T-Shirt Confetti Necklace from Generation-T.com

Who says upcycling can’t be glamorous? Click here for necklace-making instructions and general T-Shirt love.

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Slash a tee, scrunch a tee, sew a tee. With 120 projects for every occasion, Megan Nicolay’s Generation T: Beyond Fashion takes the humble tee in dozens of directions, from fashion to home decor.There’s a basic primer on techniques—knotting, sewing, braiding, lacing—plus a full tutorial on embellishing. Projects range from the simplest no-sew to intermediate, with easy-to-follow illustrated directions.

Megan Nicolay of Generation T has more than scissors up her T-shirt sleeve! Here are four spring craft projects that you can do right now in time for the Easter egg hunt. Just click on each image to follow along with the video tutorials.

We know, you’re a procrastinator. You had all weekend to work on a costume, but you were just too busy (or lazy, but maybe that’s just me…). Well, thank your lucky stars, because this morning Megan Nicolay of Generation T has come to save the day!

With the help of former Workman intern and videographer Elan Bird, Megan put together 10 quick and easy Halloween costumes that are clever as can be. Check out the video below for a tutorial. (I’m personally quite fond of the Deviled Egg…) Be sure to visit Generation T’s website or on the Gen T facebook page to ooh and ahh over the clever sketches while you’re pondering which t-shirt will make you the hit of your Halloween party.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/31200019[/vimeo]

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Megan Nicolay, T-shirt revolutionary, is the author of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt and Generation T: Beyond Fashion.You can find her and many of her fun DIY projects on the web at Generation-T.com, on Facebook at Generation T, and on Twitter @GenerationTee.

The ABCs of summer may really be more like the BBQs and Ts, because that’s all you need on a hot day like today: your coolest, comfiest T-shirt and a delicious meal (carnivorous or otherwise) fresh off the grill. Rob, a Workman sales rep in the UK, and his daughter Flossie know the importance of those two hot-weather staples—and they even know how to put their own spin on the old classics.

While we here in the States were celebrating Independence Day, our friends across the pond were ringing in the summer at Grillstock, a celebration of all things barbecue. Flossie, 14, was game to help her dad sell some of Steven Raichlen‘s spectacular grilling books—that is until she saw the uniform. The Raichlen shirt was cool, with a hot slogan to match (“Hot enough for you?”), but it was also way too big. And did she really have to wear the same thing as her dad?!

Rob, flanked by BBQ books, models his Raichlen T-shirt—just right for a dad, but for a young T trendsetter? Not so much.

So like any fashion-forward T-shirt reclaimer, Flossie busted out her craft scissors and her copy of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt and revamped the plain black T into a smokin’ fashion statement!

Flossie shows off her refashioning skillz.

We’ve never seen Generation T and The Barbecue! Bible shelved together, but thanks to Flossie and Rob, we can see how these two books make the perfect summer pair.

There’s an old adage that I like to apply when shopping for friends: Give a lady a crocheted scarf, she has a functional accessory; teach her to crochet and she has a whole wardrobe… and maybe she’ll make a scarf for you one day, too.

I love to give crafty how-to books (for birthdays, holidays, just-because days) because I really believe in empowering people to do for themselves. Whether it’s crocheting, knitting, quilting, sewing, refashioning a T-shirt, baking, or hacking into a dead computer for parts, people like to get gifts that tell them how creative you think they are. And that makes me happy. But I gotta say, sometimes there’s an awesome bonus to giving DIY books! Example: Last year, I gave a copy of Debbie Stoller’s crochet book Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Happy Hooker to my friend Lauren. Several months later, a package arrived from Lauren–inside was a completed One-Skein Scarf (page 100) just for me!

PS: Happy National Crochet Week! What are you hookin’ up?

March is National Craft Month, and to celebrate, we here at Workman are featuring DIY projects from some of our many fun crafting books. First up is Banned for Life, a cute headband—made from T-shirts, naturally—from Generation T by Megan Nicolay.

Banned for Life

Says Megan, “You can cut the neckpiece out of a T-shirt and slip it over your head as an instant headband, or you can take a few more steps for a more glamorous payoff.” This project involves some simple sewing (so simple that I can do it) and looks great when finished.

Refashioning T-shirts is pretty thrifty!

You’ll need:

• 2 T-shirts (in different colors)
• ruler
• scissors
• straight pins
• needle
• thread

xxx

1. Cut the bottom 2″ to 3″ off the bottom of two T-shirts in different colors. (I’ve chosen red and gray.) Lay the two “tubes” flat next to each other and snip through the sides of each tube to make approximately 48″-long strips.

2. Lay the strips on top of each other, right sides together, and pin them along both edges. Trim at one end so they’re the same length.

3. Using a whipstitch, sew the two strips together along the pinned edges (leaving the ends open). Remove the pins and turn the band right side out.

4. Press the band flat so that the seam is in the center, splitting the two colors like a black-and-white cookie.

5. Wrap the band around your head so that the ends are at the top of your forehead. Tie them in a single knot.

6. Twist the two ends together to form a single rope, and spiral the rope around the knot so that it fits tightly against your head. It’ll look a bit like a flower.

T-shirt fashion! Long hair not required.

7. Secure the end by tucking it in between wraps in the spiral. Adjust the band so that the “flower” rests slightly to one side. (Note: This wrap is temporary. If you want the spiral to last, slip the band gently off your head and stitch the knot in place.) Et voila!

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Check back later in the month for other fun crafting how-tos. Plus check out Megan’s site, Generation-T.com, for more great ways to upcycle your T-shirts into something new!

Okay. You’re going to think I’m obsessed with Maker Faire. And maybe I am. Or maybe the crafty holiday spirit is to blame. Around this time of year, I like to give gifts with a handmade touch — be they cookies, knitted goods (points for effort?), toys, or any number of household items crafted from repurposed fabric. So my apartment inevitably turns into a miniature Santa studio…. And what is Maker Faire, really, but a giant workshop bustling with high-octane elvish makers?

Relive the highs via this video by Workman designer Kevin Davidson. Featuring! Allen Kurzweil and son Max demonstrating laws of physics and optics in Potato Chip Science! Megan Nicolay transforming a T-shirt from Generation T: Beyond Fashion–while someone is actually wearing the T-shirt!

Perhaps they will inspire you to make something (explosions? fashion?) this holiday season. Back at the Workman compound, we’re busy making books to make all those things possible!

A Pinup Girl halter (project #1, Generation T: Beyond Fashion!) is born.

Avery sports a fabulous new halter top!

By now you may think you know all about our exploits at World Maker Faire (that festival of DIY and creativity that we just can’t stop blogging about), but put that thought away, because we have one more! In this last Author Spotlight, I’m excited to share Megan Nicolay, author of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt and Generation T: Beyond Fashion, who drew quite the crowd to our booth.

Megan was on hand both Saturday and Sunday to demonstrate T-shirt refashioning techniques and to autograph copies of her books. Her scissors glinting in the midday sun, Megan made quick work of several leftover T-shirts–cutting them on live models in front of awed spectators!

One such hit was the Pinup Girl halter, project #1 from Generation T: Beyond Fashion, which Megan first tackled on Workman editorial assistant Avery, and then transformed on some members of the crowd. *Snip* the right sleeve disappeared… *snip* a diagonal cut slashed from the neck to the right armhole… *twist* the former sleeve went over her head… and ta-da! New adorable halter top! It was finished with the addition of a Camp Make button from our booth’s button-making machine (yes, button-making machine). In the spirit of the fair, our design team created button templates that celebrated our many books. “Make monsters,” “make puppets,” “make robots,” “make fun,” were just a handful of the options… and, of course, for Generation T, “make fashion.”

Make horizontal cuts...

Another hit was Back in Action, project #101 (also from Gen T: Beyond Fashion), a lattice-work design that you may have seen on many a department store-manufactured tee. It’s amazing how horizontal slits and some simple weaving can turn a boring shirt into a work of art. Once Megan snipped through the fabric to create the slashes you see on the right, she pulled the tee horizontally, and–voila! Any jagged edges left from cutting off the T-shirt hem or sleeve rolled into practically straight perfection with a simple tug and a stretch.

Weave strands...

Fans of all ages took home project cards for inspiration, and some even left with their own refashioned T-shirt (check out those lucky ladies below)! Those who bought books carried away their own pair of Generation T scissors–fancy scissor sheath included for easy transport–to create for themselves a new wardrobe out of piles of old, tired tees.

The refashioning demonstrations were such a big hit that Megan (and Camp Make) got some worthy press! Thanks to Megan, Time Out NY got a snapshot of our booth (#18). She was also featured as an earth-friendly DIY expert at onearth.org.  Be sure to check out her website for her own recaplets of the weekend.

Though the weekend is over, visions of tees and scissors still linger in the minds of the Workman volunteers. In fact, the Workman “Camp Make” crew had tees on the brain even before we got to Maker Faire! In a rash of creativity (see evidence below), we personalized tees that read “A T-shirt is a terrible thing to waste” and wore them all weekend long as our uniform.

A T-shirt is, indeed, a terrible thing to waste.

All in all, it was a very successful weekend. Our puppets, potato propulsion pipes, squiggle bots, and fashionistas scored us an Editor’s Choice award for our busy and interactive booth!

Now, surely you have a tired T-shirt in the back of your drawer that could use some slash and flash?

Matching latticework!

Megan did some on-the-spot refashioning for a few lucky fans.

Mark your schedules for the following activities and appearances by Workman authors at World Maker Faire this weekend in New York City! For more information, click here.

SATURDAY, September 25*

10:00 AM Fold Origami and World Record Paper Planes – Jillian Ceravalo & Liz Davis, Workman

11:00 PM The Kids Make It Better Activity Kit and Design Your Own Do Something! Superhero – Stefanie Rosenblum & Liz Davis, Workman

12:00 PM Stitch ’n Bitch Book Series Signing and Yarn Giveaway – Debbie Stoller, Stitch ’n Bitch

1:00 PM How to Make a Doodling Squiggle Bot (plus, take home a piece of original Squiggle Bot art!) – Randy Sarafan, 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer

2:00 PM Potato Propulsion Pipe Experiment and Giveaway – A. Kurzweil & Son, Potato Chip Science

3:00 PM T-shirt Refashioning Demo and Book Signing – Megan Nicolay, Generation T

4:00 PM Potentially Catastrophic Science Demo and Poster Giveaway – Beth Wareham, Workman

5:00 PM Play 1,000 Blank Cards from The Games Bible – Avery Finch, Workman

SUNDAY, September 26* †

10:00 AM Pop Bottle Science Experiments – Avery Finch, Workman

11:00 AM T-shirt Refashioning Demo and Book Signing – Megan Nicolay, Generation T

12:00 PM Stitch ’n Bitch Book Signing and Yarn Giveaway – Debbie Stoller, Stitch ’n Bitch

1:00 PM Play 1,000 Blank Cards from The Games Bible – Avery Finch, Workman

2:00 PM Make-and-Take Paper Bag and Butterfly Puppets – Noel MacNeal, 10-Minute Puppets

3:00 PM How to Make a Doodling Squiggle Bot (plus, take home a piece of original Squiggle Bot art!) – Randy Sarafan, 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer

4:00 PM Potato Propulsion Pipe Experiment and Giveaway – A. Kurzweil & Son, Potato Chip Science

*Free button-making all day!

†Special appearance by members of the Do Something! team

This weekend the World Maker Faire is coming to NYC for the first time. And Workman will be there! Stop by our “Camp Make” booth in the Craft Corral in Zone B at the former World’s Fairgrounds in Queens to meet and make with some of your favorite Workman authors! Make fashion, make explosions, make puppets, make yourself smarter, make robot art, make a difference, and more!

• Debbie Stoller will be signing books, handing out project recipe cards, and holding a yarn give-away in anticipation of her forthcoming Stitch’n Bitch Superstar Knitting.
• Allen Kurzweil (and son Max) of Potato Chip Science will demonstrate their Potato Propulsion Pipe experiment.
• Noel MacNeal will host a 10-Minute Puppets make-and-take where kids can decorate their own paperbag puppets, fluttery butterflies, and tiny elephants.
• Megan Nicolay will host a T-shirt refashioning demo and mini-workshop and sign copies of Generation T and Generation T: Beyond Fashion.
• Randy Sarafan and his sidekick, the adorable Squiggle Bot (one of the 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer) will be signing books and creating original Squiggle Bot artwork for attendees.
• Do Something will help attendees find that “thing” thing they’re passionate about and design their own personal Do Something! Superhero.
• And more! Play massive games from The Games Bible, fold origami, brainstorm new solutions for Kids Make It Better, take the Bananagrams challenge, experiment with Potentially Catastrophic Science, make-and-take a Papertoy Monster…plus visit our button-making station so you can walk away with your own Camp Make badge of honor!

World Maker Faire is a festival full of, well, making. In addition to the fun at Workman, there will be incredible feats of technology and stunning visual displays (ArcAttack’s Singing Tesla Coil as seen on America’s Got Talent), family-friendly activities (the BioBus!), delightful eats (gourmet truck food, anyone?), live music, and a crafty yarn bomb. If it can be made, it will be there: A 13,500-lb, 40-ft-tall Raygun Gothic Rocket, a life-size version of the game Mouse Trap, a bubbling Coke-Mentos fountain… In other words, it’s going to be epic.

If you are in the NYC area and decide to come (day and weekend passes are available for on-site purchase), please stop by the Workman booth and say hi!

What:

World Maker Faire at the NY Hall of Science at the former World’s Fair Grounds in Flushing Meadows, Corona Park, Queens!

Where:

The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI)

47-01 111^th Street

Queens, NY 11368-2950

When:

Saturday,  September 25 10 am – 7 pm

Sunday,  September 26 10 am – 6 pm