Generation T

NH: Live Free and DIY!

Isn’t that how the motto goes? I’m back home in NYC, but my heart is still up in New Hampshire, and it feels like my scissor hand is still twitching in my sleep after all the T-shirt refashioning we did! Altogether, the students at the Kenneth A. Brett School upcycled (new vocabulary term for many of the kids in my group!) more than 150 T-shirts over the four days. Below are some of the highlights from the last two days of my artist-in-residency! (And if you want more proof of the fun we had, check out the photos posted over at the Tamworth Arts Council blog.) I miss these kids already…

A lace-up tank top with mismatched sides (#16 in Generation T); another lace-up top with braided multi-colored stitching.

Some in-process braiding and knotting — to complete the finishing touches on two “Mohawk Mo’ Rock” no-sew hats (project #72 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion).

Two finished, fringed hats!

But what’s a finished hat without matching glovelets (#103 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion)? Or a pair of tie-dyed glovelets without multicolored fingernails?

Going with the tie-dye theme, here’s a tie-dye version of Back in Action (#101 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion); plus a sunshine-filled pillow (#30 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion)!

Another completed pillow; a matching totebag (for his mom to use while grocery shopping) and headband (for him).

Some in-progress laced-up glovelets; an innovative visor made from the neckband of a T-shirt (with sun-shielding neck protection, of course!).

A pillow for catnapping; a no-sew tote bag–already filled with books!

DIY hats, tank tops, headbands, and wristbands…

Pillows, pillows, and more pillows!

Hats, hats, and more hats!

[ 4 Comments | Posted on March 14th, 2012 ]

Adventures

A Tee Party in Tamworth!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Cook Memorial Library last night. (And thanks especially to the Arts Council of Tamworth for sponsoring the evening — as well as the artist residency at the Kenneth A. Brett School.) We had a great turnout, enthusiastic crowd, even some delicious gluten-free baked goods! All in all, an excellent recipe for a rolicking good time. Here are some pics!

Willa carefully sketched out a design with a chalk marker.

Suzanne worked on the “Outer Lace” tank top (project #16 in Generation T), while her daughter tackled the “Brokenhearted” tee (project #2 in Generation T).

Molly made lace-up gloves from Generation T: Beyond Fashion; some refashionistas managed to make both a T-shirt and accessories in the short time!

Juno wore her flapper dress (project #72 in Generation T) for the occasion, and Sandy made gloves (project #103 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion).

Emma made a grocery tote; here’s Maya’s completed “Brokenhearted” tee (and some more gloves, too)!

A tote bag, some gloves, and a halter top oh my! (Courtesy of Willa, Molly, and Georgia.)

What a fun night — thanks again to all who attended. It really did feel like a party!

[ 5 Comments | Posted on March 9th, 2012 ]

Adventures

Refashioning T-shirts with Students in NH

After my artist-in-residency at Holderness School last March, I was invited to take part in a program at the Kenneth A. Brett School this winter (thanks to the Art Council of Tamworth). Here are some highlights from our first two days with the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. On Day 1, students made either a no-sew pillow (project #30 from Generation T: Beyond Fashion: 120 New Ways to Transform a T-shirt) or the Outer Lace tank top (project #16 from Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt). On Day 2, they chose between making a no-sew mohawk-style hat (project #72, GT:BF) or the Back in Action tee (project #101, GT:BF). And a few students were inspired to use their scraps to become ninjas! Here they are getting crafty:

Stay tuned for Days 3 and 4! More crafty times ahead…

[ 1 Comment | Posted on March 8th, 2012 ]

Media

Love from Rookie Mag!

Thanks to RookieMag contributor Stephanie (via the Rookie Tumblr) for embracing her crafty side and making (and then featuring!) the “Fun in the Sun” halter dress (project #20 in Generation T: Beyond Fashion) in a recent post. It looks positively smashing, don’t you think? It also makes me think of the warmer weather just around the corner.

[ Comments Off on Love from Rookie Mag! | Posted on February 29th, 2012 ]

Other Projects

ILTC: Ryan Gosling’s Scorpion Jacket

Hey Girl.

As one popular Tumblr ode to Ryan Gosling says, he’s “your favorite sensitive movie dude-turned-meme.” Another Tumblr puts it more bluntly. And a recent video by Gosling doppelganger Joey shares “How to Look Like Ryan Gosling.” Which got me thinking about snagging Ryan Gosling’s style. Forget the hoodie and well-groomed 5 o’clock man-scruff. I mean, did you see that embroidered scorpion jacket he wore in Drive? If you didn’t, well, feast your eyes:

You can actually buy it — oh, but making it would be so much more fun. And so, for my newest iLoveToCreate blog post, I set out to make some sweet scorpion threads inspired by that original jacket — no satin quilting, no embroidery, just a white jacket from a thrift store and some fabric paint. And since my favorite new sensitive dude happens to be pint-sized, I’ve decided to make it in miniature for my little gosling. (Note: These instructions can produce a version for a full-sized goose as long as you start with a full-sized jacket!)

Materials:
-White zip-front jacket or sweatshirt
-Pen
-Contact paper
-Craft knife and cutting mat
-Masking tape
–Yellow fabric paint, brush or spray on (for scorpion)
–Orange fabric paint, brush or spray on (for highlights)
–Black fabric paint, brush or spray on (for trim)
–Paint brushes (optional)
-Sewing machine threaded with white thread (optional)
-Scissors (optional)

Make it:

1. Lay the jacket flat and measure the approximate dimensions of the back panel. Cut a piece of contact paper to those dimensions. Draw or trace the outline of a scorpion onto the paper.

2. Use the craft knife and cutting mat to cut out the contact paper stencil.

3. Peel off the paper backing of the contact paper and press the stencil onto the back of the jacket.

4. Paint the entire scorpion shape with yellow paint. (Use spray paint or paint it on with a brush for more control.)

5. Paint some highlights on the scorpion in orange to show the shadows.

6. Line the bottom edge of the jacket, the sleeve ends, and the shoulder seams with masking tape and paint them black.

7. Let the paint dry completely and carefully peel off the tape and stencil. Optional: If the jacket has a hood (mine did), cut and hem it to create a collar (because I’m nerdy like that, and I’m going for authentic!).

8. Try the jacket on your littler driver. Okay, so he can’t even hold his head up yet, but he sure knows how to grip the wheel! Next up: Get him a driver’s license…in 16 years.

I love this stencil!! Now to apply it to a T-shirt…or what about painting a scorpion wrapping around the bottom of a pant leg or stockings?

Photo of Ryan Gosling via FirstShowing.

[ 10 Comments | Posted on February 28th, 2012 ]

Events

New York, NY @ American Folk Art Museum

As part of their “Make It Thursdays” program, Megan will be teaching a no-sew T-shirt refashioning class at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan, New York. She will demonstrate a handful of no-sew fabric construction techniques and teach participants how to apply them to make a scarf, a halter top, a refashioned T-shirt, and more. The one-time class is $10 for non-members — materials are included. Click through to the museum page to reserve your spot. Hope to see you there!

American Folk Art Museum
2 Lincoln Square
Columbus Avenue at 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
212-595-9533

[ 3 Comments ]

Events

Tamworth, NH @ Cook Memorial Library

Join Megan Nicolay, eco-fashionista and author of the bestselling books Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt and Generation T: Beyond Fashion: 120 New Ways to Transform a T-shirt, for a crafty Tee Party on Thursday, March 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth, New Hampshire.
She’ll be in town for an artist’s residency at the Brett School from March 6 to 9, which will be a private program for students in grades 6 through 8 at the school (local home schooled students are also welcome) — but the event on Thursday is open to all members of the community! Megan will demonstrate clothing redesign techniques and projects from her newest book, and she invites participants to bring an old T-shirt or two from the back of their closets to join in the fun — scissors will be provided. Learn dozens of ways to breathe new life into that wardrobe essential: the classic T-shirt.

Cook Memorial Library
93 Main Street
Tamworth, NH 03886
(603)323-8510

Woodcut of Cook Memorial Library by Willey Fromm.

[ 2 Comments ]

Media

eHow DIY Style Blog Round-Up!

Thanks to eHow Style for featuring Generation T in their DIY Style Blogger Round-Up: Do It Yourself and Save Money with the Hottest DIY Blogs! Article highlight: “after viewing Megan Nicolay’s blog…you’ll be resurrecting your old shapeless, rejected tees and seeing them anew as treasures.” Aww, shucks.

And we’re blushing even more to find ourselves in such delightful company with the likes of Justina Blakeney (of the 99 Ways series) and Marissa Lynch (of New Dress A Day). Here’s a teaser (featuring the Mane-iac Scarf from Generation T: Beyond Fashion!):

To read the article in its entirety, check out: DIY Style Blog Round-Up | eHow.com. And in case you were wondering, yes, it is “cool to be frugal and find our own inner DIY designer.”

[ Comments Off on eHow DIY Style Blog Round-Up! | Posted on February 8th, 2012 ]

Other Projects

Crafting with the Next Generation

After Thanksgiving dinner with my in-laws, we all settled into the living room for some Wii karaoke and Wii dance party, and I, in my 8-months-pregnant state, settled into an armchair to work on an embroidery project I was trying to finish before the little guy arrived. It wasn’t long after I sat down that my young niece snuggled in next to me and asked, “Aunt Megan, can I do what you’re doing?” Though I wasn’t quite ready to pass my project into the hands of a 5-year-old, I did have a spare needle, plenty of floss, and was more than happy to share my hoop. (I was also rather giddy that she had taken such an interest in what I was doing!) I suggested that we ask her grandfather whether he had a fabric scrap she could work on (he used to work in the interior decorating business and always seemed to have plenty of spare yardage), and sure enough he came back from the garage having clipped a corner of textured, shiny, sea foam green upholstery fabric for her to work on.

I helped her sandwich it in between the rings of the hoop, let her choose a color, and threaded the spare needle. And she started stitching…and stitching…and stitching! Long stitches and short stitches, cross stitches and straight stitches — only pausing for me to tie off an end and change the thread color under her creative direction. I asked her what she was making. “Oh! This is a mini-blanket for the baby. For him to snuggle with….” she replied. We talked about me helping her make a back to the mini-blanket and finishing the edges when she was ready.

Below, the young seamstress at work — she never once made the freshman mistake of stitching around the hoop, rather than just up and down through the fabric. (I was impressed. I don’t think I can say the same for my first embroidery experience!) The next morning, she declared herself finished with that piece of fabric, handed it off for me to take home to Brooklyn to finish, and started work on a black and white gingham pattern which allowed her to practice making short, even stitches by following the pattern on the fabric.

Fast forward to the day after Christmas — the little guy had arrived, and my niece was in New York to meet her new baby cousin. She asked if we could sew again. I reminded her that we needed to choose a back panel for the mini-blanket! So we sat down with my fabric stash in the Generation T workroom and flipped through scraps until she spotted the black and white flame fabric — I had purchased it several years ago in Portland, Oregon (to make a quilted throw pillow for Mr. T — back before he was Mr. T) while I was on book tour for Generation T. I also used it as the backing fabric for the electric bass, so there’s definitely a theme! We cut a swatch, threaded a needle, and she began tracing the flames with embroidery floss.

When she left, I embroidered her initials on her work, pinned the pieces together and used some scrap muslin to edge the mini-blanket. I also added the loop, which yes I recognize makes it look a little like a potholder, but also allows me to tether it to the stroller!

And no complaints from this little guy about his new handmade mini-blankie! He loves to snuggle with it and grip the edges tightly.

I can’t wait until the next project my niece and I make together! And here’s to the next generation of DIYers — I can’t wait till this little guy is gripping some scissors in his little hands, too!

[ 8 Comments | Posted on January 30th, 2012 ]

More Fun

Documentary: T-shirt Travels

What happens to a T-shirt after it’s donated to the Salvation Army or Goodwill? Hint: Not all of them end up for sale on the racks of those stores. Here’s a fascinating PBS documentary by Shantha Bloeman exploring how some secondhand clothing, donated by the West, ends up being sold for profit in third world countries, like Zambia. In it, Bloeman analyzes concepts of charity (or the perception of it) and how that process can dismantle an entire textile industry and a country’s source of economic independence.

At the very least, it makes you think where your T-shirts (or other discarded clothes) really end up.