Customer Reviews

Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

If you are an individual with a sense of style and have even a bit of crafty intuition, this book is an incredible find! I love the tips for sifting through thrift stores and the projects are fantastic. I especially love the city shorts and repurposing ideas for bridesmaid dresses. You don't even have to shop for these. I bet most ladies have a pair of pants or a cast off bridesmaid dress they'd like to find a use for. Even if you don't exactly love the designs shown, you can make them suit your own personal style by choosing items composed of the fabrics that you love. This book doesn't limit the indie seamster, but introduces her to innovative ideas that open up a whole world of fashions that make a statement: you! At your most fabulous, of course.

Just want to say first that some of the nay-sayers are a bit out of the demographic that the book seems to be directed at. Which may be why they give such bad reviews of it. :)

Regardless, I just got this today used. The beginning is awesome as it goes further than to explain all about sewing, it includes tips on "lettuce" seams, shows you how to do ruffles, make fabric flowers and some other handy things you'll need to upcycle.

I love some of the instructions in this book and they show you a step-by-step process on how to make them. The city shorts, the wool skirt, the bolero especially are really cute.

The only downside is that I wish there were more projects! I appreciate that the back lists fabric stores in San Francisco and lists a lot of other places to get craft ideas.

I checked this book out of the library with SO much excitement - I love thrifting, love "deals", love the idea of creative something cool and funky out of something drab. So what a great idea for a book! The first two chapters were very helpful. Sewing skills, modifying clothes, and making a personal dress form from duct tape - very cool and helpful. But then as I started paging through the projects... my high hopes for this book came plummeting down. I just couldn't see myself making a skirt from football jersey or a halter top from "old man pants" that unzips down the front. Boo. =[ There were one or two clothing items I might try, but most were just too "out there." I was hoping for something similar to what I've tried before, like turning a regular long-sleeve T into a ruched, ruffle-front Anthropologie-ish tank. Maybe the ideas in this book float your boat - they are all modeled by some cute chicka mamas - but I would suggest checking it out from the library before buying. Reference the review left by "Latte" above for some photos of the projects in this book. Although the sewing and modification instructions are super helpful, they're just not worth the price of the book.

I received this as a gift and was very pleasantly surprised! There are a lot of fun, inventive, and easy ideas in this book. After reading it, I wanted to go right out and go thrift store shopping! It's true what the other reviewer said: you are not going to be able to make your typical business casual wardrobe from this book, but there are several very cute projects that are more than appropriate for any casual wardrobe, such as the peasant-style blouse and the adorable cuffed shorts, with instructions for three different lengths. And I personally think the sports jersey top made into a skirt would be a fabulous way to show your team pride at a Super Bowl or World Cup party! the tank with the corset back is very wearable, and the refashioned silky tank is a great idea (though poorly represented in the accompanying photo).

In general, if you eschew stores like Banana Republic and Ann Taylor in favor of more original looks, but don't want to spend the money/environmental resources on buying new from boutiques, and you have beginner sewing skills, then I can recommend this book.

Caveat: although I have read the directions for many of the projects, and they seem quite easy to follow, I have not yet made any.

The authors of Subversive Seamster have scored another winner. This book is filled with logical and creative tips and ideas for those who want to refashion personalized clothing and projects. From hints on where and what to select in the way of used clothing, to making your own customized dress form, to sewing instructions for very useable techniques like pintucks, buttonholes, and casings, this book is a great one to have as a reference as well as for practical application. Written with a sense of humor in addition to clear and concise instructions, this is a book that can be used over and over--and never wear out--just like the projects that are presented in the book.

This is not a book I would normally pick up in a bookstore. At first glance it is aimed at an age demographic slightly younger than the one I belong to. But don't let that stop you for from taking a look at this book. It's creative, fun, and full of great ideas.

I'm not normally a garage sale or thrift shopper (living in a place where winter lasts 7 months does away with a lot of garage sales and our one thrift ship is not all that inspiring. But reading this book made me want to go out and look for those one-of-a-kind items to refashion in my own style.

Subversive Seamster will help you navigate thrift shopping, help you decide what might and might not work as you remake a garment, provide, ilustrate basic sewing techniques youu'll need, and then gives you step-by-step instructions for everything from a duct tape dress form (great instructions) to tank tops, gaucho pants, checkbook covers, and more.

The Resource section will guide you to some garment districts, fabric stores and craft fairs across the country.

This book won't be everyone's cup of tea but have a look at it and see if it strikes a chord. I enjoyed it and plan on making a few projects to step out of my wardrobe box.

I read this book recently and posted a review on my sewing blog.

http://www.sewmg.com/?p=235

In general, a fun idea book with the techniques you need to make interesting casual clothes.