Super Subversive Cross Stitch

by Julie Jackson

[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.