Customer Reviews

Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I'll admit it, I was very excited to get this book (being from the Bay Area an all). At first I was disappointed cause it started out as a crash course in sewing, I have been sewing for 10 yrs so I skipped all of it. Even the projects in here did not seem that spectacular. HOwever the more I looked at the projects and re thought my wardrobe, I got excited cause their ideas spawned more ideas and personalized the projects. I have actaully made a few of the projects in there, not their way, but I would have never even tried some of those things (that turned out super cute btw). Yes I am 27 with an ecclectic style, so the book does speak my language.

I really wanted so much to like this book, but I was pretty disappointed. I had expected something much more advanced. This book is for complete beginners with not a creative bone in their body who need to be told to sew buttons back onto their pants instead of just throwing them away. Maybe it was meant for a much younger audience (I'm 30) or people with no experience in the DIY world.

I love the concept! I am looking forward to the next work from the authors and hope it will be more technically skilled.

Reconstruction seems to be all the rage lately among fashionistas and celebrities alike. Recently, a major fashion magazine ran a profile on a certain fashion muse as she went on a shopping spree in a very fashionable city; along the way, she took some of her mom's old shirts to a tailor to have them made into dresses. To some, this idea of "taking something old and making it modern" might be a brand new concept. But to the two Melissas and a Hope this is nothing new-- in fact, they've been doing it for years. And after reading "Sew Subversive" you'll be doing it too.

Reading this book is like hanging out with your girlfriends for a sewing lesson--fabulous girlfriends who have an eye for style that goes beyond cookie-cutter "mall-fashions." The projects are fun, the directions are easy to follow and the technical terms have been revamped for a more modern seamster, i.e. talking about the "business side" and "party side" of fabric.

And the projects ... this definitely isn't your mom's sewing book. From fashioning tube tops from old t-shirts, leg warmers from old sweaters and dresses from pillow cases, there are a lot of creative ideas in here. There are even some projects that are as simple as adding a few pin-tucks to a skirt or adding some ribbon piping to a pair of jeans.

Don't leave the reconstruction to the celebrities and fashionistas! Grab this book and see for yourself what you can come up with. Good luck.

While I applaud the intended message of this book (modify your current clothing and thrift-store finds to better represent your personal style), the majority of the projects suggested here are just bad. Really, really bad. This book merits its one star based on the directions for expanding a shrunken t-shirt (which will come in handy for extending the utility of the many no-longer-fashionable teeny-tiny t-shirts I've purchased over the past 5-10 years). Actually, I feel a star could be deducted from the rating due to the abysmal pillow-case dress project, for an overall rating of zero stars, but I'm feeling charitable...
In short: promising concept. Rotten execution.

As a novice, I appreciate all of the basic info at the beginning of the book. I also like the authors' fun, hip, "hey girlfriend" tone. Each project includes a time estimate, and many projects provide instructions for handstitching as well as machine-sewing. Would I cut off the sleeves from a sweater to make leg warmers or turn vintage ties into cuffs and collars? Probably not. But I will try turning a sweatshirt into a tote and definitely "un-taperfy" some pants by adding a triangle of fabric for flair (and yes, flare too). This book is fun and helpful for novices, and its projects encourage personal creativity and new ways of thinking about clothing.

This book has some cute ideas, but nothing that interesting design-wise. I think its biggest strength is its large front section on getting acquainted with your sewing machine and various techniques and materials. It's very accessible for a beginner who's intrigued but shy about getting started with making his/her own clothes, and the projects are really easy.

I bought this as a gift for my 14-year-old daughter and she has already made 2 items using guidelines from the book. She's a beginning sewer (she received the book along with a sewing machine), so the result is impressive. Even more impressive, tho, is the fact that she found two pieces to make (one using an old t-shirt, the other using an old pair of jeans) that were fast and easy to execute. My daughter wants instant gratification and these items were spot-on. The book was recommended by a blogger and was a perfect choice.