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Hey T-shirt fans! Check out the lovely review below and read to the end so you can click through for all the details on how to enter the 2-book Generation T giveaway at The Eco Chic.

Trash to Treasure Thursday with Generation T

Giveaway alert! Two lucky readers will win one of the Generation T books by Megan Nicolay – details at the end of this post.

As you know I’ve been better and better at actually completing eco-crafty projects each week for you. This week is the jackpot of all Trash to Treasure Thursdays with a collection of projects and a giveaway! I’ve been infatuated with finding ways to reuse or upcycle old t-shirts – I scour the blogosphere, YouTube, Etsy, and other crafty websites looking for innovative ways to use t-shirts. In one of my searches I came across Generation T and Megan Nicolay.

Who is Megan Nicolay? Much like myself Megan has had the crafty bug since she was a child – always looking for the next great project. We also share a common statement – “I could so do that!” My friends and family are always telling me – “You could do that!” when they see anything. Megan began her website www.Generation-T.com back in 2005 and by 2006 she published her first instructional book – “Generation T – 180 ways to transform a T-shirt.” In her first book she includes many punk inspired projects to transform that plain boring t-shirt into halter tops, bodices, skirts, leg warmers and more! My favorite is the Grand Finale – “Tying the Knot” – a wedding dress made from old t-shirts. I have a co-worker of mine who is getting married next year and this would be PERFECT for her – she’s a little bit of an eco-junkie like myself.

Megan’s second book – “Generation T – Beyond Fashion – 120 new ways to transform a T-shirt” – was published in 2009 and include projects for the home, kids, pets, and men! Having a tot running around the house my favorite chapter is Kid Rock and I can’t wait to make The Little Empress for my own little princess. There is literally a project for everything you could possibly need around the home.

While I have a list a mile long of projects I WANT to complete – here are pictures of projects I’ve already completed. I don’t follow directions well so many of them have been altered from Megan’s directions to fit my own style. That’s the great part of crafting – you are the designer – and you can decide what you like!

My husband’s old Little League T-Shirt

My husband’s old High School T-shirt

A collection of Counting Crows concert T-shirts

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Now head on over to The Eco Chic for details on how to enter the giveaway!

A nice review from Bjorn Nasett at Milwaukee Magazine last week–plus a bonus tutorial describing how he made a version of the Classic Punk tank top (otherwise known as project #14) from Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt. Full article below. My favorite part:  He saved $30 by doing it himself! How much have you saved lately by whipping out your trusty scissors, needle, and thread?

Teed Off:Recycling the ’80s.

by Bjorn Nasett | Friday 7/16/2010

As Milwaukee’s summer weather heats up, all of us at one point or another reach for a tank top to help us beat the heat and look cool, too. I’ve always liked the rock ‘n’ roll sleeveless look and usually wear them for summer events as well as everyday wear.

About a month ago, my dear gal pal Carol lent me her copy of Generation T: 108 ways to transform a T-shirt by Megan Nicolay. I was pleased that someone had done something so well-researched yet so simple. As I paged through the book, I found it jam-packed with illustrations, trivia about T-shirts and lots of ideas to help anyone access the recycled punk trend that has never really gone away.

I remember the famous image of John Lennon wearing a New York City T-shirt with the sleeves simply cut off, thereby making it a tank top. It was from the late ’70s. At the same time, I was a rebellious teenager living on my own in Madison during the infancy of the punk movement. Those fashion looks that we created during the rabidly do-it-yourself punk-rock scene would eventually segue into new wave in the ’80s and grunge in the ’90s. Young fashionistas rallied against what was supposed to be fashionable and, in doing so, created trends that in one way or another are still with us. As I tripped down memory lane while perusing the pages of Ms. Nicolay’s T-tome, I decided to do what we all did in the old days and create my own fashionable, deconstructed T-shirt. So for those of you with a Crafty McCrafterson bent, I am going to take you through my simple step-by-step transformation of a T-shirt I bought at Goodwill. What’s more hip than that?

First, I took my on-trend day-glow print “Mr. Popular” T-shirt that I purchased for $3.99, and I used the rotary cutter and plastic template to easily remove the sleeves, bottom hem and side seams close to where they were originally sewn. I cut my T-shirt first and then washed it so the fabric would take on more of a rolled edge where it had been cut.

I then re-sewed the side seam with a straight stitch on the outside of the T-shirt to give it a more fitted and deconstructed look. After that, I took a large needle and threaded some yellow yarn through it and just did a random stitch up the side seams, inserting the needle where I had just sewn the seam, and then sort of creating a piping where the excess fabric was by pulling the yarn a little tighter. Not only did it pick up the colors of the bright shirt, but it also added a little personal designer detail. It was fun, and I really liked the result!

A couple of years ago, I bought a similar shirt at a boutique in NYC’s Chelsea and paid around $35! (See picture of Buzzcocks T-shirt.) In the end, I saved $30 and made my own custom rock look.

I recently wore this shirt (are you surprised?) to a charity benefit (refashionforlife.com) with the white jeans I mentioned last week and some retro rubber bracelets and a fluorescent ring that I bought at Marc Jacobs in the West Village in February. Some graffiti-inspired Airwalks and my green sunglasses completed the flashback vibe. I must say, I felt good with what I was wearing and hip to the irony of it, too. The trick here is just simply enjoying and owning whatever you have on.

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I must confess I now have the creative bug. I have discovered the craft aisle with the tie-dye kits at the Walmart on Capitol and, of course, snatched up the last lavender, blue and pink one. They use cold water and include everything you need for around $11, not a bad investment for a few hours of creative play. I have seen tie-dye treatments used to great effect in many runway shows and fashion spreads continuing the blast from the past.

I’ll let you know how my garments turn out in a future blog. After all, isn’t the idea of any kind of fashion statement to say something about your past, present or future? Personally, I’m having a groovy time.

Next week, Vivienne Tam show at Aloft hotel hosted by Falcon.

P.S. I found a revised edition of Megan Nicolay’s book as well as a new edition titled Generation T: Beyond Fashion: 120 New Ways to Transform a T-shirt that was published in 2009. It’s available new and used on amazon.com.

As some of you heard, Generation T taped a short segment with MTV last week. It’s going to be super short (30 to 60 seconds!), for a show called 10 on Top with host Lenay Dunn. It won’t air till after the 4th of July, but I thought I’d give you guys a sneak peek behind the scenes of our shoot in Central Park! The bikini that Lenay is wearing is made from a custom Fanta logo T-shirt. I call it the “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Fanta Polka Dot Bikini.”

Here’s the before and after: From XL T-shirt to X-tra Teeny Bikini (project #49 in Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt). I had a lot of fabric left over!

For taping, we sat, chatted, and refashioned a bikini on the blanket — like a bikini picnic! And then Lenay bravely modeled the little number.

Lenay talked to the camera while the director was rolling and the still photographer was clicking away.

We’ll keep you posted when we have an air date for the episode!

…or at least contestant Seth Aaron Henderson does! Look what we spied inside his case on the April 1 episode “Sew Much Pressure” of Project Runway:

It’s a Generation T Transform It Kit! We’ve been rooting for him anyway, but this totally sealed the deal.

And, earlier on the episode, doesn’t Seth Aaron look like he has a Generation T measuring tape draped around his neck?

Go, Seth Aaron! Here’s the line he showed at Bryant Park (NOTE: Obviously, if you want to wait until the finale episode of Project Runway season 7 airs on Lifetime to see his collection, DO NOT click through!).

Fun fact: This isn’t the first time Generation T has crossed paths with Project Runway. On August 23, 2006 (way back when Project Runway was still on Bravo), this very website (edition 1.0, below) was featured on the Project Runway blog.

They had this to say: You know there are some old raggedy, ready-to-rip-up shirts in your dresser, so instead of tossing that old fave top, turn it into a hot, new T. Megan Nicolay shared great tips on how to transform shirts in her book Generation T. It’s all about personalizing, baby. And even the not-so-crafty can follow her instructions. Check out generation-t.com. — Nia R.

Posted in: Style
08.23.06

March is Women’s History Month (it’s also National Craft Month in some sewing circles), and I was recently flattered to be invited to take part in M.I.S.S.’s Women Making History interview series. Just in time to round out the month of celebration and reflection, click through to read my ruminations on the ever-important DIY high, desired super powers, turn-ons, turn-offs, tutus, and what the heck an “Ernie burrito” is.

And just a reminder, around the corner is April, otherwise known as Earth Month. If you’re in the New York area, don’t forget to grab an old T-shirt or two, hitch a ride on the subway to Port Authority (I suppose a bus would be appropriate, too!) to the Green Up shop on April 8 for a Tee Party and DIY Scraptacular — hope to see you there.

Over at Tiny Choices, Jenn and Karina are giving away a copy of Generation T: Beyond Fashion–yippee! All you have to do is leave a comment on their post describing your favorite crafting tool. Anyone can enter, whether you’re a scissor sistah (or bro), a glue gun slinger,  knitting needle natural, a wrench wrangler, or…. . Hurry on over and comment already! The winner will be chosen on Thursday, November 26, so check back at Tiny Choices on Thanksgiving.

Excitement abounds! Today on Brokelyn.com, you have the chance to win not one, not two, but three special Generation T items:  1) a copy of the Generation T book, 2) a copy of the Generation T: Beyond Fashion book, and 3) a limited edition totebag (photo, right, by Eric Reichbaum; more views below), made by me from a Brokelyn T-shirt. Not long ago, I met up with Brokelyn writer Trevor Dye to talk T-shirts for his upcoming post. He handed off the T-shirt, I handed off the books, and afterwards, I headed home to my collection of T-shirts to pick out the perfect soft black T-shirt to use on the reverse of the tote. The bag came out super cute (if I do say so myself) and I am now committed to sending it off to a good home. To enter the giveaway, click to join the Brokelyn. com email list by midnight on Wednesday, November 4. (All new and existing subscribers will be eligible, and per Brokelyn, you’ll receive additional contest details on Thursday, November 5.)

If you’d like to make your own tote in the meantime, the instructions can be found on page 210 of Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt (it’s project number #84, Rock the Tote).

Yesterday I was able to extend my stay in our nation’s fair capital with a visit to Channel 8 News’ “Let’s Talk Live” afternoon show with hosts Natasha Barrett and Doug McKelway. Natasha and I gabbed about DIY, projects for baby showers, and why T-shirts are so darn unintimidating (they’re so easy! they’re so lovable! they’re so inviting!). I’ll have pictures soon to post from this weekend’s event in Washington D.C. at the Proper Topper (where they still have signed books available for sale for those of you in the area)–and thanks to everyone who came out despite the cold (and the heat)!