Adventures

I’m so excited to announce a very cool project I worked on in 2010: designing my first paper patterns for McCall’s Spring 2011 “Generation Next” campaign! I’m thrilled to be included in the newest pattern catalog alongside notable young designers Rebecca Turbow, the ladies at Flirt Brooklyn, and Melissa Watson. And here’s the proof (via my mom’s camera phone in the sewing section of a JoAnn Fabric & Craft Store in NH) — a spread in the catalog and the actual pattern envelopes, shown below!

My patterns are for use with jersey knit fabric, so while they’re not T-shirt designs per se — each style can be adapted for use on an actual T-shirt! And though I created all of the designs in black (what can I say, after 10 years living here, I’m a true New Yorker when it comes to fashion), I think they’d be fabulous in a dark plum, burgundy red, or teal. The envelope includes patterns for three related looks: a top, a tunic, and a dress and are available in two sizes, shown below: XS, S, M and L, XL.

So please check out the online look book or check out the real thing at your local fabric and pattern shop (and then go ahead and try them out at home on your sewing machine) and let me know what you think!

Excitement! Back in April, I was in Des Moines, Iowa to tape a pilot episode for for Sew It All, a new public television show premiering in the early part of 2012 with host Ellen March. See the preview below! Fast forward to several months later when Sew It All got all their fabulous sponsors rounded up and built a smart-looking new set in Golden, Colorado.

I flew out a couple of weeks ago so that Ellen and I could rework the segment on the new set, and in a slightly new format. Here are some highlights from behind the scenes! (P.S. That’s my sewing project on the dress form!) They taped for over a week straight, getting all of the first season episodes squared away–future guests include Carmen Webber (from Project Runway cycle 4), Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo, Suede (from Project Runway cycle 5), and more!

Editorial Assistant Kim Lee made sure everything ran smoothly off-set, from ironing samples to donning a headset and giving us those silent fingered countdowns to “action!” off-camera. Angela Lewis did our hair and makeup–here she is with host (and editor-in-chief of Sew It All magazine) Ellen March. Angela’s also responsible for the super curls I got to wear all over my head!

Here’s another shot from the super cute set — my tank top and Ellen’s cardigan…both made from T-shirts, of course.

Where on-set meets off-set: There were three cameras–operated by Layne, John, and Kevin–one on each side and one that swooped down from overhead to zoom in on what our hands were doing.

Flowers arrived on set for Ellen since it was the first day of taping!

Director Andi Coyle hunkered down off-set, making sure that we kept our energy up, that our mics didn’t get bumped during taping, that every shot was there and looked good! (And check out the cue cards Ellen prepared — I always love the phonetic pronunciation of my name: Meegan Nicol-eye!)

Angela and Kim also continued to keep a watchful eye over the on-set proceedings.

On the wall of the set: A simple, colorful reminder of what we are all there to do!

And, after a long day of taping, there’s nothing like ordering in a New York-style calzone to the hotel room! Yum.

Stay tuned for an air date! (Please contact your local PBS station to make sure they carry the show!  Click here to fill out a form to encourage them to make it happen!) I can’t wait to share my project with you all.

Now, where were we…ah yes, reminiscing about Maker Faire 2010!

Tiffany from RePlayground stopped by, showing off another colorful refashioned T-skirt!

The only kind of Coney Island Cyclone I’ll get near these days (after my last run-in with the real deal landed me in the ER — long story). Softie Cyclone only for me, thankyouverymuch!

There were chariot races! (With giant squid-like vehicles, ravens on wheels, tricked out bikes and pink tutus galore.)

Plus golden ladies on horse-bike…and more.

There were, inevitably, these:

Diana Eng‘s technology fashion show was amazing, as I had imagined it would be. This red piece with the deployable structured collar reminded me of…

The origami and paper plane folding at Workman’s Camp Make activity table.

Not only could people learn to knit and crochet (exhibit A, the crocheted wristband), they made buttons, too, at the button-making station at the Workman booth (exhibit B, the button latching it all together)!

And then, as quickly as it started, it was time to pack up…and get ready for next year!

Signing off…

I’m going to keep the words to a minimum with the weak excuse that because I talked so much last Saturday and Sunday at Maker Faire that my voice is a little hoarse. (Yes, I’m choosing to completely ignore the fact that typing shouldn’t pose a problem to my vocal cords unless I read aloud to myself as I type…which I sometimes do.) Without further ado, please enjoy “My Weekend at World Maker Faire” in photos (with captions).

A nice verb that sums up the weekend.

A young fashionista generously shared sketches from her next collection.

I ate a lot of vegan paella (in the far vats). Oh, thee giant pans of paella, how I miss thee already.

Bicycle powered guitar jams! Sweet.

I refashioned T-shirts with new friend Dia in the parking lot!

I signed books for ladies wearing cool DIYed tank tops!

I spied T-shirt knitting yarn at the {NewNew} Collective!

The noisy, noisy, super amazing Jet Ponies by Madagascar Institute!

Refashioned more T-shirts with readers!

Signed more books, too!

My friend Kristina took a break from teaching knitting at the National Needle Art Association to witness the Squiggle Bot from Randy Sarafan’s 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer make her a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Then her daughter made this Flutter By, Butterfly from 10-Minute Puppets with author Noel MacNeal .

Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

The World Maker Faire whirls into NYC this weekend. And Generation T will be there! Come find me at the Workman Publishing “Camp Make” booth (located in the Craft Corral in Zone B) at 3 pm on Saturday and 11:00 am on Sunday. I’ll be demonstrating T-shirt refashioning techniques, signing books, and holding book and T-shirt giveaways! And, how cute is this: All the worker bees in the Workman Camp Make booth will be wearing designs they made from my two books!

Some other Maker Faire highlights I’m excited to explore in my free time:

-Free button-making station at Workman’s Camp Make. (A great way to stock up on punk pins for T-shirt projects!)

–Diana Eng’s technology fashion show at 2 pm on Saturday.(Remember her awesomely geek chic designs from Project Runway?)

–BUST magazine is hosting a Craftacular–more than 100 crafty vendors selling original handmade goodies. PLUS, a Stitch’n BUST knitters’ lounge–you can bring a project, stitch, and make new friends while you’re at it!

–Stitch’n Bitch series author (and BUST publisher) Debbie Stoller be appearing in the Camp Make booth at noon on both Saturday and Sunday! (And, the Workman booth is right next door to Red Heart yarn–I look forward to plunging my hands into some soft skeins!)

-I admit, I caught a few episodes of America’s Got Talent this past season, and loved the ArcAttack team’s electricity-fueled performances. They and their Singing Teslas will be performing Saturday at 11 am.

-And the food! Gourmet food trucks are going to be lined up along Science Avenue. I’m drooling just thinking about it.

If you’re in the NY area, I do hope to see you this weekend. If you’re far, far away, don’t worry, I’ll take so many pictures it’ll be like you were there!

Several months ago, my friend Kristina invited me to a Stitch n’ Pitch event at the Mets’ Citi Field — which sounded like fun, despite the fact that 1) I’m not a very advanced knitter, 2) I’ve never learned to crochet, and 3) I’m a Red Sox fan. But, I figured, I can always pack an embroidery or other hand stitch project, and hey, my dad grew up a fan of the Mets, so it’s all in the family.

Now, if you recall, when I announced my crafty New Year’s resolution last December during the holiday giveaway, it was to learn to crochet. Needless to say, I’ve been slacking a bit, and though it would have been easy to toss the embroidery project in my tote and go, Kristina’s invitation inspired me. Especially when I learned that the Mets vs. the Marlins wasn’t the only contest taking place at Citi Field that day. Up in Section 531, deep along the left field foul line, a group of “hookers” were gathering to attempt to set a Guinness World Record for Most People Crocheting Simultaneously. Count me in! Below are some of the busy hands, along with our intrepid host, Deborah Norville.

A quick tutorial from my friend Lianne got me working on my first ever chain. Which equals the first WIN of the afternoon!

Fifteen minutes later, I, in combination with 426 other crocheters in Section 531 had helped set the Guinness World Record. Second WIN!

A few hours after that, with a home run by David Wright plus a few RBIs from Wright, Ike Davis, Jeff Francoeur, and Ruben Tejada, the Mets sealed a victory against the Marlins, 6 runs to 1. Third WIN!

Not to mention a few other game highlights: 1) My friends and I were featured on the jumbotron during the instant replay of the record-setting crocheting; 2) I spotted a few slashed T-shirts in the stands (an example from two rows in front of me, below); also, Kristina (above) wore a refashioned Mets tank–a no-sew combination of projects #15 and #16!; and 3) I untangled 2 skeins of yarn into neat balls–each coincidentally about the size of a baseball. All in all, a very satisfying win-win-win.

Take me out to the ball game…

I was so bummed not to make it to the first ever Austin Renegade Craft Fair (the Naughty Secretary has a great rundown here), especially since I was even in the great state of Texas last weekend! Alas, Texas is a big state, and Dallas was still too far from Austin for this trip. Luckily for me (and you other Tri-Staters reading), the BUST Spring Fling Craftacular is ready and waiting to welcome me back to Brooklyn this Sunday! The younger sister of the BUST Holiday Craftacular, the Spring Fling is a veritable shopping party–all the drinks, deliciousness, and DJs requisite of a proper party combined with more than 50 awesome indie designers in stationery, fashion, jewelry, and more, more, more.

Also on the scale of awesome, Score! Pop-up Swap will be in attendance to collect gently used items for their upcoming Megaswap on May 29th at BKLYN Yard. Because hey, if you’re not using those old T-shirts at the back of your closet, drop them off so they can be adopted by someone who will use them!

I’ll be there roaming the aisles of Warsaw, that’s for sure. Hope to see you!

I swear, I must have a sixth sense for thrifted jersey knit. I spotted this sale rack of 50-cent T-shirts from the backseat of a car when Mr. T and I were in Florida this past weekend and politely requested that we pull over immediately! I thought, what good material for the DIY Scraptacular on Thursday. I better stock up! So I invested in as many as I could squeeze into my carry-on luggage. And, boy, there are some real gems. So if you’re in the NYC area, please stop by the Terracycle Green Up Shop tonight–come early, stay late, and refashion a T-shirt while you’re there. Feel free to bring your own old tees to add to the pile, or trade for another!

I’ll have books to sign, too!