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Letter to a Young T-shirt

In which I introduce you to a piece of T-shirt literature quite different from the T-shirt literature you generally consume around these here parts. It’s a smart and whimsical ode to the life cycle of a that essential staple of a young woman’s wardrobe: the black T-shirt, in all its gritty, sweaty, scissor-snipped truth, by my friend–and one of my favorite writers–Ms. Emily Meg Weinstein. Here is an excerpt (for which I took the freedom of combining three of my favorite lines from the essay):

“You might be a little groggy from the surgery I performed on you last night, as soon as I brought you home from the merch table…. I don’t want you to feel any pressure, but you are the cornerstone of my entire wardrobe. When I can only bring one t-shirt, you will be the t-shirt…. But you, new black t-shirt, are at the center of everything, and we, new black t-shirt, have only just begun.” –Emily Meg Weinstein, from To My New T-shirt

"Chloe Libre" black T-shirt (aka The Predecessor to the New Black T-shirt, third from left), flanked by Chloe Libre gray, blue, and red.

What’s the story behind your newest wardrobe essential? Thrift store wonder, merch table masterpiece, vacation souvenir, or refashioned rescue from the dresser drawer?

Please share in the comments. In the meantime, here’s to T-shirt love stories and rock & roll!

[ No Comments | Posted on March 24th, 2011 ]

From Our Readers: Avery!

In honor of National Craft Month (yay!), Workman Publishing Co. (who published my two books), is featuring projects from some of their top DIY books throughout March. Up first was editorial department member Avery, who shared her process for making the “Banned for Life” headband (project #92 in Generation T). Click through for her full photo tutorial over at the Workman blog.

PS: Note that the T-shirts she used were two abandoned marketing tie-in tees she picked up from around the Workman office. (Keeping everything moving full circle!)

[ No Comments | Posted on March 23rd, 2011 ]

From Our Readers: Kay!

Perhaps this post should have been from Gidget, Kay’s enthusiastic little Yorkie muse who likes to “help” out in the craft room (sitting on piles of T-shirts while Kay cuts and sews around her), but to be fair, Kay is the actual reader in this scenario.

Recently, Kay invited Gidget to participate in a more active way–as a model for Kay’s newest creation (think pint-sized version of project #33, The Tying Game tank top,  from Generation T). Kay grabbed a T-shirt sleeve (yay, scraps!), slid it over Gidget’s head, and marked where the legs would go. She slid the sleeve off (lest she inadvertently give Gidget a haircut) to cut holes at the marks. She then cut open the sleeve on the opposite side (what would be the back), cut horizontal slits  along into each edge to make fringe, and tied the corresponding fringe into double knots.

Once finished, Kay let Gidget try on her new Generation T design. The report: Gidget loves it, and thinks it goes especially well with her pink Harley collar. In fact, she loves it so much, that when Kay took it off for just one minute to comb her, Gidget kept jumping up for the tiny tee, barking and snipping until she was wearing it again! Happily T-shirted once more, this fashion plate was ready to vogue-vogue-vogue-vogue all day long.

Love the little punk rock pooch! What a rock star. And I’m spent! ::doggie chin to floor::

[ 1 Comment | Posted on March 3rd, 2011 ]

Happy Valentine’s Day from Generation T!

Here’s to a heart-filled Happy Valentine’s Day (from a goofy, lovestruck Megan at the Red Heart lounge at CHA). To celebrate, here are two totally heartsy, craftsy T-shirt projects for him and her! But if you’re not feeling the T-shirt love today, here are ten quirky, clever, full-of-love DIY projects that we also totally heart:

1. PB&J Heart Thumbprint Cookies via MyKidsMake.

2. Knit Heart Ring via CutOutandKeep.

3. Softie Smoochie Lips via Diana Schoebrun.

4. Sweet Nothings Mini-Megaphone via DesignSponge.

5. Heart Garland via FamilyFun.

6. Vintage Spool Valentine via CutOutandKeep.

7. Embroidered Portraits via CountryLiving.

8. Ch-ch-ch-chia Heart from FamilyFun.

9. Heart Cake via IAmBaker.

10. Love Potion #12 Signature Cocktail via Care2.

[ No Comments | Posted on February 14th, 2011 ]

From Our Readers: Izzy!

Izzy from New York made the T-shirt laptop cozy included in the 8 Ways to Transform a T-shirt roundup we featured back in December, and get this…she made it without even looking at the instructions! Very cool. It’s pretty impressive to be able to look at a finished project and figure it out in reverse — and have it come out looking as awesome as Izzy’s project does! Not to mention, she reports that she had tons of fun making the laptop cozy, too–which is of course, pretty darn sweet.

[ No Comments | Posted on February 7th, 2011 ]

T-Shirt Art: Woven Team Jerseys

To celebrate Super Bowl Sunday Generation T-style, check out these amazing tapestries woven from sports jerseys by artist Brian Jungen. Beautiful patterns and color combinations! A Steelers-Packers woven mashup would sure look nice–all those bright colors! In the meantime, I’m going to dig out some of my old “home” and “away” team uniforms and start cutting.

[ 3 Comments | Posted on February 5th, 2011 ]

From Our Readers: Jessie!

While I was wandering the halls at CHA in Southern California (more details to come!), there was a surprise Tee Party brewing up north in the Bay Area. It was Jessie’s 12th birthday, and she and six of her pals were quick to dig into a pile of her brother’s old tees (excellent source, by the way), scissors, fabric paints, and copies of Generation T and Generation T: Beyond Fashion (of course) and styled a whole new wardrobe.

They each made a version of Outer Lace (project #16 from Generation T). And, they even choreographed dance moves to stretch out the T-shirt hems into cords!

Fashionably, they used their scrap pieces as headbands, bracelets, and other accessories.

They swapped T-shirt cords so they could each have contrasting color laces down the sides.

And when the birthday girl has an ear-to-ear grin to rival Cookie Monster’s, you know it’s a success!

Want to throw your own Tee Party? Here’s how.

[ 3 Comments | Posted on February 3rd, 2011 ]

T-shirt Folding Robot

You can learn to fold a T-shirt swiftly and neatly, origami-style, in just a few easy moves. Or, speaking of robots, you can get your LEGO mindstorms bot to do it for you! How cool is that?

[ 2 Comments | Posted on January 20th, 2011 ]

From Our Readers: Lauren!

Lauren was lovely enough to attend one of my book tour events in the Seattle area in summer 2009. Last spring she hit up Chapter 4: Kid Rock, in Generation T: Beyond Fashion, for all her baby showering needs that season. Here are the pretty sweet gifts that she stitched up:

Playing Footsie baby booties (project #48).

Baby Back Bib (project #53).

Baby Back Bib (project #53) with appliqué.

Too Cool for Drool burp cloths (project # 50) with colorful zigzag stitching.

[ 3 Comments | Posted on January 18th, 2011 ]

Merry Christmas Giftaway!

Warm wishes for a cozy Christmas and congratulations to Dia, who will be receiving the Rock the Tote tote bag (project #84 in Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt) pictured here as her Christmas surprise!

I made it using a turquoise blue “Caribbean Polka Cruise with the Stars” T-shirt and a bright yellow “2008 Theatre Camp” T-shirt that I found in a Florida thrift shop earlier this year! After stitching it up, I added two punk pins I made — because even bags need accessories.

How inspiring to hear all of you sound off on everything you’ve been busy making — I especially like to hear that so many of you have been using crafting or baking as a reason to spend more time with family and friends. Because as often as DIY can be a solitary activity, I love to craft with fam and friends, too (when I’m not crafting for them, of course!). I took a cookie baking class recently with my friend (no photos — everything was gobbled up too quickly!), I attended a chocolate truffle-making class with my husband last week — the results of which we’re sharing with his family today, and I’m sitting down with my niece to construct a batch of “Cheeseburger” cookies this afternoon. (I expect the sugar high to last through the New Year!)

So, I still have a few projects I’ll share after all the presents have been unwrapped on this end, but in the meantime, visions of your craftivities dance in my head: lots of T-shirt aprons, felted goodies, knitted dishcloths, ornaments, wreaths made from old Christmas trees, a pair of crime-fighting wrist cuffs with lightning bolts on them, scarves, gloves, cereal box wallets, fused plastic bag crafts, Kindle cozies, sculpted animal figurines, photo ornaments, baby hats, jam, hand lotion, pet toys, soap…and more! Oh, and let’s not forget all the baking, too: muffins, pumpkin gingerbread, macaroons, banana bread, rum cake, chocolate truffles, loads and loads of cookies, oh my!

Happy, happy Christmas, and to all a good year ahead!

[ 5 Comments | Posted on December 25th, 2010 ]

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