Super Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 Fresh as F*ck Designs

by Julie Jackson

From the OG of the Subversive Cross Stitch movement (and brand of the same name) comes Super Subversive Cross Stitch. Featuring 50 easy-to-make designs—both brand-new patterns and fan favorites—stitched together with trademark wit.

Don't freak out. Don't make this about you. May your life be as amazing as you pretend it is on Facebook. What fresh hell is this? Not today, Satan.

Super Subversive Cross Stitch is here to provide crafters with the snarky inspirations they love to stitch. The book features 50 patterns—23 brand-new designs and 27 fan favorites—along with easy-to-follow instructions for the beginner and fonts and designs for adventurous crafters looking to customize their creations. It recasts a traditional, dare we say "sentimental," craft into a modern, relevant art form. It's the latest offering in the Subversive Cross Stitch brand, beloved by legions of DIYers. Less messy than graffiti, Super Subversive Cross Stitch allows crafters to adorn walls with political pith and irreverent twists on classic quotes ("I think, therefore I drink," "Let the good times be gin").

“This book reminds me that I'm not alone in being crafty and sweary all at the same time. Pass the gin.” 
—Jenny Lawson, New York Times–bestselling author of Furiously Happy, Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, and Broken

"Julie is the true OG of the subversive cross-stitch movement. Modern cross-stitch design would not be what it is today without her. She is a positive and supportive force in the cross-stitch community, providing mentorship to other designers and welcoming new stitchers into the hobby. I am so excited about her new book!"
—Stephanie Rohr, author of Feminist Cross-Stitch

• ISBN10: 1632173883
• ISBN13: 9781632173881
• Publish Date: 2 November 2021
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Sasquatch Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 128
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781632173881

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Super Subversive Cross Stitch is a wryly tongue in cheek collection of snarky and appealing designs by Julie Jackson. Due out 2nd Nov 2021 from Sasquatch Books, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a fun collection full of appealing and uncensored sentiments for decorating and (potentially) gift-giving to like minded friends. The author has a humorous, nerdy, tongue in cheek style that is definitely not 'grandma's cross stitch' but is good hearted and honest. There's a fair bit of current culturally relevant commentary and meme-referencing from Ace Ventura to anonymous internet witticisms. All of the designs can easily be changed to suit personal preferences (in fact, the author explains that that was the genesis of Subersive Cross stitch - she bought a traditional cross stitch kit for some "art therapy" at a difficult point in her life and changed the sentiment to a pithy and rugged four letter word and found it truly therapeutic and it grew from there).

This would be a good starting book or gift for someone who was interested in learning the basics of cross stitch and finishing some fun gifts for themselves or friends. The first chapter provides a short but useful introduction to materials and supplies. She discusses needles, fabrics, thread counts, embroidery floss, hoops, etc. The photos are full colour and clear and the instructions are easy to follow. One of the more useful introductory segments is a short guide to personal style and altering patterns to taste. She has a lot of good ideas (there *are* no rules, follow your impulses).

The patterns themselves are arranged somewhat thematically: holidays, a world gone mad, self-help, cocktail corner, gifts, and work. The patterns are provided with stitch counts, approximate design size (in & cm), and recommended colors given with DMC numbers. The borders are very simple and most of these projects won't take long to complete and are well suited to small, last minute gifts.

Four stars. Full of humor and lalochezia. This would be a good choice for the stitcher's home library, public library acquisition, or gift giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.