AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize. [Paperback]

Shannon Okey (Author), Alexandra Underhill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2007

Customize your clothes. Transform your world.

Do-it-yourself fashion is the most creative, affordable and fun way to create a style that's completely and uniquely you. Whether you're a sewing novice or a savvy seamstress, AlterNation will give you all the knowledge and inspiration you need to create your own trend-setting clothes and accessories. Just dig into the back of your closet or hit up your favorite thrift store, and you'll be on your way to creating a one-of-a-kind wardrobe that will have your friends asking, "Where'd you get that?!"

• Convert a men's buttondown into the sleek and sleeveless Office Corset, or combine it with a flowing skirt to create the surprisingly feminine Men's Shirt Dress.
• Reinvent a pillowcase and a flat sheet to create the cute and comfy Bedhead Top and Asymmetrical Sheet Skirt.
• Pair some ripped-beyond-wear jeans with some trendy fabric to make the Dangerous Cherry Handbag, or cut a few out-of-style pairs into panels for the Denim Corset Skirt.

Not only will you learn to make 25+ projects, you'll be bursting with ideas for countless more. Join the citizens of AlterNation! Turn your back on the mall, set your own trends, and show off your style!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shannon Okey is the author of the Knitgrrl book series for tweens (Watson-Guptill) and forthcoming titles, Spin to Knit (teaches knitters to spin their own yarn) and Felt Tips from Interweave Press. She has appeared on HGTV's Crafters Coast To Coast and DIY Network's Uncommon Threads and Knitty Gritty.

Alexandra (Xan) Underhill is a designer, artist and performer. She graduated with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1993. Her extensive resume and photos of her work can be seen at artofxan.com ? she's worked with everyone from Cirque du Soleil to stiltwalking performance troupes and music video producers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books (November 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809786
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809787
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #656,121 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shannon Okey is a designer and the author, co-author or editor of many fiber arts-related books, including Knitgrrl, Knitgrrl 2, The Knitgrrl Guide to Professional Knitwear Design, Spin to Knit, Felt Frenzy, Crochet Style, Just Socks, Just Gifts, AlterNation, The Pillow Book, How to Knit in the Woods, the second edition of Knitting For Dummies and Alt Fiber. She is currently working on a number of new publishing projects.

Okey is the former editor of UK-based monthly knitting magazine Yarn Forward, and also wrote a column for knit.1 magazine. She owns Knitgrrl Studio, a workshop/studio space in Cleveland, has appeared on several crafty TV shows, including Knitty Gritty, Uncommon Threads, Crafters Coast To Coast and Knitting Daily TV. She teaches all over the world. (You've never had fun til you've tried to teach drop spindle spinning on a cruise ship that's lurching from side to side!)

For the latest news on Shannon and her books, check out her Knitgrrl website which includes her teaching and events schedule, as well as information on upcoming projects.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, July 3, 2008

By 

Cheshire Blue - See all my reviews

This review is from: AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize. (Paperback)

When I first stumbled across this book I got really excited. I'm always looking for inspiration and the pictures displayed on Amazon made me believe it'd be a great buy.
I called around and it wasn't available anywhere, so I went a head and ordered it really wanting to get my hands on the book. I never had a chance to good through the book before purchase and was relying on Amazon's pictures alone.
It arrived and I was greatly disappointed, the pictures on Amazon, in my opinion where the only good projects in the book.
It isn't worth the money.
The book gives you only a taste of creativity. Some of the ideas are good, but executed poorly. It was hard to follow and I wouldn't recommend for novice sewer. I'd call myself an intermediate sewer and though the book wasn't too difficult to follow I could see where a beginner might get confused.
I was so dissatisfied with the book that I returned because I'd rather spend my money on some other DIY book I'll actually use.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It's Okay, May 13, 2008

By 

Dana (Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize. (Paperback)

There are a few good projects in this book - the neck tie skirt and the corset skirt are quite good but most of the projects aren't really that interesting at all - like the tie collar and the Queen Liz collar (nice if you want to look like a frill necked lizard). You need to have an overlocker to finish some of the projects as they are just overlocked on the edge. On the crazy simple shift dress the arm hole and neck are just folded over and sewed - great if you want it fray on your first wash. Some of the clothing construction needs a bit of work or refinement. Like I said - it's okay.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not that Altered..., January 10, 2009

By 

D. Matlack "Guidedog" (in Wild Wyoming) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize. (Paperback)

I was able to check this book out through the library which was a relief because there are not enough projects in this book worth doing to justify the price.

First off this is a beginner book and is useful only to those whose sewing skills are rudimentary at best. A great deal of the designs are simplistic and can be done with a glue gun. Also the designs are clearly for adolescents, which may explain their very basic skill level.

As one reviewer quite acurately noted, all of the "good" projects are featured here on the Amazon website. Which means the buyer is in for a very disapointing bait-and-switch when they fan through this book and judge the other projects to unseemly to waste their time on.

Check it out if you must but spend those pennies on a more substantial book.