AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize. (Paperback)

by Shannon Okey (Author), Alexandra Underhill (Author)
Key Phrases: front crotch seam, back crotch seam, armhole opening, Jackie O's Yacht Shirt (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
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!

About the Author
Shannon Okey is the author of many other crafty books, a show organizer for national indie craft fair Bazaar Bizarre, a knit.1 magazine columnist and co-owner of Stitch Cleveland.
Alexandra (Xan) Underhill is a clothing designer, fine artist and stilt dancer who's worked with everyone from Cirque du Soleil to well-known international dance troupes. This is her first book. For more information, check out alternationbook.com!

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; illustrated edition edition (November 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809786
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809787
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #57 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Decorating
  #81 in	Books > Home & Garden > Crafts & Hobbies > Fashion
  #91 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Commercial > Fashion Design

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, July 3, 2008

By	Cheshire Blue - See all my reviews

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.

7 of 7 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

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't think I'd go out in many of these, March 13, 2009

By	B. Rubeck - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is ok, they do have a lot of unique projects but most of them are so unique I wouldn't want to be seen in them. I do like a few of the concepts but for everyone I like there is one I don't. This book is staying on my shelf for inspiration purposes only, I may utalize one or two of them but I doubt it. Save your money and just look at a few crafting forums instead.