Book Reviews: 99 Ways
99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz; illustrated by Kira Lillie
Packed with—count ‘em—99 solutions to restyling a pair of worn, retired jeans, 99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz is a ripping powerhouse of inspiration, especially if you think (like I used to) that old denim can only be remade into A-line skirts and hobo bags. Well, those are in here, too, but so is the gorgeous wrap skirt pictured below the fold, along with clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to put together a baby dress, a sun hat, a dog jacket, and several styles of purses.
99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz; illustrated by Kira Lillie
99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz; illustrated by Kira Lillie
99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz; illustrated by Sarit Melmed
I’m less enthused, however, with Denim’s companion book, 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special, also by the same authors. Maybe I’m turning into a fogey in my dotage, but I find the hack ‘em, slash ‘em inelegance of most refashioned T-shirts unappealing. Still, a few gems can be found for those who have left their teen years behind—though I can’t speak for the flamboyant few who march to an entirely different drumbeat—mostly on the bag front. And unlike a shredded tank top that makes people wonder if you stole it off the corpse of someone who was mauled by a rabid mountain lion, bags never go out of style.
I also like Denim better because it uses a clever fusion of illustration and photography, which also gives you a better visual of what the finished product is supposed to look like. The garments in T-shirt just don’t have that same amount of pop that has me racing to load up my bobbin.
99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz; illustrated by Sarit Melmed
99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special by Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney, and Ellen Schultz; illustrated by Sarit Melmed
This review refers to first American hardcover editions, courtesy of Potter Craft. 99 Ways to Cut, Sew & Deck Out Your Denim and 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Trim, and Tie Your T-Shirt into Something Special can be found in stores now.
Victoria E said,
August 10, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I’ve seen this book in Borders a few times and I always enjoy flipping through it. Why have I not bought it yet? I’m really not sure at this point - great post!