Such a cool concept - alas, since I am without a sewing machine, nothing I made was wearable. I know it says that you don't need one, but honestly, I'd be embarrassed to leave the house in the shirts I made. Yes, I'm not super-craftsy, but I gave it a good shot, and even hand-sewed a few things, yet I emerged quite disappointed. More emphasis needs to be given about the types of fabric you use - 100% cotton stretches out way too fast. The book is adorable and I'm sure it would be great for an even moderately-skilled seamstress. Also, if you're older than 25, you might look a little silly in most of these projects unless you're super-hip.

This book is a great beginner's how-to guide on making old t-shirts into new fantastic clothes - the projects are great ideas, and most of them can be fitted to any body type. I'm a college student, and getting old tshirts from friends for free to make them into new clothes has saved me a ton of money!

I got the book for my wife for fun and have read it from cover to cover 3 times. I have passed many of the ideas to my friends and thier sibling. They were very excited and inspired about the potential of the book.

It was easy to read from a non sewing persons point of view.

I have been able to modify some of Ms Nicolay's ideas to fit my own project and have alot of fun along the way.

NO it is not a high tech guide to the inner cosmos of sewing but, it was a great book for the fun-loving starter and has caused me to look at the styles of the younger generation in a new light and have some understanding of thier needs, wants, and desires from a clothing perspective. I am planning on purchasing her second book.

This book changed my life. I really wanted to do something good for the environment and the economy so I wanted to learn to work with the fabric that I already own or has been loved by someone else previously. This book taught me how to sew, as well as how to make anything out of a t-shirt. I use this book weekly and have completed many of the projects easily as a beginning sewer. The instructions are great and easy to understand. This is my refashioning bible. I've added tutorials based on this book to my blog with photos for each step [...]

For the past two months, my girlfriends and I have been re imagining our wardrobes and our style sensibilities thanks to these books. Heck, we've even started a Flickr group to show them all off. This book has been an amazing way for a beginner with a sewing dream to get started in creating my own DIY wardrobe. Each stick is explained, each project is well documented and the instructions are clearly written. So clearly in fact, that I am getting a copy of this book for my 10 year old niece! If you have t-shirts, or a thrift shop in your area, beware this book become addicting. You will never look at what someone is wearing in the same way again.....instead, you'll be saying - I can make that!

I purchased the book for my Granddaughters to help pass the summer for them. They tell me they are having a ball making all kinds of artsy crafty things.

I just got this book today. I've been wanting to make clothes for awhile, but patterns and such feel way to daunting with my limited sewing skills. I feel like this is the perfect segue into making my own clothes.

And, many of the ideas are really cute and really easy! Even with my limited crafting skills, I am sure I can make some of these and make them look cute. I'm really excited to get started on some of these projects!! Just reading through the various projects has gotten me excited about the possibilities.

I thought a lot of the designs are very '80's. That's my only real complaint. Though, perhaps I'll try to bring back some of the styles. ;) Or at least make them my own.

Awful. I picked this up at the library with other DIY-esque literature for a quick browse, and it was terrible. Just awful. Everything looks 80s and not at all stylish (not one alteration). I have a sewing based business so I was looking for inspiration and found the opposite. They make it easy to look dated and poorly put together, so if that's what you're going for, by all means buy it. But I wouldn't recommend it. This may put me off t-shirts of any kind for a while.

This book offers great ideas into transforming your old t-shirts and the steps are really easy to follow.

I work with a lot of high school dance groups and they loved the new ideas for transforming t-shirts into works of art.

Bought this for my 15 year-old daughter who used it at her birthday party with four friends to change up some old t-shirts. They loved it! They worked on their own and each produced something cute and different. Great instructions- and both boys and girls used the book. Very fun and easy!

I opted for this one over 99 ways and was very disappointed, though my kids are having fun with this book creating there own tees and having lots of fun. very simple easy to follow instructions.

Generation T started my love for deconstructed and DIY clothing. I have not found another book that compares in simplicity and innovation. The instructions are simple, so even the clumsiest crafter (like myself) can create pieces of fashion and home decor that rival store-bought pieces. I have made many of the projects in the book, and have yet to have something not work out - Megan Nicolay has written a fool-proof book! She offers alternative projects for many of the pieces - including no-sew and low-sew alternatives to many projects that require a sewing machine. It's a fantastic resource, and would make a great gift for current or aspiring fashion crafters of all ages.

This book is great. I never get tired of trying new designs. They're fun and (most of the designs) are really quick to make. This was the first ever book I bought about T-shirt re-designing and I love it. It will always be my favorite.

I've been messing around cutting my own t-shirts for a while, and had become dry with ideas. I came across this book and it's ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Anyone can use it - whether you know how to sew or not. The book has 5 different levels of projects ranging in difficulty, as well as alternative cutting styles for each project. It really sparks your imagination while reading through it. There are several "no sewing" projects that just involve cutting, and also gives safety pinning as a fashionable alternative to some projects if you don't want to sew. There's even a project that doesn't even involve cutting, just folding and tying... If you wanna try your hand at sewing, the book does detail how to go through and do the different stitches you'll need to use. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can still do everything by hand - just takes more patience. All the pictures and steps are simple to follow. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to alter their T-shirts.

I loved all of the ideas in this book I never imagined there were so many possibilities. I loved this book so much that when I let my teenage sister borrow it and never got it back I just ordered a new copy. Its a great reference guide for anyone who is craft or on a budget!

This book is awesome! Instructions are super easy and the shirts are fun to make...use really good scissors when cutting the shirts for premium results!

To be fair, this book is a really great resource for the beginning clothing reconstructionist. A few of the "108" designs are worth wearing after making, but a lot of them are unsuitable for use unless you live at a swimming pool or really don't at all mind showing a little (or a lotta) bit of skin.

For me, the best projects are the t-shirt bags (though even having 2 layers of t-shirt jersey really doesn't save the bag from stretching if you use it for more than a paperback novel), Some of the non-apparel related projects, and several of the skirts. Most of the tops were a bit too much (or a bit too not-enough) for me to want to try to pull off wearing in public, but there are 5 or 6 that I could wear without feeling too breezy.

The book was fun to look in on a rainy day with some girl friends and most projects can be completed in an hour or two (especially with the aid of a sewing machine if you have one). It's fun to work on the projects but I found several of the shirt-designs I completed ended up sitting in my drawers forever, and will perhaps be incorporated into different projects as I launch into trying my own designs.

I probably never would have known where to start without this book (though the tshirt surgery community on livejournal is extremely helpful), so it gets mad props for being a platform for trying new things with old t-shirts, but again I don't know that many of the designs in the book are actually wearable for a lot of people.

A friend and I have after school programs and camps ages 6 to 13 and this book has made a huge impact on the whole group. The projects are fun and easy to do. The kids really wear the things they have made and feel good about recycling old t-shirts!! Wonderful book.

I bought this book hoping to get some new ideas on sewing. It did give me a few new ideas; however, a lot of the stuff i already knew how to make.
For a beginning sewer it is a useful book of craftiness. But, if you already sew you brains out like i do, I would only buy it as a reference piece.

I am sorry to say I was disappointed with the product. The whole book is geared for the younger girls and I was looking for something for the more mature.

Always wonder what to do with those t-shirts that are too big or too small, or a little worn out! I recommend this to anyone looking for a creative way to recycle their t-shirts!

If you don't care to sew but want to join the altered,recycled clothing craze, this is a great place to start. Most projects are easily achieveable by the inexperienced crafter and are attractive and wearable. The main downside to this book is that most of the clothing isn't very sophisticated or wearable for those over about 35. I found it a great resource for working with my teenaged daughter and niece. They both liked the designs and found the directions easy to understand and follow.

For many years I have been interested in the dynamics of t-shirt reconstruction. In my late teens I made a few attempts at DIY reconstruction but knew very little about the basics of sewing. Once I learned how to sew I began on an endless journey to DIY fashion creating one of a kind shirts to separate myself from boring, monotonous trends. My boyfriend called to tell me about generation T and suggested I visit the site. I immediately fell in love and ordered the book right away. Literally two days later I received the book and my eyes become open to a whole new word of DIY fashion. The possibilities are endless and this book is not simply limited to t-shirts. There are handbags, pillows, skirts, rugs, and much more. There is even a wedding dress at the end of the book designed with t-shirts!! I made a new projects every day with this book, sometimes two projects a day. It's good to own a sewing machine but if you don't, all of projects that require sewing can be easily stitched by hand. At the beginning of the book the author explains different stitching techniques so that even a beginner can complete the projects. A third of the book is no-sew which makes things even easier. I highly recommend this book, it's like a DIY bible for fashion.

I got this book this summer for my daughter, age 12, and her friend. Both girls are crafty, creative (they take art classes together), and have used a sewing machine independently. My daughter's friend even makes tailored clothes for herself! I thought the book would give them some fun & funky ideas. They did enjoy paging through it and both did manage to find a pattern to make. But I'm not sure they'll come back to this much because they felt the styles were too skimpy for them. Neither one is more modest than an average 12 year old, but they still didn't feel comfortable wearing most of the shirts out of the house. They were really amazed by the whole chapter of tube tops. (They asked me "Who would wear these things?")

Too bad...These girls are a perfect market for something like this. I guess I'll have to keep looking.

I bought this book for my girlfriend and she loved it. A few days after receiving the book, she's done a few nice modifications to her older t-shirts and they looked great! I was impressed myself!

The instructions given in this book are easy to understand and implement. This book will keep her happy and busy.

I recommend this book to absolute beginners who would like to get started with transforming t-shirts. This would help you get started without much difficulty. However, you won't become the next Adam Saaks with this book.

With every hobby or passion - Stick to it and love every minute of it :)

Unless you are young, loose, and can afford to go braless, I'd steer clear of this one. The designs are innovative and easy to do, but impractical for those whom modesty is something of value.

This is definitely for the younger generation.. it has a lot of ideas for someone who wants to do their own thing and not look like everyone else.there are some ideas for older people as well. this was NOT sent by amazon which I regret now. It was supposed to be New condition. When I received it ; it was wet from poor packaging..

This book has little machine sewing projects in it. If you want to learn to just cut up Tees than this is a good book and I give 'em credit for the creativity. But I was looking for more sewing projects with Tshirts.

Saw this at a friends house, and then bought it for my niece for Christmas. I looked through it when I received it, and some of the creations are incredible! I know my niece will have a great time making her own clothes! Can't wait to give it to her!

When I first flipped through this book I thought: fab! how imaginative. Unfortunately having looked at it more closely there isn't anything I think I could make that wouldn't make me look tragic. The ideas are mostly centred around the idea of cutting up a very large T-shirt and making it with minimal sewing into something hipper, close fitting and a little punk-inspired - plenty of rips and slashes. Even using the theme of the book, rather than the specific ideas doesn't help me much. I'm sure if I was 16 I'd love it. I write as a warning that the target audience for this book is relatively narrow ie young and that isn't something you might work out from reading the blurb. Well at least I didn't. Yes as you get older you can still be on-trend, but I really think it's better to leave looks such as slashed clothing or the barely-there items etc to the younger crowd.

We found this book in the library and I had to buy it. I got my daughters and some of their friends together and we cut and sewed and followed the directions. The best part was seeing the creative possibilities. The worst part was seeing that the T you make would not be able to withstand a lot of wear. I realized that if you want to keep the creation you make then you would have to get out the sewing machine and do some real sewing.

We did notice that the t need to be fited and looked at on your body before you cut. We had one girl that wanted to make the halter and following the directions in the book made the halter so small and short that she was uncomfortable with the whole project (even though the picture shows a lot of room in the torso). So making sure of the design before hand is very important.

But the girls did have fun and will be doing it again.

Pros: simple, easy to read, good starter ideas
Cons: styles not for everyone, designs generally for petite girls

I had been eying this book for several months and finally broke down and bought it.
To let you know, I am a beginner when it comes to sewing. I am essentially self taught, starting with some needle and thread stuff when I was in middle school and working up to a simple cheap sewing machine that I use now.
I bought this book after flipping through it a few times, it seemed like it had a variety of different t-shirt ideas and that even if I didn't use them all at least they would provide some inspiration.
I agree with some of the other reviews, the safety pin thing gets a bit old, but then again even if you don't like that the book does show you other techniques that could be used as well (sewing seams, using a lace and holes to thread two pieces together, buttons, etc).
THIS BOOK WAS NOT MADE FOR OLDER GENERATIONS NOR FOR HIGH FASHION. It makes it clear on every project that these are designs for punk or hipster types. They are fun ways to transform your old useless clothes into something you might want to wear without too much effort.
Yes, the clothes look better on the super-skinny New York girls that are pictured in the book, but I am a size 18-22 and I was able to pull off many of the designs with little to no adjustments.

In conclusion this is a fun book, it is not a highly technical sewing manual, but an introduction to the possibilities of DIY and to the basics of sewing that would be great for anyone just getting started in sewing or who likes the "deconstructed" look.

Pressed to find a great birthday gift for the girl who has everything? Or do you just want to give something unique and special? Why not give the gift that keeps on giving: a fun, edgy and easy-to-use craft book! Generation T is a gift for any lady!! It was given to me when I turned 18, and I have since given it to my friend on her 17th, my co-worker on her 25th and my T.A. on her 30th!! There are projects in this book that can appeal to everyone's tastes, and as a present it is a great conversation starter at a birthday dinner. I simply cannot tell you how great this book is, you must really have a peek at it for yourself!

After checking out MULTIPLE books before and after buying this one, I'm still totally satisfied that this is definitely the one to keep on hand. Some ideas are silly in that anyone who's ripped something apart and put it back together as something else wouldn't necessarily need the instructions (wristband or satchel) but most are both easy and super-cute (halter top featured on the cover; hoodie t-shirts). They mark the designs that are 'No-Sew' and those that require sewing are given an estimated time. Other books may have a few other ideas but, if you have this book, you can pretty much figure any others out on your own.

...I'm not small enough for these outfits! All the girls modeling the clothes in the books pages are tiny thin; I should have taken that as a clue. I love the ideas in this book and it's a lot of fun; unfortunately I don't think they work unless you're very thin (if I'm wrong please say so - I'm dying to make a Simpsons altered tee!).

This is a wonderful book it helps to take old worn out drab tee shirts and turn them in to new and exciting designs that are tailored to your body. There is nothing more attractive then clothing that fits. It also helps take the scraps and turn them in to accessories so that nothing is wasted. If you are and Eco lover this book will be right up your ally. It is perfect for all ages and do it together projects for bonding. It is not just for females there is lots of male ideas also.
leahunter

My niece got one and showed me what she was doing with her old tee's, so I just couldn't wait to buy one of my own and start transforming old into new. Thank you for your wonderful ideas.

I've already altered enough t-shirts into being wearable and cute to more than pay for this book. Nothing too exciting in here, but great for a beginner like me. It also helps to start the creative juices flowing.

Absolutely amazing book with lots of cool things I never would have thought to make out of t-shirts like a wedding dress!! I'm in love.

I really like this book because it is chock full of really fun ways to transform blah t-shirts into something unique. You really don't have to be an outstanding seamstress to do most of the projects either, which is great news for me. I hand-sewed one of the projects in about an hour and it looks fantastic. My mom was impressed anyhow.

I got this book 2 years ago to work on some projects. I made one tube top, and then misplaced it. So I bought another copy this week, and am ready to start crafting. You can make sexy tops, pillows, bags, really hippie chick trendy to sexy hot club tops. Its fun to use old ts that you have not worn in forever, as well as pick up some fun ones at the thrift store or a yard sale. My collection of ts is vintage motorcycles. So I have some very unique rare t s to make into something fun and new. Easy to follow instructions, diagrams, and tips. A great book for the creative crafter, aspiring designer, especially if you like to cut things up.....

I bought this book hoping there would be some wonderful and innovative patterns. I opened the book and to my surprise there was not many patterns, just 100 ways to cut holes in you t - shirts. So if your into slashing up your clothes with razor blades, than this book is for you!

This was my first ever redesign book. But even for a newbie like me, I found most of it painlessly simple. I wanted something to challenge me, really get my attention, make me say; "WOW!" 1/3 of the designs don't even require sewing! There's even one pretty laughable creation where you take an oversize t-shirt and just tie it around your body! A beginner could probably make 95% of these designs. But in spite of it all, this provided inspiration for me to pursue my redesigning style.

Up to now, I've only created about four designs in the book, and over 13 of my own imagination. Generation T gave me the boost I needed into the crafty world of redesign and self-created fashion.

If you are a senior/advanced sewer, this book will probably bore you. If you are looking for inspiration, you've come to the right place. But if you're too left-brain and can only create designs in the book, your creations will probably end up as few.

Also, some designs are revealing/peek-a-boo/revealing. Of course, you could just slip a tank top over that tube top, and leggings under the skirt, but sometimes it will just look tacky. If you're self-concious of your body showing, you might want to reconsider.

There's a whole section dedicated to skirts. If you are tomboy like me and cannot stand skirts, you can either:
a) make the creations and not wear them (give them away as presents!)
b) skip them
c) change your stubborn tomboy ways and start wearing skirts

There are also some cool non-wearable recreations, like the patchwork quilt, spiral rug, and pillows.
In my opinion, amoung the best designs are...the hoodie, gauntlets and leg warmers, and punk poncho.

As long as you are a creative person, you'll probably find something in here that catches your eye. Just be take warning of what is in here before you make the purchase.

this is one of the best books that i have i a while all that ideas are just simply amazing.

this has a ton of ideas in it. Though most of the styles are ment for really skinny girls. I suppose if you had the gumption you could alter them for the normal to full figured gals.

I have been making t-shirt quilts and recently was making tank tops out of t-shirts but using regular patterns. I really wanted this book so that I could make other things. However I am no longer a teenager so I wouldn't (and couldn't wear) almost everything in this book. I think that my tank tops using patterns came out better. This book gave me a few new ideas. I probably won't actually make anything out of it, but it may be a good book for a beginner.

As a designer I used to snub my nose up at casual clothes and especially T shirts.
This book helped me rethink this completely. By combining my design concepts to go along with T shirt knit, it allowed me to experiment with concepts I never would have tried while cutting into silk.
It gave me freedom as a designer I never thought was possible.

"Generation T" is a very cool book in theory. I love t-shirts and have a huge collection of them, and when my copy of this book arrived, I spent a whole afternoon flipping through it, imagining what I could do with them. Then, after I came down from my little cloud, it occurred to me, I'm not going to cut up any of my t-shirt that I love, and if I dislike a t-shirt enough to chop it up, I probably don't like it enough to transform it. As a result, this book has sat on my bookshelf, unused, ever since.

The patterns in this book are simple and straight forward. Most require only a minimum amount of sewing, if any, and could be made by a novice. The patterns fall into three categories: tops (tube tops, tank tops and slashed t-shirts), skirts (lots of a-line skirts, most of which look like you've got a t-shirt tied around your waist), and accessories (cushions, a scarf, a blanket, an iPod cozy, leg warmers, bags etc). Whether you like these or not will depend on your own personal taste. However, the thing is, even if you do like these items enough to want to make them, you probably don't need this book to tell you how to do so. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how to turn a t-shirt into a cushion, for example.

This book is worth reading for inspiration if you find it cheap or in the library, but other than that, I wouldn't bother.

I bought this book for my 15 yr old daughter for Christmas at her request. She loves it!! She has made some adorable shirts, her friends are jealous! I plan on making a few too. This book would make an easy jumping off point for your own ideas. Lots of fun!