Enjoy the T-shirt tutorial!

It’s simple: Send out the invite, reminding people of what they might have in that terrifying to-do pile (I know I tend to block it out), and set the scene:

1) Make sure you have some basic repair materials and tools including buttons, snaps, patches, needles, and a variety of thread colors — even set up your sewing machine for light fixes if you feel up to it.

2) Set out some light fare for snacking (and encourage everyone to bring something to share). Again, the theme here is no-stress!

3) Craft it out!

4) Make plans to do it again.

The result: Everyone had tons of fun and, on the efficiency scale, they were positively giddy with what they accomplished in just 1 to 2 hours. Maria managed to work four pieces back into rotation in her closet! And I finally cut out and sewed up all the embroidered softie robots I’ve been working on….But that’s for another post!

Hi T-shirt fans! I’m super excited to share with you new fun stuff over here at Generation T. (Note the shmancy header on this particular post!) Each month, I’m posting a new project (sometimes T-shirt, sometimes not — I’ll keep you on your toes!) sponsored by the lovely folks over at iLoveToCreate (umm…who doesn’t?). I’ll be posting every project right here, so you guys won’t miss out on anything, but I do encourage you to visit the iLoveToCreate blog from time to time since there are a number of other super fun crafty brains at work on new projects all the time.

Now here’s the good stuff: a T-shirt project I’ve been meaning to make and post for some time. I found the inspiration in a tween-ish retail store I visited this summer (I know, I know, now that I’m a thirty-something perhaps I should start shopping in more adult places) and thought, as I often do, I could so make that….And then, I grabbed some scissors and paint and made it: a tank top with a nod to 80s punk slashed couture and a wink to 80s hip-hop street style.

Materials:

Make it:

1. Cut off the sleeves of the darker T-shirt, just outside the seams, to make a tank top.

2. Cut off the neckband of the lighter T-shirt and lay the tank top over it, lining them up at the neck holes. Trace the tank top onto the T-shirt and cut out the outline through only one layer to make the peekaboo panel.

3. Set aside the dark tank top. Lay the panel flat on the grocery bag paper. Use the fabric markers and stencils to lay a background pattern. (I used chain link fence!)

4. Fill up the paint cannon and spray freehand across the panel in combination with stencils to create another pattern layer. Change colors as much as desired! Then set the panel aside and let it dry.

5. Turn the tank top inside out and measure and mark 9″-long horizontal lines, about 1″ apart, down the front. Stop about 4″ from the bottom hem.

6. Cut along the chalk lines through just one layer of fabric.

7. Gently place the (now dry) panel right side down against the front of the (still inside out) tank top, lining them up again at the neckline. Peel back one side of the panel and squeeze an even amount of fabric glue along the edge. Then gently press the edge against the tank top. Continue gluing around the straight edges only (minus the bottom hem) to attach the panel to the slashed surface of the tank top. Let it dry!

8. Carefully turn the tank top right side out and try it on! The bright graffiti panel will peek through the slashes you made in the front of the darker layer.

Variations:

-If you want to keep the sleeves attached and your shoulders covered, do it! Simply tuck the sleeves inside the shirt while you’re tracing it in step 2.

-If you want to be able to change things up at on a moment’s notice, just spray an entire tank top (rather than a panel) in steps 3 and 4 and wear it layered underneath the slashed tee. Then you have the option of having the graffiti tank peeking between the slashes or any other tank top you have in your wardrobe!

-Try slashing different shapes! Familiarize yourself with the Brokenhearted tee (project #3 in Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-shirt) for a sweet spin on this project.

Now go off and fight. For your right. To par-tee!

What about you? Where have you taken a Tee Party recently?

Come see Megan Nicolay and Generation T at the inaugural World Maker Faire , a DIY Festival of Creativity and Innovation,  in New York City at the NY Hall of Science in Queens. She’ll be participating in the Workman booth’s  “Camp Make,” where you can stop by throughout the day to take part in a variety of DIY fun: make fashion, make music, make explosions, make puppets, make yourself smarter, make robot art, make a difference, and make other totally cool stuff. Stay tuned for a schedule of events!

Come see Megan Nicolay and Generation T at the inaugural World Maker Faire , a DIY Festival of Creativity and Innovation,  in New York City at the NY Hall of Science in Queens. She’ll be participating in the Workman booth’s  “Camp Make,” where you can stop by throughout the day to take part in a variety of DIY fun: make fashion, make music, make explosions, make puppets, make yourself smarter, make robot art, make a difference, and make other totally cool stuff. Stay tuned for a schedule of events!

Naturally, our wedding was heavy on the personalization and DIY, low on the budget, and like most weddings, a true family affair. My sister Sophie, a graphic designer, designed the save-the-dates (we sent out a romance novel to each guest with a personalized book plate and “mark your calendar” book mark — the particular gem featured below stars a cave-dwelling gentleman protagonist-from-another-time named Thor). (You’ll notice many of the details are literary-themed — that’s what happens when a writer/editor marries an English teacher!)

The invitations were letterpressed (our big splurge) by Coeur Noir in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (can’t DIY everything–sometimes it’s better to delegate!) and also designed by Sophie.

They were envelope-free with a tear-off rsvp postcard with the prompt “What’s your story?” that allowed guests to get a little creative in their replies. (My sister Ariana’s colorful reply below.)

To answer the big question, no, I didn’t wear the T-shirt wedding dress (I had already spent a lot of time in it for the Generation T photo shoot, plus I wanted it to be a surprise!). I wore a simple on-sale J. Crew dress that I had my friend Diana Rupp help me adjust one day in her workshop while I was wearing it! She introduced me to Michelle Courtois who took me on a whirlwind trip through the garment district to purchase the materials for my birdcage veil and detachable silk flower–which she hand-crafted and made to fit. But lest you think the occasion was T-shirt free, we commissioned a special T-shirt hand silk-screened by our friends at Campfire Goods to give to the members of our wedding party…no word as to whether anyone’s done any T-shirt surgery on them! (Come to think of it, my sister-in-law and mother-in-law made 1″ punk pins for the rehearsal dinner that would be perfect to complete the Pin-up Girl halter top from Generation T: Beyond Fashion.)

And though I saved corks for a year to use as place card holders, we ended up having a buffet (no assigned seating) in the beautiful old two-story barn where we had the reception.

The buffet-style dinner was catered by Marie Gerli Catering (who I used to work for during the summers in high school!) with local fresh vegetables from the family farm up the road.

We floated the beer and wine in a pile of ice my family’s canoe, propped up on some hay bales in the barn.

I made and distributed a “Wedding Activity Book” to guests young and old so they could entertain themselves if the toasts went on too long.

I spent way too much time on it, but had a ton of fun personalizing the workbook with coloring pages, connect the dots, mazes, matching games, trivia (in the form of a GSAT, or Granite State Aptitude Test, in honor of the state I grew up in), and a homemade Mad Libs describing the proposal.

The welcome bags, decorated with a reproduction of a vintage postcard from the town where I grew up, included the activity books, packets of crayons, bottles of NH spring water, some locally made maple candies, and directions to all the fun hikes, swimming holes, and the 24-hour ice cream spot, of course.

My father-in-law, an interior decorator with a real green thumb, created simple bouquets of dahlias for me and my bridesmaids and groom’s lady.

He was also the mastermind behind the beautiful flower arrangements at the ceremony site. He found a bunch of bamboo tiki torches that he brilliantly repurposed into flower containers to line the aisle in the field. (Mr. T and I got married under that big oak tree.)

My mom and I saved and collected tins and mason jars for months to use for the flower arrangements on the tables.

My brother Franz, a musician, composed the processional (the recessional was The Clash’s London Calling, which he arranged for string quartet). Our friends from the Anti-Social Music collective made up the quartet who played at the ceremony and at the reception at the barn.

Our guest book, a scroll of paper fed through the Hermes 3000 portable typewriter my dad received as a gift for his high school graduation, was an homage to my Oma and Opa, who ran a typewriter and office machinery business out of their home for all the decades I knew them!

Mr. T spent hours creating the ultimate playlist (we went DIY iPod-style and borrowed speakers from a friend). And we did opt for the ubiquitous wedding CD (yes, those are hand-stamped labels) — we love music and wanted to share some of our favorite tunes so people could take the dance party home.

Our photographer, the incredibly talented Brooke Mayo, whose photographs you see here, submitted the photos to Brides Magazine, where selected shots and details appeared in May 2009!

My ladies wore brown cowboy boots and red dresses! I strung a necklace of natural pearls for each of them to accessorize with.

Here are the details the Brides thought were most notable: The flowers! The tree! The lights! The barn! The cupcakes! The invites! Our friend Pat, who often sports a mohawk and plays a mean cello!

It was an amazing day, filled with wonderful handmade details–so  thanks for indulging me, and giving me the opportunity to reminisce!

And even though I’m well past planning my own wedding, I love attending others’ events so I can take note of my favorite DIY details! What about you? Any tips or favorite party details to share with the Generation T community?

WHERE:

Books & Books
130 Main St.
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978