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Alternation: Transform. Embellish. Customize.
A do-it-yourself guide to fashion design explains how to transform basic clothing into stylish, trendy fashions and one-of-a-kind accessories, with a variety of creative projects that come complete with illustrated, step-by-step photographs and instructions, expert design tips, and helpful tricks. Original. 15,000 first printing.
143 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2007
50 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Okey
37 books60 followersShannon lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, comic book artist Tamas Jakab and their furry "children," a dachshund and 2 cats who have made several appearances in her books.
Shannon runs her own publishing company called Cooperative Press, which publishes both books and Knit Edge magazine. She writes...a lot.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 21, 2013
I must have either a newer version, or just a newer cover, mine has a woman in a "baseball" or corseted skirt on the front.
I saw this book and flipped through it, grabbed it from the library asap. The coolest project in here, the one I saw first, was the Water Soluble Scarf. That is the coolest idea I have ever heard of. If I make nothing else from here, I will definitely make that!! Use up your scraps, make something totally unique that is totally customizable to you!
The other great parts of this book is she explains why certain fabrics work for some projects, why you might be drawn to one style (per your body type), or customizable ways to make things so you can use her ideas just as a base. Its really awesome.
The dresses section are all ideas I would actually wear. I have yet to find a book before now that has DIY clothes that don't look like scraps. This is a book I might end up renewing more than once, or just buying! I can see myself learning and growing with my sewing skills and taking her ideas as a base and moving on from them. This book is a keeper.
I am a beginner sewer and refashionista, but I think this would be good for all levels, as inspiration and how-to directions!
I saw this book and flipped through it, grabbed it from the library asap. The coolest project in here, the one I saw first, was the Water Soluble Scarf. That is the coolest idea I have ever heard of. If I make nothing else from here, I will definitely make that!! Use up your scraps, make something totally unique that is totally customizable to you!
The other great parts of this book is she explains why certain fabrics work for some projects, why you might be drawn to one style (per your body type), or customizable ways to make things so you can use her ideas just as a base. Its really awesome.
The dresses section are all ideas I would actually wear. I have yet to find a book before now that has DIY clothes that don't look like scraps. This is a book I might end up renewing more than once, or just buying! I can see myself learning and growing with my sewing skills and taking her ideas as a base and moving on from them. This book is a keeper.
I am a beginner sewer and refashionista, but I think this would be good for all levels, as inspiration and how-to directions!
December 23, 2010
Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill, AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize. (North Light Books, 2007)
I've been trying for weeks to figure out how to review this book without everything I say about it coming off like a left-handed compliment to Shannon's other books, all of which have been good stuff. (Full disclosure: I've known Shannon for longer than either of us, I'm sure, would be willing to admit without liberal doses of truth serum.) And I'm still not quite sure I've figured out how to do that yet, but I'll try. You see, the projects in all of Shannon's books up to this one have been... cozy, for lack of a better term. They're the kind of thing you work on with your mom while you're waiting for the pasta water to boil. Stuff you wear around the house, give your grandma at Christmas, keep at work for when those idiots on the maintenance staff confuse 52 with 72 when setting the thermostat. You get the idea. And now here comes AlterNation. And yes, there are a few things in here that you'd give Grandma for Christmas. But there are also a few that are... hot, for lack of a better term. The kind of thing you'd consider wearing to the bar when you want people to hit on you. (Well, okay, if I did that, I'd have to go to a different kind of bar, but you know what I mean.) It's the first time I've looked at the project pictures in one of Shannon's books and said “ooh, yum.” (To anything other than the models, natch.)
All of which leads to a recommendation, of course. I haven't read one of Shannon's books yet that hasn't got one, and not just because I know her. But it's a slightly different recommendation than usual. Shannon's books are usually pretty vertical-market affairs for crafty types, and that's all well and good, but I don't see this one fitting into that mold. Yes, crafty types will get all they get out of a typical Shannon Okey book, but it's possible this one could branch out into non-crafty segments of society and draw them into the fold. ****
I've been trying for weeks to figure out how to review this book without everything I say about it coming off like a left-handed compliment to Shannon's other books, all of which have been good stuff. (Full disclosure: I've known Shannon for longer than either of us, I'm sure, would be willing to admit without liberal doses of truth serum.) And I'm still not quite sure I've figured out how to do that yet, but I'll try. You see, the projects in all of Shannon's books up to this one have been... cozy, for lack of a better term. They're the kind of thing you work on with your mom while you're waiting for the pasta water to boil. Stuff you wear around the house, give your grandma at Christmas, keep at work for when those idiots on the maintenance staff confuse 52 with 72 when setting the thermostat. You get the idea. And now here comes AlterNation. And yes, there are a few things in here that you'd give Grandma for Christmas. But there are also a few that are... hot, for lack of a better term. The kind of thing you'd consider wearing to the bar when you want people to hit on you. (Well, okay, if I did that, I'd have to go to a different kind of bar, but you know what I mean.) It's the first time I've looked at the project pictures in one of Shannon's books and said “ooh, yum.” (To anything other than the models, natch.)
All of which leads to a recommendation, of course. I haven't read one of Shannon's books yet that hasn't got one, and not just because I know her. But it's a slightly different recommendation than usual. Shannon's books are usually pretty vertical-market affairs for crafty types, and that's all well and good, but I don't see this one fitting into that mold. Yes, crafty types will get all they get out of a typical Shannon Okey book, but it's possible this one could branch out into non-crafty segments of society and draw them into the fold. ****
February 10, 2017
Love the patterns and ideas in this book! Can't wait to try.
January 28, 2009
I went on a sewing book binge Sunday and requested a ton of books from the library. I've been looking for a denim skirt pattern, altering from jeans for awhile now. This book has a pattern I am going to modify with one from another book to create a couple of skirts for my girl and me.
About the book in general:
There are tons of color pictures.
The step by step instructions look super easy to follow.
There are a wide variety of projects organized by the article of clothing you are creating/modifying.
About the book in general:
There are tons of color pictures.
The step by step instructions look super easy to follow.
There are a wide variety of projects organized by the article of clothing you are creating/modifying.
July 11, 2013
There was a time when I would have wanted to make/wear just about everything in this book, but that time was 1999, and this book was released in 2007, and I just read it yesterday. Sadly, the stars did not align. I liked the very first project, which added a scarf as sleeves on a plain t-shirt (with original sleeves removed) or tank top, and the suggestion that one can make a tank top out of a pillowcase, if one is slender enough. I appear to be right on that blessed borderline, so maybe next time I see some gorgeous 70's explosion pillowcase at the thrift store, I'll pick it up.
February 15, 2008
I do not have, nor are ever planning on having blue hair, but I found this book to be very inspiring. I like to make my own clothes, but haven't experimented with alterations or embellishments. This book was a bit of a kick in the pants. Do it! It's easy. It's fun. And you'll end up with some interesting and unique clothes without spending a fortune.
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March 1, 2008Should have paid more attention when reserving new books from the library! I would have passed on this one had I known it was ALL clothing crafts...
November 20, 2010
Not really my style (I hate things that lace up) Still, one or two projects I would consider making.
January 16, 2012
Recycle clothing without spending much money. Full of great ideas.
December 21, 2013
Sadly, totally not my cup of tea. Finished projects are a little too obviously DIY.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews