Subversive Cross Stitch [Hardcover]

Julie Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2006

In this wicked little book, Julie Jackson reinvents the age-old craft of cross-stitch, finally putting an end to all that saccharine sentimentalism and giving modern stitchers the chance to say what's really on their minds. Stitch up Bitch in Kitchen for a heartfelt housewarming gift. Spread cheer with the ever-festive Bite Me. Or whip up This Place Sucks for a cherished co-worker. This fully illustrated book includes 33 of Jackson's best patterns and easy-to-follow directions. Jackson outlines the simple tools and techniques needed and even offers encouragement and tips on how to create one-of-a-kind revolutionary designs from craft-store patterns with subversive sentiments all your own.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Julie Jackson's best-selling designs have been featured in the Washington Post , ReadyMade , and BUST . She is a native of Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her charming husband and menagerie of pets.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Edition Unstated edition (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811853470
• ISBN-13: 978-0811853477
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 7.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Needlepoint
  • #79 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Crafts & Hobbies > Needlecrafts & Textile Crafts > Cross-Stitch

More About the Author

Julie Jackson is the creator of Kitty Wigs and its companion web site (kittywigs.com), where she sells upscale hairpieces for special felines. Kitty Wigs has been featured in fashion layouts for Harper's Bazaar Japan and CosmoGirl; and on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 and BBC's Graham Norton. Her book "Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs", has been seen in People magazine, on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and even in the National Enquirer. The book is available in Japanese, Korean and a digital version. There is also a boxed set of greeting cards by Papyrus.

When not fussing with kitties, Julie is also the force behind Subversive Cross Stitch (subversivecrossstitch.com), a modern craft meme that pairs old-fashioned samplers with updated snarky sentiments. Along with the book "Subversive Cross Stitch: 33 Designs for Your Surly Side", her kits, cards and other gift items bearing Subversive designs can be found online and in retail stores around the world.

Julie is also a columnist for Craft magazine and an occasional copywriter/brainstormer for the kooky folks at Blue Q.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 54 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I was disappointed May 13, 2007

By DGKinVA

Format:Hardcover

I like the idea of Subversive Cross Stitch. However, there's nothing in here that you couldn't do with a generic alphabet and motif pattern book.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars It's A New World!! February 8, 2007

By B. Teti

Format:Hardcover

I have been cross stitching for 25 years and samplers have been my main interest for most of them. I mostly wanted this book for my library as it is certainly not your typical sampler. When I got the book I browsed through it and found the cross stitching ordinary. Of course the 'interest' is that the sayings are shocking on these sweet little designs. I wasn't so impressed. However, all 4 of my kids who were home for Christmas thought this book was HILARIOUS and my daughter needed to know -immediately- how to cross stitch! A month later my book is well used and real hit at my house!!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars OMG- I HEART JULIE JACKSON April 25, 2006

By L. Travers Moncure

Format:Hardcover

As a cross-stitch nerd, I freaked out when I came across a review of this book in my latest issue of BUST magazine. Sick of stitching a bajillion bunnies and teddy bears on bibs for my friends' babies, I was pleasantly surprised to find one of Julie's cute designs entitled "Babies Suck". If you are ready to stitch some fun, snarky sayings for yourself and your friends, this book is for you.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Old-fashioned and EDGY! April 1, 2006

By Nancy A. Anderson

Format:Hardcover

I love to Cross Stitch, but the cutesy patterns you find in most stitch shops and craft stores just aren't my thing. Wasn't I lucky to stumble upon ths awesome book where my homey side can meet my inner b*tch. My workmates are fighting over this one. All I can say is if you stitch- - get it!!! Instructions are included and they are terrific.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! August 18, 2008

By R. M. Friesen

Format:Hardcover

All the women in my family are very creative and artsy, every single one of them, except me, I tried every craft that looked remotely interesting and not a one panned out for me. And then I found this book, and I fell in love. My grandmother had done cross stitching for as long as I can remember, but died before she had a chance to teach me. So now I finally have my craft, its perfect for a tattooed domestic goddess such as myself!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wickedly Funny, Stirringly Inspirational and Great UnClean Fun August 18, 2006

By SassyPants

Format:Hardcover

Hats off (caps, visors, tiaras...WHATEVER!) for this delightfully fun and geniously creative book based on what can be an otherwise vanilla (yawn!) branch of the crafty arts. Ms. Jackson (is that Julie, if you're nasty?) has turned her efforts at recreational therapy into a springboard for others who are disgruntled with our world full of pink bunnies and fuzzy teddy bears. Let your creative juices flow after becoming inspired by this new approach to an age old means of artistic expression. I'll be picking up a needle & floss for the first time in almost 30 years thanks to my delving into this lovely little book. FUN, FUN, and more FUN!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm A 39 Year Old Male Cross Stitch Newbie Who Loves This Book June 9, 2011

By David J. Parsons

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is awesome. I recently learned to cross stitch because - basically - my wife commented upon a design that my brother-in-law had stitched for a birthday card that "David could never do this kind of thing." To use Ms. Jackson's own words: "Bitch, please." I got a quirky pattern from another designer ("Crafty Chicks Are Hot" - she is, on both counts) and, with a tutorial from my sister, I set about doing it as a challenge for my wife's birthday. I thought it would take me a month and I'd hate it, but I found it an incredibly relaxing pastime and I finished it in a little over a week, stitching only when my wife had gone to bed. Then I found this book and it was basically game over - I'm a stitching freak. I'm on my fifth pattern from it, and am getting pretty proficient. I even bought spindles and an organizer for my floss. Whodathunkit?

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Subversive Cross Stitch-Liberate Your Thread! July 6, 2006

By R. Straw

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a stitcher. I belong to the Embroidery Guild, and I've viewed beautiful and very ornate cross stitch samplers. I think I must be a little off base. I saw the Subversive cross stitch link off of Bust magazine, and clicked on it. I knew I had found my calling. Then I discovered the link to the book. I promptly ordered it.

What an amazing cross stitch book. Probably one of the best book of charts I own. Certainly they make the most sense. When you've worked all day and been slave-driven, do you really want to work on something ornate and complicated, at home, by a very promiment French cross stitch designer, or do you just want to go home and scream some of the sentiments in the book, while...playing the Clash? Truely, you CAN play the remastered Clash CD's, and make a cross stitch design from this book, at the same time. You can't do that very well, with ornate samplers, no matter how small. They do not have the same feeling of honesty, as these charts.

While looking through the book, I laughed and laughed and laughed. Yes, these charts are for real. Yes, you are allowed to stitch that word. Go ahead, and stitch that word, too. Liberate your thread and needle! Liberate your 28 count linen, and your 14 count aida cloth. Make your DMC scream. Cause if you have this book, you can display how you really feel!