Yay, Treehugger, for a lovely review today! I’ve pasted it below, but read it here, too, for a free, downloadable tutorial for the Pinup Girl halter top!
by Jasmin Malik Chua, Jersey City, USA
Grab those shears and kick your sewing machines into gear because Megan Nicolay, author of the 2006 bestseller Generation T, is back with more ideas—a staggering 120, to be exact—for repurposing and reinterpreting the humble T-shirt, from ill-fitting promotional freebies to memory-laden concert merch.
Nicolay’s sophomore endeavor, Generation T: Beyond Fashion ($15.95), bleeds new life into the burgeoning wardrobe-refashion movement, which couldn’t have come at a better time for both pocketbook and planet: An estimated 11.9 million tons of textiles were generated in 2007, accounting 4.7 percent of total municipal solid waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In contrast, only 2.5 billion pounds of post-consumer textile waste gets recycled, leaving plenty of fabric gold in them thar landfills.
Nicolay one-ups herself in Beyond Fashion, moving from ripped and restitched togs (though you’ll find plenty of those, including maternity tops) to home accessories, pet gear, and the cutest hipster babywear this side of Williamsburg (the animal-eared hooded towel and superhero cape are completely inspired.)
Skillwise, projects run the gamut from easy-peasy no-sew to intermediate, and the illustrated step-by-step directions—along with tutorials on knotting, sewing, braiding, lacing, and embellishing—are a cinch to follow. Don’t believe us? Download the first project, a cinched halter, right now for free.
One thing’s for sure; you’ll never look at a ratty T-shirt the same way again.
[ Posted on July 15th, 2009 ]
