) 51. snip, crackle, pop! (p. 133)
52. sidewinder (p. 136)
53. double-crosser (p. 138)
54. pocket rock it (p. 140)
55. next of pin (p. 142)
56. row, row, row your bows (gently down the seam) (p. 144)
57. knot too shabby (p. 146)
58. skirt flirt (p. 148)
59. triple-layer cake (p. 151)
60. petal pusher (p. 154)
61. flare thee well (p. 156)
62. mud flap (p. 159)
63. diamonds in the rough (p. 162)
64. road trip (p. 164)
65. material girl (p. 166)
66. alphabet city (p. 168)
67. bohemian wrapsody (p. 170)
68. wrapper keeper (p. 172)
69. cinch city (p. 174)
70. your ass is grass (p. 176)
71. tying up loose ends (p. 178)
72. flapper frenzy (p. 181)
Chapter 6: the t-zone (p. 184)
From leg warmers to hats, handbags to ponchos, checkbook covers to throw pillows, 16 projects that are perfect accents for the body and the home.
73. go-go gauntlets (p. 186) 74. knee huggers (leg warmers) (p. 188)
75. the braided bunch (braided belt) (p190)
76. punk poncho (p. 192)
77. scarf it up (scarf) (p. 194)
78. fit to be tied (hat) (p. 196)
79. check this (checkbook cover) (p. 198)
80. a tee in the pod (iPod cozy) (p. 200)
81. im the real shady (eyeglasses case)(p. 202)
82. bag lady (handbag) (p. 204)
83. backpacking the heat (satchel backpack) (p. 206)
84. rock the tote (tote bag) (p. 210)
85. is this seat taken? (seat cushion) (p. 213)
86. sweet dreams are made of tees (pillowcase) (p. 216)
87. cute roll-up (bolster pillow) (p. 218)
88. patchwork punk (blanket) (p. 220)
Chapter 7: t-wrecks (p. 224)
After the T-shirt deconstruction and reconstruction, here are 19 ways to “ get scrappy” with the leftovers.
89. flower power (blossom) (p. 226) 90. nip it in the bud (rosebud ring) (p. 228)
91. ice t (ring) (p. 229)
92. banned for life (headband) (p. 230)
93. net profits (hairnet) (p. 232)
94. im with the band (wri.stband) (p. 234)
95. my ears are ringing (earrings) (p. 236)
96. downward spiral (bra.ided rug) (p. 238)
97. shag me, baby (shag rug) (p. 240)
98. big hair bands (hair elastics) (p. 242)
99. the bowed and the beautiful (hair ribbons) (p. 242)
100. brace yourself (bracelet) (p. 242)
101. lace station (shoelaces) (p. 243)
102. knit wit (yarn) (p. 243)
103. the it doll (rag doll) (p. 244)
104. expand-o-pants (p. 246)
105. pocket it (p. 246)
106. patch it (p. 247)
107. flare affair (p. 247)