The T-shirt is the centerpiece of a girl's wardrobe. But even better, that same T-shirt is a blank canvas just waiting to express the personality and creativity of its owner. You can cut it, sew it, twist it and turn it. You can deconstruct it, you can reconstruct it. Recycle it, resuscitate it, refashion it, re-invent it. Make it punky, make it funky.

In the hands of Megan Nicolay — who knows the DIY pride of accomplishment and the pleasure of making something chic and unique (and cheap) — the T-shirt is like fashion ore,as she shows how to turn any ordinary, preferably well-used T-shirt into a halter, a tank top, a peasant blouse, or, for a total transformation, into a T-skirt. Or a hat. Or leg-warmers, a drawstring purse, an iPod cozy. Even a patchwork T-blanket.

In 108 unexpected, easy-to-follow projects, this pied piper of DIY shows first how to tee off with the basic materials plus add-ons (ribbons, lace,safety pins) and techniques (stitching, hemming, gathering). Then come recipes: 13 projects for customizing a T-shirt (i.e., doing everything to it you possibly can and still be able to call it a T-shirt); 21 projects for tank tops (less shirt, more style); and 14 projects for tube tops and halters (even less shirt and more style). There's the Two-Tiered Peasant Skirt, the Bow-Tie Beanie, the Sweet Dreams pillow. Plus gauntlets, pot holders and tablecloths, pillows and braided rugs. Not a DIY expert? No problem. More than one third of the projects are "no sew," so anyone who can wield a pair of scissors can put a personal stamp on her wardrobe.

"The scope of Nicolay's how-to book is broader than its title suggests. It's a breezy, trendy call of encouragement to a young crop of do-it-yourselfers, with enough ideas to inspire experienced crafty types, too. The T-shirt is the starting point; the 108 end results — many of which have an edgy, even punk-like feel (much like the projects in Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'n Bitch) — range from slightly modified tops requiring no sewing to much more intricate fashion products like the sexy 'sidewinder' skirt and the two-piece 'teeny bikini,' with variations suggested for many projects. Offering celebrity tidbits ('In the 1950s and early '60s, James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Elvis Presley delivered a triple dose of T-shirt sex appeal onscreen and onstage, turning the garment into an icon of rebellion') and 'tee trivia,' a condensed history uncovers one of the world's favorite pieces of clothing. The book starts with an introduction to design terms, tools, measurement, materials and stitches, making it accessible to beginners. And because the author — who got into transforming Ts by gathering friends and hosting 'Brooklyn Tee Parties' to resuscitate old T-shirts — is budget-conscious (and so are all the projects in the book), anyone can afford to experiment with this kind of fashion design. (Apr.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Interspersed throughout the book are tidbits of T-shirt trivia and anecdotes about celebrities and their tees. An excellent choice." Library Journal

"While the styles are counterculture, they are overall a creative and great way to experiment when recycling old t-shirts." Children's Literature

More than half of these projects for customizing and reinventing T-shirts require no sewing. Patterns are provided for 30 T-shirt projects, 30 tank top projects, 30 tube top projects, as well as a two-tiered skirt, pillows, leg-warmers, tablecloths, and braided rugs.

Megan Nicolay first transformed a T-shirt — with batik — at the age of nine, and has been at it ever since. Today she lives with her sewing machine in Brooklyn, New York, where she hosts Tee Parties and fills orders for special-request T-shirts. Her Web site, www.Generation-T.com, will feature a new design each month.

Contents

Introduction x

the brooklyn tee party: a revolution begins

Chapter 1: Tee off (p. 2)

The materials, the basic stitches, and sewing techniques youand#8217;ll need to makeall 108 projects in the book.

and#8226; finding inspiration (p. 3)

and#8226; gathering supplies (p. 3)

and#8226; the anatomy of a t-shirt (p. 7)

and#8226; mastering the basics: measurements, pinning, threading the needle (p. 10)

and#8226; the stitches: running stitch, backstitch, whipstitch, zigzag stitch, cross-stitch, boxed crossstitch, finishing a stitch (p. 12)

and#8226; adding style: drawstrings, gathers, ruching, appliquandeacute; (p. 17)

and#8226; coloring outside the lines: adding embellishment (p. 19)

and#8226; dyeing, batiking, printing, bleaching (p. 20)

and#8226; zen and the art of t-shirt deconstruction (p. 23)

Chapter 2: Tee time (p. 24)

13 projects that involve customizing, cutting, clipping, tying, and pinningand#8212; as much deconstruction as you can do and still call it a T-shirt.

1. scoop, there it is (p. 26)

2. slash and#8217;nand#8217; sash (p. 28)

3. brokenhearted ( .30)

4. fringe benefits (p. 32)

5. pleasantly punk (p. 34)

6.. ruffle and tumble (p. 36)

7 comfort corset (p. 38)

8. itand#8217;s a cinch (p. 40)

9. mix and#8217;nand#8217; match (p. 42)

10. shoulder slash (p. 44)

11. pin-up (p. 45)

12. halftime (p. 46)

13. ode to the mullet (p. 48)

Chapter 3: par-tee on (p. 50)

The tank topand#8212;22 more projects that are less shirt, more style.

14. classic punk (p. 52)

15. shoulder chic (p. 54)

16. outer lace (p. 56)

17. lace age (p. 58)

19. fermez la ruche (p. 62)

20. itand#8217;s my party and iand#8217;ll tie if i want to (p. 64)

21. safety first (p. 66)

22. diamondback (p. 68)

23. a beautiful day in the and#8217;hood (p. 70)

24. put me in, coach (p. 72)

25. itand#8217;s a string thing (p. 74)

26. sew easy (p. 76)

27. heavy meshinery (p. 78)

28. thatand#8217;s a wrap (p. 80)

29. six-pack (p. 82)

30. greek goddess (p. 84)

31. queen of braids (p. 86)

32. all strung out (p. 88)

33. tying game (p. 90)

34. punkand#8217;d (p. 92)

35. strip search (p. 94)

Chapter 4: flir-tee girls (p. 96)

14 tube tops (and halters, too!)and#8212;even less shirt, even more style.

36. boob tube (p. 98)

37. bodice snipper (p. 100)

38. ready-made (p. 102)

39. bow me over (p. 104)

40. natural sass (p. 106)

41. scarf ace (p. 108)

42. rollover (p. 110)

43. bandeau, james bandeau (p. 112)

44. knotty by nature (p. 114)

45. halt right there (p. 116)

46. cover girl (p. 118)

47. t-bird (p. 120)

48. twisted sister (p. 122)

49. teeny bikini (p. 124)

Chapter 5: skir-tee girls 128

23 projects that take the T-shirt downtownand#8212; and weand#8217;re not talking about the financial district in New York City.

50. snips ahoy (p. 130)

51. snip, crackle, pop! (p. 133)

52. sidewinder (p. 136)

53. double-crosser (p. 138)

54. pocket rock it (p. 140)

55. next of pin (p. 142)

56. row, row, row your bows (gently down the seam) (p. 144)

57. knot too shabby (p. 146)

58. skirt flirt (p. 148)

59. triple-layer cake (p. 151)

60. petal pusher (p. 154)

61. flare thee well (p. 156)

62. mud flap (p. 159)

63. diamonds in the rough (p. 162)

64. road trip (p. 164)

65. material girl (p. 166)

66. alphabet city (p. 168)

67. bohemian wrapsody (p. 170)

68. wrapper keeper (p. 172)

69. cinch city (p. 174)

70. your ass is grass (p. 176)

71. tying up loose ends (p. 178)

72. flapper frenzy (p. 181)

Chapter 6: the t-zone (p. 184)

From leg warmers to hats, handbags to ponchos, checkbook covers to throw pillows, 16 projects that are perfect accents for the body and the home.

73. go-go gauntlets (p. 186)

74. knee huggers (leg warmers) (p. 188)

75. the braided bunch (braided belt) (p190)

76. punk poncho (p. 192)

77. scarf it up (scarf) (p. 194)

78. fit to be tied (hat) (p. 196)

79. check this (checkbook cover) (p. 198)

80. a tee in the and#8217;pod (iPod cozy) (p. 200)

81. iand#8217;m the real shady (eyeglasses case)(p. 202)

82. bag lady (handbag) (p. 204)

83. backpacking the heat (satchel backpack) (p. 206)

84. rock the tote (tote bag) (p. 210)

85. is this seat taken? (seat cushion) (p. 213)

86. sweet dreams are made of tees (pillowcase) (p. 216)

87. cute roll-up (bolster pillow) (p. 218)

88. patchwork punk (blanket) (p. 220)

Chapter 7: t-wrecks (p. 224)

After the T-shirt deconstruction and reconstruction, here are 19 ways to and#8220; get scrappyand#8221; with the leftovers.

89. flower power (blossom) (p. 226)

90. nip it in the bud (rosebud ring) (p. 228)

91. ice t (ring) (p. 229)

92. banned for life (headband) (p. 230)

93. net profits (hairnet) (p. 232)

94. iand#8217;m with the band (wri.stband) (p. 234)

95. my ears are ringing (earrings) (p. 236)

96. downward spiral (bra.ided rug) (p. 238)

97. shag me, baby (shag rug) (p. 240)

98. big hair bands (hair elastics) (p. 242)

99. the bowed and the beautiful (hair ribbons) (p. 242)

100. brace yourself (bracelet) (p. 242)

101. lace station (shoelaces) (p. 243)

102. knit wit (yarn) (p. 243)

103. the it doll (rag doll) (p. 244)

104. expand-o-pants (p. 246)

105. pocket it (p. 246)

106. patch it (p. 247)

107. flare affair (p. 247)