Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista [Paperback]

Melissa Rannels (Author), Melissa Alvarado (Author), Hope Meng (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006

Sew Subversive is about making fashion your own, whether it's embellishing or customizing off-the-rack clothing or transforming clothes that have lost that loving feeling. The three twenty-something co-owners of Stitch Lounge, an urban sewing studio in San Francisco, teach you, in plain, fun language, how to do it, whether you're hand sewing, machine sewing, or, in a few cases, simply wielding a pair of scissors.
The first three chapters lay the ground work: Hand Sewing Basics, You and Your Machine, and Gearing Up, which includes Fabric 101, how to set up a sewing space, and a run-through first project on the sewing machine. Then the fun begins with Embellishing and Customizing projects, including adorning your pant legs with ribboning, turning a computer-scanned image into an iron-on that you can apply to a t-shirt or skirt, taking in a skirt, or untapering a pair of pants (the authors believe tapered pants are the devil's work). Then move onto Refashioning: The Next Life of Your Old Clothes and turn a t-shirt into a skirt, a sweater into a halter top or legwarmers, or a pair of pants into a hip belt. There are 22 projects in all, some of which only require an iron and/or pair of scissors, while others can be sewn by hand, for those readers who haven't yet made the sewing machine plunge.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fashion hipsters Rannels, Alvarado and Meng are co-owners of San Francisco's Stitch Lounge, a drop-in sewing center where would-be fashionistas can rent sewing machines by the hour, take lessons and compare notes on design and technique. They are enthusiastic teachers and, in their first book, give beginning sewers all the basics, plus 22 tempting projects. Their mission—"subverting" fashion—is all about "embellishing and customizing clothes—refashioning them to make them uniquely your own." This can mean anything from altering the fit of a blouse with pin tucks and sewing ribbon stripes onto an old pair of jeans to whipping up a sun dress out of a pillowcase. They start with a solid chapter on hand sewing (mending rips, hemming skirts), then tell you everything you've ever wanted to know about sewing machines but were afraid to ask. T-shirts are torn apart to make mini skirts, shoulder bags and tube tops. It's true that the results have a shaggy and informal look, definitely suited to a young audience, but the projects are quick and fun and get the creative juices flowing. With its casual approach and offbeat creations, this is definitely not your mother's sewing book. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Once related to little old ladies, the frugal minded and neohippie handicrafters, sewing your own clothes is back in vogue...New books such as Sew Subversive by the founders of Stitch Lounge in San Francisco...give step-by-step instructions for all kinds of projects."
"- Time magazine
""Sew Subversive is filled with lots of inspiring DIY fashion, refashioning ideas, and tutorials for projects like making a pillowcase dress, or turning old sweaters into a scarf.""
- CRAFT magazine
""""This book rocks!...The owners of Stitch Lounge took a decidedly alternative approach to designing and repurposing clothing...whether your look is grunge or sophisticated casual, there's something here for everyone."
- "Creative Techniques magazine
"
What fun! Clever, off the wall, creative and definitely not your granny's sewing book. These three young authors have managed to create a sewing guide that speaks the language of the young. As an example, we usually refer to the right side and wrong side of the fabric; the two Melissas and one Hope refer to the party side and the business side of the fabric. This gets the new sewer all the information that is needed to get down to the fun part...the creative sewing....fast.
Linda Stewart, Professional Association of Custom Clothiers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561588091
• ISBN-13: 978-1561588091
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,750 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Textile & Costume
  • #92 in Books > Arts & Photography > Fashion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it rawks, July 11, 2007

By 

Shannon B Davis "Nepenthe" (Arlington, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista (Paperback)

This is a fun and inspiring book. I noticed that some of the other reviewers thought it was too simplistic. It is true that it focuses on some of the most basic sewing techniques, including handsewing, and how you can take a minimum amount of tools and create fabulous outfits. It is for would-be sewer who is intimidated by the notions, patterns, and fabrics in the fabric store, but would love to get started on some quick, creative projects using what s/he already has. Being the daughter of an amazing seamstress/designer, I have always been ashamed that I can't sew. Most patterns assume some level of knowledge and involve complicated diagrams. This book however got me jumpstarted and now I am doing all sorts of projects.

The first part of the book focuses on technique and some people may not use this. However, I found the hand-sewing information very useful. With the advent of machines, I never learned to handsew. I wish there had been information on sergers, since I just bought one, but it was probably considered too advanced.

The rest of the book involves modifying clothing you already have, such as making a t-shirt fit better, changing a pair of jeans into a skirt, or converting a tee into a tube top or a messenger bag. Many of the ideas can be done in under an hour and it is great to find a use for all those baggy t-shirts I had acquired. This book is in fact very GREEN in that it encourages re-use and recycling of existing clothing, rather than buying new fabric! It's also encourages creativity - break away from those patterns and make something new - or take something off the rack and modify it! I really like the idea behind this book.

Some of the ideas I have seen before, in a similar sewing manual from the 1960s/70s, which was also geared towards young people. Of course, fashions have changed and this book is more punk rock than hippie. So I think it serves a market, the young new sewer, and this market needs to be developed if sewing is to survive as an artform.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars eh.... not impressed..., July 12, 2007

By 

Sarah "milkmaiden" (North Wales, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista (Paperback)

I was excited to see this new DIY sewing book in the new books section of the library, as I'd been eying it on-line for awile. However I was really disappointed with this book after reading it. Sew Subversive offers the beginning sewer (and I do mean complete beginner) and "Fashionista" somewhat practical advice at the beginning of the book on a number of topics including, choosing a sewing machine and how to thread it, hand-sewing, understanding fabrics, reading a pattern, organizing supplies and other nitty gritty. Much of this information is supplied in an easy to understand and well laid out format. The bright color photography and fun casual conversational tone will put the nervous beginner at ease. However the second half of the book where the patterns begin are where I have to give really low reviews. First off the patterns are horrendous! I'm all for hip, cool, trendy clothes, but most of the outfits are un-wearable and really poorly designed. Close up's of most of the clothes revealed terribly poor sewing, I don't think this was just for design sake either. I mean there is punk and then there is junk. I don't think even the coolest hipster could pull some of these things off. The workmanship was the worst, threads hanging, jagged edges on garments that should have been smooth and all around poor sewing. Soo....I have to say..I'm not impressed. I think the book could possibly be worth a look at for some of the helpful sewing hints in the front, but there are better beginner sewing books out there.. I dunno...if you can already sew you might be able to take some of the patterns and ideas and fine tune them a bit, but overall, for me this book was a dud.

45 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cute if you're 25 and into rummage sale vintage, October 20, 2006

By 

sarabella (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista (Paperback)

This is definately for beginning or very basic seamstresses. If you like the thrift store-chic look (and I am talking thrift store- old 80's stuff and granny shoes) this is great. If you like a little more sophistication and style, probably not your best option.