Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture [Paperback]

Melissa Alvarado (Author), Hope Meng (Author), Melissa Rannels (Author), Matthew Carden (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2007

It's time to get subversive, again! The downtown divas of "Sew Subversive" are back with another happy helping of straightlaced sewing advice for stylish results every time. Transform tacky bridesmaid gowns and pleated pants into picture-perfect tops, skirts and accessories. The two Melissas and a Hope deliver 30 great projects that are achievable for even the new sewer. "Subversive Seamster" is your secret roadmap to the jewels of thrifting and the ins and outs of refashioning. This book has shortcuts, tips, and secrets to the wide world of inexpensive, individualized fashion. Our clothes make a statement about who we are. What better way to say, "I am an individual!" than to wear one-of-a-kind items made out of other one-of-a-kind items? We derive the most fashionable satisfaction knowing that we are reusing and recycling what already exists in this material world--and looking darn good doing it!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng, and Melissa Rannels are self-taught seamsters, fearless remnant bin divers, and yard sale addicts with attitude. They co-own Stitch Lounge, a drop-in urban sewing studio in San Francisco, where you can rent time on a machine or take classes on everything from sewing machine basics to making a Burning Man costume in the company of other like-minded seamsters. Please check out their website at www.stitchlounge.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press (October 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156158925X
• ISBN-13: 978-1561589258
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

120 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what some might be hoping for!, January 17, 2008

By 

Latte (OH, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture (Paperback)

After reading about this book on a blog that I frequent, I checked it out from the local library. Our family relies heavily on thrift shopping to clothe all of us (7 in all!), and anything to make thrift items more useful and attractive seems like a great idea.

That said, these are beyond stylish (in the strangest way), and most of the fashions are just plain weird. I will try to upload some customer images, so readers can take a look and decide for themselves.

I understand that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" so my opinions are clearly not gospel...they are just that...opinions.

My 2 stars are for the excellent pages of sewing instruction at the beginning, and the nifty method of making a custom dress form using an old T-shirt and duct tape. That is very clever and a thrifty idea!

I liked some of the accessory and home ideas: pillow covers from button down shirts, the checkbook cover, the shopping bag. The fashions are mostly so out there that not many real people will be caught dead in them.

If you were hoping to make these clothes useful for filling out an everyday or professional wardrobe, for instance...on a budget...don't get your hopes up. Many are just plain ugly and unflattering, even on the uber-hip women pictured in the book.

Here are some examples:
...a pair of pants with sewn-on chaps
...crocheted poncho turned into a skirt, looks like it's just being worn over a slip
...a winter mini skirt made from a wool dress coat (theirs is ivory, no less!). Take a look at the picture, and then try to imagine sitting down! Also, think "bulky wool coat pockets" around most women's hips. Ick.
...a pleated school uniform-type skirt turned into a tube top.
...a bustier made out of "old man pants" (their description, not mine)
...a boatneck, batwing top made out of old sheets
...a skirt made from a mesh football jersey

For the right person, all this might be very useable. For those who don't work in a trendy, bohemian boutique where such attire would be desired, I'd suggest looking elsewhere for ideas.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars SAVE YOUR MONEY, April 6, 2008

By 

Sean M. Alexander "seadncr" (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture (Paperback)

This book is beyond bad. For those trying to save money by buying at thrift stores - save your money and don't buy this book! The "fashion" ideas, and that is a term used loosely, are horrible and all look badly home made. In some of the photos the edges aren't even finished correctly ( i.e. a bustier with uneven edge seams and threads hanging out)- and most are fashions that no one in their right style mind would wear. They are not radical and hip, they are messy and sad. The only idea that might prove helpful is how to create your own dress makers dummy - and this is a recycled idea.


If you must look at this book, a trip to the local library and about 30 seconds is all you will need.

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Making trash into worse trash, April 3, 2008

By 

slow thinker (Calgary, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture (Paperback)

Making trash into worse trash

Oh. My. God. Where to begin? Upgrading ordinary clothes is a hobby of mine and I purchased Subversive Seamster by mail hoping for fresh ideas. After I turned the first pages I realized that the real value of this book is entertainment. As each photograph reveals a new fashion atrocity you begin to merrily anticipate further sartorial horrors and you are not disappointed. Chest-flattening tops, skirts without proper hems, tucks that look like accidents, a shirt sleeve made into coin purse (who is THAT poor?), appliqués zigzagged with " medium stitch length and width" showing unraveling edges and other hobo projects. If you want to apply for food stamps wear one of these creations. It will help. I alternatively laughed and cringed. I still cannot decide which project wins the Palm of Ugliness: the bulging un-hemmed Peek-a-Bootylicious Skirt made of men's pants or the gaucho pants with applied flannel pajama legs. I also question the wisdom of sacrificing a classic leather vest to make a pair of earrings. I would no more want to wear such clothes than I would want to eat from a garbage container. If you are very poor, save your time and effort by wearing unaltered thrift store clothes, you won't look any worse.