Early Book Review: Cross Stitch Celebrations: Graduation: 35+ Patterns for Cross Stitching Unique Graduation-Themed Announcements and Gifts by Mollie Johanson

Cross Stitch Celebrations: Graduation: 35+ Patterns for Cross Stitching Unique Graduation-Themed Announcements and Gifts by Mollie Johanson is currently scheduled for release on March 14 2023. Learn to create personalized graduation announcements, congratulations, and additional keepsakes for education-related accomplishments. Whether you are an absolute beginner in cross stitch or a seasoned pro, this book shows you how to create highly giftable personalized keepsakes for the accomplished students in your life. This step-by-step guide includes all of the basic instruction you need to learn the art of cross stitch.

Cross Stitch Celebrations: Graduation is a lovely resource for those that want to make graduation (or some school) related cross stitch. I have been crafting most of my life, but I still get nervous and antsy when it comes to creating custom designs and patterns. Knowing what needs to happen, and doing it, felt miles apart. I liked the way the author acknowledged the anxiousness many of us feel and helped readers the tools to work through it rather than dismissing it out of hand. I liked the variety of pattern details included, and some of the suggestions for customization and a successful project. I think that this book offers a great deal of valuable information and would be a great resource when planning graduation related projects. It is not a book I would buy for my personal collection (I am out of shelf space and this is pretty specialized) but this would be a great addition to library collections. 

Early Book Review: Bob Ross Cross Stitch: 12 Happy Little Cross Stitch Patterns - Includes: Embroidery Hoop, Floss, Fabric and Instruction Book with 12 Patterns! by Haley Pierson-Cox

Bob Ross Cross Stitch: 12 Happy Little Cross Stitch Patterns - Includes: Embroidery Hoop, Floss, Fabric and Instruction Book with 12 Patterns! by Haley Pierson-Cox honors the beloved artist’s legacy with twelve patterns featuring Bob Ross's famous quotes and the materials needed to make 2 of the designs. It is currently scheduled fir release on August 30 2022.

Bob Ross brought happiness to millions with his oil painting program The Joy of Painting and continues to spread that joy to a new audience through YouTube, Amazon Prime, Tubi, re-runs on public television, and many, many others. His beautiful landscapes, calming presence, and wise quotes—“We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents”—have become the hallmarks of his brand. This kit includes materials to make 2 designs, along with a 48-page, illustrated instruction book for 12 different patterns inspired by Ross’s quotes. In each kit, you’ll find 2 pieces of cross stitch fabric, a needle, embroidery floss, embroidery hoop, and the instruction book. 

Bob Ross Cross Stitch: 12 Happy Little Cross Stitch Patterns - Includes: Embroidery Hoop, Floss, Fabric and Instruction Book with 12 Patterns! is a well written set of instructions for cross stitch in general, and getting started on these pattern. Since I was reading a digital galley I did not get the physical items that are included in the kit, so I did not get to jump right in and get started. However, I thought he introductory information and each of the patterns were well explained and easy to understand and follow. I loved the chosen quotes, and thought that the patterns were well designed for beginning cross stitchers and will help them gain confidence in the craft  while creating something nice. 

Book Review: Super Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 Fresh as F*ck Designs by Julie Jackson

Super Subversive Cross Stitch: 50 Fresh as F*ck Designs by Julie Jackson offers crafters snarky inspirations they. 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").

Super Subversive Cross Stitch is not for the prim and proper crafter, and I do not recommend gifting any of these creations to those that you do not know well, or would not enjoy the humor. I thought the chosen designs offered a good selection of what one would expect from this author and what the title promises. I thought the grids, instructions, and information on techniques were all well done, easy to understand, and entertaining in their own right. Most importantly I thought the author's encouragement to try new things and embrace mistakes made this book even better. The support and tools to try and create this designs and more, create your own and explore options and your own creativity could be the difference between someone trying something new and sticking with it and them giving up after a few mistakes think they just cannot be good at this. I really appreciated the tone, encouragement, and creativity in this book. While I might not be making these to give away for the holidays, I will be keeping some of these in reserve for the perfect moment and right recipient. 

Book Review: America the Beautiful Cross Stitch: 30 Patterns of America’s Most Iconic National Parks and Monuments from becker&mayer! books

America the Beautiful Cross Stitch: 30 Patterns of America’s Most Iconic National Parks and Monuments from becker&mayer! books  contains 30 original cross stitch patterns, an introduction to each park or monument, and instructions on cross stitching techniques and suggested materials. The patterns include: Yellowstone National Park, Statue of Liberty, Great Smokey Mountains, Washington Monument, Arches National Park, Yosemite National Park, Appalachian Trail, Haleakala Volcano, and many more. The finished projects can be used to commemorate your favorite vacations or to personalize household items like tea towels, pillowcases, and backpacks.

America the Beautiful Cross Stitch offers readers exactly what the title promises. As someone that has always been a crafter, but has only picked up my cross stitch tools again after several years, I have to say I stumbled across this book at the exact right moment. I was able to look at the patterns and instructions both as someone that knows the terminology and sometimes needs a reminder of technique and tips. I thought that the chosen patterns were beautiful, and the information provided about the tools and techniques needed was accessible by all skill levels, but it might be a bit daunting for those new to the skills. I liked that the book also included information and pictures about the parks the patterns portray. This was a great touch to bring a bit more of the heart of those scenes into the final product, and maybe inspire another trip. I cannot get started on these after I finish my current project. 

Early Book Review: First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide by Linda Wyszynski

First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide by Linda Wyszynski is currently scheduled for release on September 3 2019. This beginner’s guide teaches everything you need to know about a variety of hand stitching techniques. It is filled with detailed descriptions of materials and tools, the easy step-by-step instructions for classic embroidery, crewel, and cross-stitch will have you creating and embellishing projects like jewelry, journal covers, pillows, fashions, and more with confidence.

First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch was a wonderful reminder for me, because I used to do a great deal of needle work but had switched most of my crafting time to crochet- mainly because I can read on my kindle when crocheting and that does not usually work out so well when working with a sharp needle. This has inspired me to get back to it and maybe get through some audio books or my Netflix queue instead of my reading pile once and awhile. I liked getting the refresher course on tools and supplies, and think that newcomers to the craft will get a good understanding of the options- but they might be a little overwhelmed. There are so many options out there that I had never even considered and details I was unaware of that I was eager to try something new, but all that information at once might be too much for someone that has yet to thread their first needle. Beginners might just want to take it in small pieces or read what they are interested in at the moment. I found all of the writing to be very accessible and clear, both in the supply descriptions and the instructions. The pictures and diagrams were helpful and were well placed for optimum usefulness. The handful of designs included were simple and well explained- a nice starter set for beginners. I now how a few personalized pattern ideas running through my head.

First Time Embroidery and Cross-Stitch is a nice stitch guide and a good resource for beginners. I would have liked a few more patterns and a little less about supplies that a beginner is not likely to need, however it offers exactly what the title suggests.

Early Book Review: Bless this Mother-Effin Home: Sweet Stitches for Snarky Bitches by Katie Cutthroat

Bless this Mother-Effin Home: Sweet Stitches for Snarky Bitches by Katie Kutthroat is a combination of sugar and spice in cross stitch samplers that is currently scheduled for release on March 7 2017. Laugh out loud fun through crafting is found in these biting yet precious patterns. Katie Kutthroat's warped and witty cross stitch has taken the internet by storm and has been featured on TV shows like HBO's Girls. Cute but snarky, each cross stitch pattern featured in Bless This Mother-effing Home evokes laughter and irony. Perforated pages allow for readers to hang up or share favorite entries, spreading the cross stitched love. 

Bless this Mother-Effin Home: Sweet Stitches for Snarky Bitches is a collection of off color cross stitch work. They are well done and snarky. The combination made this sarcastic crafter’s heart very happy. There are no patterns or charts, but a versatile crafter can figure out how to make their own by following the images, and making them their own a little. Not an in-depth book, but the introduction gives a nice bit of background information and get the reader curious and inspired. I can think of several friends that would really appreciate this style of gift, and I enjoyed flipping through the book.