UPDATE: We had such a fun time last night! Thank you to all who brought your questions to the Q&A in the Virtual Labs, and thanks to Sheena and Eliza for their very interesting A’s. Today, Sheena is wearing the free-form, radical, catatonic kitten from outer space T-shirt she made last night, under Megan’s tutelage. More photos from last night are posted on our Flickr stream.
[The following was originally posted on December 17, 2009.]
Why stay in and craft all by your lonesome? Come join us for a used clothing reinvention and swap with The Uniform Project and Megan Nicolay of Generation T — whether you’re in Brooklyn or anywhere in the world. Stop by for our weekly Craft Night in our online multi-user chat room, the Virtual Labs, for a live online demo at 5 p.m. ET, or in person at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn anytime between 4-8 p.m. at 55 Washington Street, Suite 512 in Brooklyn, New York. (Click here to see what time 5 p.m. ET is in your hometown.) Craft Night is a time to make things, sharpen your craft skills, and connect with fellow crafters.
Have you ever done a 365 d
ay challenge? What’s your New Year’s resolution? How about starting with giving old clothes new lives! This week, on Monday, December 21, visit the Etsy Labs and the Virtual Labs for a used clothing swap and clothing reinvention project.
The Uniform Project will talk about the 365 day challenge they’re pursuing to raise money and awareness about disadvantaged school children. Sheena (see at left in the stylish bob) is wearing one little black dress for an entire year and documenting her inventive outfit customization methods with handmade and vintage accessories. Eliza (pictured on the left) designed the frock, which has turned out to be infinitely adaptable. Read our full interview with the Uniform Project here.
This Monday we’ll roll up the sleeves of our used t-shirts and make a project too. Megan Nicolay (pictured below), author of Generation T, will be at Craft Night to demo a no-sew project for turning your old t-shirts into something new and fresh. We’re inviting everyone who comes to bring some used clothing you’d like to swap with other attendees, cut up and reinvent with Megan, or if you don’t have any clothes that fit the bill, Threadless will be sending us a box of misprinted t-shirts ready for reinvention.
If you are attending Craft Night virtually this week and would like to reconstruct a t-shirt with us along with us, be sure to bring along a t-shirt and a pair of scissors.
2/1: Matchbox Valentines with Rachel Johnson of Swap-bot
Looking for further fashion inspiration? Try these links:
Accessorize This: The Uniform Project | Handmade Portraits: Built by Wendy
Will we see you Monday, ready to reconstruct your old clothing? Let us know in the comments below.
67 comments
Sign in to add your ownHeart0Felt says:
Great, see you there!
2 years ago
SewnNatural says:
i'll be there in spirit :) love the no-sew ideas!
2 years ago
VintageZen says:
Sounds Good!
2 years ago
craftscafe says:
i'm working on some bead n'fabric necklaces that i'm very excited about right now, using vintage shirts! i'll be blogging about my progress here soon: https://craftscafe.wordpress.com/
2 years ago
vintagetheory says:
Great transformations. Love them all!
2 years ago
elanvitalanthology says:
Not listed in Virtual Labs yet - what day of the week is "Weekly Craft Night"? This is one I don't want to miss.
2 years ago
BabbidgePatch says:
I won't be there Monday, but this will be a new year's resolution ~ re-create some duds for my closet!
2 years ago
LavenderField says:
Wish I could make it to the Etsy Labs!!!!
2 years ago
missindie says:
Awesome!! Very excited for this!
2 years ago
Ebruk says:
Wonderful.
2 years ago
rockythezombie says:
Loving HEY JOE by SmarmyClothes... sweet threads!
2 years ago
eurolenscape says:
Love the idea of recycling!Great idea!
2 years ago
nowonder says:
whish I could be there!
2 years ago
thebestvintage says:
Looks like fun!
2 years ago
marviii says:
Interesting..a new angle :)
2 years ago
MinceCo says:
i have a few items that could do with rescueing from obscurity, bring on the etsy lab ha ha ha
2 years ago
Marang97 says:
I make most of my creations from old t-shirts! I can't wait to see what's in store for craft night! Thanks!
2 years ago
smarmyclothes says:
Very cool!
2 years ago
reticulateddesign says:
looks like the best of times!
2 years ago
worksandfinds says:
Looks like lot's of fun. I wish I was closer.
2 years ago
TheNightjar says:
this is terrific- one dress for a whole year- that is amazing!
2 years ago
breadandroses2 says:
The Uniform Project is a wonderful concept and experiment! Glad Etsy's giving it more exposure.
2 years ago
BetaBoutique says:
I absolutely love the Uniform project. Would love to do something like that as my wardrobe basically consists only of black dresses + bold vintage accessories. Eh... always there is someone first. But the charity conception is really nice.
2 years ago
Studiotto says:
I'm coming too!! I will absolutely participate to craft night with ed roth!
2 years ago
econica says:
this is pretty cool!
2 years ago
craftpile says:
very cool!
2 years ago
angeldogdesigns says:
so many clever ideas ♥
2 years ago
nicolleashton says:
I am already doing this with cashmere sweaters, and am thinking of how many of my clothes I could "repurpose" into cooler things that I will actually wear/give away. I just might have to make a trip out to NY for this craft night...
2 years ago
Iammie says:
Nice idea!
2 years ago
Bluebrooch says:
Interesting projects!
2 years ago
anemonecomms says:
great article, thanks!
2 years ago
voscoleccion says:
Greta and nice idea!!
2 years ago
StudioCherie says:
Looks like it will be a fun time!
2 years ago
accentonvintage says:
What a great project,wish I could be there!
2 years ago
sage12888 says:
COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 years ago
ArtisticIntentions says:
Oh how fun!
2 years ago
sweethead says:
Oh how fun! Wish I could join you guys!
2 years ago
JenniferCrochets says:
Wow this will be my first and I can hardly wait. It's going to be a long weekend, lol!
2 years ago
glamasaurus says:
Love all the picks. Wish I did this with my school uniforms.
2 years ago
KimsCraftyApple says:
LOVE Generation T. I have already completed a few of their projects...fun to do when it's hard to bring a sewing machine with!
2 years ago
VintiqueLa says:
love this stuff, been making some on my own....what do you think? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37020200
2 years ago
clearcat says:
awesome~! great idea~!!!
2 years ago
saintesmariesjewelry says:
wish I could go!
2 years ago
HempPatch says:
Great to hear about this here! I've had one of their books for a while now and really enjoy it! Congrats on your success!
2 years ago
melaries57 says:
Looking forward to seeing how to recycle t's into another form. You mean tie dye isn't the only way to go?
2 years ago
erfo says:
i'm certainly there! now to find a t-shirt to terrorize....
2 years ago
taintbosh says:
How cool. I usually just wear my t-shirts until they disintegrate. This will be a nice challenge.
2 years ago
MetroGypsy says:
Funky fun!
2 years ago
ricerafferty says:
Generation T is such a great book! I love reinventing tshirts that are too large into something cute and stylish.
2 years ago
MadameKoiteh says:
I think I'd like to come. Can I bring my little ones?
2 years ago
urbanknitfits says:
wish we could join you all!!!
2 years ago
VixVintage says:
I love this! Thanks
2 years ago
orchardfarmsoap says:
makes me want to sew!
2 years ago
tashascreations says:
Interesting! Great way to stay green.
2 years ago
tomatored says:
wish I could be there-sounds great!
2 years ago
purlsofcolour says:
Brilliant! I've been revamping my clothes for years, but this is so inspiring! Thanks!
2 years ago
baconsquarefarm says:
I was in the labs last evening enjoyed it, only problem I had to leave early.
2 years ago
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2 years ago
dafnadagan says:
LOOKS LIKE FUN :)
2 years ago
NoisyButterfly says:
Awesome!!!!!!!!
2 years ago
LoucheLab says:
This was such a fun day! thanks so much for hosting this awesome event! I've made a cool scarf and wore it almost every day since. I'm so there next craft night. Oh, and if there's a way to flag article comments, I'm flagging this ad for Pakistani tool manufacturers above me.
2 years ago
jamiespinello says:
Fun times!
2 years ago
artofjane says:
I love all this re-using and re-inventing! I do it with old wool. The green clutch bag is cool and reminds me of my grandmother's rag rugs. Her generation found a new use for almost everything. Everything moves in circles - it all comes back again!!
2 years ago
keeperofart says:
I make handcrafted silver gemstone jewelry. All my jewelry items are designed keeping in mind the healing qualities of gemstones.
2 years ago