New year, new stitch: cross-stitching with attitude

Posted on January 17, 2017 at 6:00 am

Photo and artwork by stephXstitch. www.etsy.com/shop/stephXstitch

By Stefani Miller

Looking for something new try in 2017? Consider cross-stitch.

Cross-stitch—a once neglected art form (some may argue)—is making a serious comeback with new patterns and a healthy dose of attitude. Out with the elaborate garden scenes. In with sugar skulls and humorous, snarky sayings. In other words, this is definitely not your grandma’s cross-stitch. This easy and relatively low cost hobby will appeal to crafters of all ages and skill levels.

You can find the perfect design with these great books:

Cross-Stitch to Calm: Stitch and De-Stress with 40 Simple Patterns, by Leah Lintz

Stitch away your stress with these simple designs. With only a bit of embroidery floss, a needle, and fabric, you’ll quickly reach an almost meditative state of Zen. This book is perfect for beginners, and its patterns range from nature and animals to words and symbols.

I Got 99 Problems but a Stitch Ain’t One: Cross-Stitch with Attitude, by Genevieve Brading

Saucy attitude meets classic craft. This collection of cheeky cross-stitch patterns allows you to try your hand at this stylish craft. From fierce and funny to motivational, this book has a cross-stitch for nearly every situation. When you hang the finished product, it’s sure to liven up your home.

Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 F*cking Clever Designs for Your Sassy Side, by Julie Jackson
Tired of cheerful little bears and angels on frilly bookmarks? Jackson has just the solution with her in-your-face cross-stitch designs. Tell everyone how you really feel with simple yet irreverent stitching. It’s time to get your sass on.

This design was created for the release of ‘Let’s Panic About Babies!’ by Alice Bradley of finslippy and Eden Kennedy of fussy! (https://shop.subversivecrossstitch.com/products/welcome-tiny-overlord)

Star Trek Cross-Stitch: [Explore Strange New Worlds of Crafting], by John Lohman

Let out your inner Trekkie with these far-out designs. Adorn your home, children, and everything else with symbols, characters, and more from the iconic sci-fi series. Most of the projects have a medium difficulty, but they’re worth the extra effort. So live long and stitch!

Cross Stitch: 12 Fun Projects to Make, by Sarah Fordham.

Blending a quirky vibe with traditional techniques, this title provides essential know-how and design inspiration for both beginners and experts. Skilled stitchers will love the section devoted to creating unique designs from scratch, and novices will find the section on techniques easy to understand.

Twisted Stitches: 30 Corrupt Cross Stitch and Embroidery Designs, by Phil Davison

Sinister skulls and zombies are just a few of the unusual designs you’ll find in this unique cross-stitch guide. These projects range from beginner to complex. As a bonus, foldout charts are provided for the more difficult designs. While this collection isn’t for everyone, stitchers with a macabre sense of humor will enjoy it.

Tags: art, attitude, booklist, books, crafting, cross stitch, DIY, embroidery, hobbies, needles, stitch, subversive