Cut-Up Couture: Edgy Upcycled Garments to Sew Paperback – Download: Adobe Reader, February 7, 2012

I guess Amazon knows me better than I do. When I first got the book, I was ready to poo-poo it. It was small and the cover in black and white. Sure, I love black and white pictures, but for sewing ... not too much, ok, i lied. i don't like black and white pics in sewing books at all. Well, guess what? I was wrong, wrong, wrong. The book blew me away-good ideas, good designs, and good to follow. Oh, the designs, it's a "why didn't I think of that before?". I really wanted to hate the book because I paid "so much", but it's so worth it and going to be part of my collection. Even if you're not into heavy duty sewing, the projects are easy to understand-even if you won't read the instructions, you can follow the pictures-yeah, it's that easy and don't require a wild stretch of imagination. I gave it five stars and me thinks it deserves more.

I purchased this despite being hesitant after another plus sized reviewer said that this book only had two designs that someone with a larger figure could wear. I honestly couldn't disagree with that reviewer more. Sure there are things that a larger person may be uncomfortable with wearing, but the majority of outfits are fine. I am a size 22 (and am 22 years old too) and I had no trouble with doing and wearing the couple of things that I have made so far. with the tank tops and things that show more skin I just wear a more modest tank top/a fitted T underneath. I wore one of them today and was asked where I had purchased it from.The designs and tutorials are really easy to follow and pretty straight forward. They're also super easy to modify and out of the 34 designs I can see myself making 30 of them and regularly wearing 25 or so. If your someone who frequents upscale thrift shops (or well ones that are located in fairly affluent neighborhoods) then finding the supplies to need to make the stuff isn't too hard. Even though if your bigger it may take more shirts. If your someone who likes to dye fabric/stud/embrodier then you can truly make some cool pieces that will wow people or at the very least get tossed a couple of compliments.

I've been sewing for a very long time, and raiding thrift stores for special goodies has been a pastime of mine for about 5 years.This book will definitely get you to look at the men's section completely differently. Usually, I'll just pick up ties to turn them into skirts, but this opened my mind to t-shirts, sweatshirts, and button-down shirts.Every project is pretty creative. The instructions are good, but they are lacking in some of the more difficult projects. If you're an experienced seamstress, though, you can figure it out pretty quickly. If you're a beginner, the first chapter will be the easiest to follow as far as instructions go.The first chapter had me blown away. All the ways of refashioning t-shirts and sweatshirts was really a refreshing read. The section about men's shirts was less impressive, but nonetheless full of great ideas. The scarves and neckties chapter leaves something to be desired, but the projects are pretty unique.It's not often that a sewing or craft book impresses me enough to earn 5 stars, but this book is a winner from start to finish.

This book is delightful. The photos are wonderful, the individual line drawings for every step required to make the garments are wonderful, the models are adorable, and the garments themselves are unlike anything that could be found in most stores. I say "most" stores, because I don't travel much anymore and don't shop much in departments stores, but the places I've been in the last couple of years had nothing to equal what I see in this book. I'm an experience seamstress and tailor, but I feel that, with attention to the step-by-step drawings, probably anyone who is interested in sewing could make these unusual, amazing garments and would be pleased with the results. If someone did learn to sew by working their way through this book, by the time they finished, I'll bet they would have ideas for garments of their own design using other thrift store and hand-me-down items. I highly recommend this book to those looking for something different to wear and a sewing challenge.

this is a beautifully photographed book. The ideas are innovative. But, if you are not under 22 years old - and for some of the garments you would need to be under 16 years old - it is not for you. Unless you sew for someone is both. If you have a bosom, there is nothing here you can wear. If you have a stomach or hips - same thing. If you aren't going to be hanging out at the mall or dressing in cool clothes at a club or rave - forget it. As a curiosity and fun book to look at - that's worth it. I make a lot of clothes from thrift store finds - particularly neckties and men's shirts - but they are wearable for adult women and can be worn whatever size you are. I was so eager to get this book, as it's right up my alley in terms of what I like to make for myself.If I had been young (very young) and thin - both, not just one - I would give it 5 stars. But, I only saw one idea I could even remotely use - and it's similar to a dress I made myself several years ago. So, unless you meet the criteria, or have room on your bookshelf for a book that you might occasionally browse through, check it out of the library, don't buy it.

Not all of the garments in here are my cup of tea. But enough are that I feel that the price of the book is worth it. My mother asked me why cut up clothes that are already made to make new ones? I told her sometimes to save money, sometimes to make a garment that looks a way that garments made from yards of fabric don't, and sometimes for the intellectual puzzle and satisfaction. You'll see examples of all of these concepts in this book. And don't forget you can modify the ideas to suit yourself.