March 31, 2007I think you can guess where I'm going with thisTo say that I've been working a lot lately would be the understatement of the year. I've had time to pick up my knitting only once this week (and it wasn't pretty, folks - I sewed the front of Moxie's Man Hood directly to the back when I intended to sew it to the sleeve. We'll deal with that later!) In such times, I find that I begin to build up a bit of aggression that needs a constructive outlet (lest I drive sweet Moxie to divorce). Normally this outlet would be a hike or a run or one of those great sessions with a bunch of other crazy people on a spin bike. However, when you get home after dark when the gym classes have concluded on a Friday night, no such outlet exists. 
The Hoolia gets all subversive with her cross stitch. Instead, I turned to crafting. Let me just say upfront that I am not a cross-stitcher. This is, in fact, the only cross stitching I have ever done in my entire life. Cross stitching is the last thing that I ever thought I'd be caught doing, and when I was in Phoenix a few weeks ago and my friends there were singing its praises, I have to admit that I was listening to their exclamations because I was feeling indulgent and loving toward them, and not because I actually found the topic fascinating. Then last weekend, when Marnie was in town, we hit a fantastic sale at Black Sheep Knittery - 50% off everything - books, notions, yarns, everything everything. (It runs through this weekend. If you are in the LA area and can spend a little - go! If you are easily tempted and broke - stay far away!) And I saw this book, and for some reason, probably the promise of the word "subversive," began flipping through it. I laughed my butt off in the store, and since it was 50% off, I bought the thing. When I got it home, I feared that perhaps I had made a hasty purchase (I don't like to misallocate the spending of even a paltry $7), but when I flipped through it again, I was not any less giggly than the first time. Okay, let's be honest. I guffawed. I sat in the girls' room and made Marnie listen to each and every one of these cross stitch sayings twice as I laughed hysterically. (Who's being indulgent now?) They really just hit my funny bone, you know. The saccharine sweet teddy bear next to the words "kill me now" just did it for me. I am not a converted cross stitcher. In the end, I will probably make one or two of these as gifts and then be done with it. It is hard on my weary eyes, and so far only gives me limited pride in return for my hour of diligence. But I am very happy I bought the book. It totally cracks me up! Now I can go back to work... Posted by Julia at March 31, 2007 06:37 AMIn cross stitch | main | sewing
Comments
OMG! I love the Subversive Crosstitch. I can't wait to get the book. There are so many patterns that I want to do. Also love your patterns on Knitty. Best, Devon Posted by: Devon at April 5, 2007 09:18 PMI bought the book last year (with a 40%-off Borders coupon- you win!) and it was well worth the money. I used to x-stitch a lot so I had a ton of floss and cloth laying around for my girls (6, 15, 22, & 23) to use while they howled and stitched their way thru several projects in the book. "Be my bitch" for the 23yo's BF (his mother thought it was hilarious, his dad didn't get it), a set of *uck fingertip towels for my sister (for whom *uck is the ultimate all-purpose word- look! it works as a noun, verb, adjective!!) lovingly done by my 22yo, "Homo, Sweet Homo" worked as a housewarming gift by my 15yo for a couple who borrowed my daughters when they wanted to go to kid movies and needed a kid or when they wanted an excuse to host a girly tea party. My 6yo stuck with the cute flowers and butterflies, sans words. :) It's also a great coffee table book. I love the "snort laughs" it triggers when someone picks it up and starts to idly leaf thru it. Hmmm- I feel a quick project coming on. Posted by: Tish at April 5, 2007 09:52 AMoops - p.s. -- you should put your photo of work in progress up on Flickr at the Subversive Cross Stitch group! Posted by: Julie Jackson at April 4, 2007 02:18 PMI found your blog because of all the readers you've sent to my site - thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book, your post about it was fun to read. It cracked me up when I wrote it, but then I'm always cracking myself up so I never know if it's just me! Glad you're having fun with it -- come back by the site and show me what you make! xo Julie Posted by: Julie Jackson at April 4, 2007 02:17 PMuck. LOL. well at least you have a place for your aggression. Posted by: Orli at April 4, 2007 04:44 AMsubversion makes me happy...there is just not enough of it going around. now why did you have to go and mention a sale that i cannot make it to, despite being tantalizingly close to me.like i need to spend any more money on yarn, etc. but just the thought...i could send t with instructions to buy, or just wait til their next. sorry about work, sounds hectic and demanding but just focus forward to the yose-mite. Posted by: mamie at April 1, 2007 09:41 AMI used to be a rabid cross stitcher - even had my own design company. Then one day i decided to pick up my knitting needles as a break from those tiny stitches - never went back :-) Posted by: Janine at April 1, 2007 02:33 AMSounds like fun. I was an avid cross stitcher back in the days before I am an obsessive knitter. Sadly, UFOs are as prevalent in cross stitching as it is in knitting. I still have a sad tropical fish scene somewhere waiting to be finished. Have fun with the subversive cross stitching! Posted by: connie at March 31, 2007 03:32 PMI like that book too. I think your $7 was well invested. Posted by: LaurieM at March 31, 2007 12:49 PMI am dying to go over to Black Sheep on Sunday, but I just can't..Kat is back, so I could, but I'm not. I would love a few books. NO! do not go!!! Posted by: Edna Hart at March 31, 2007 11:09 AMOh boy! I can't believe you gave in and started working on one. The finished piece is going to be great. :D Miss this girls' room already. Give the kitties some scratches for me. Posted by: Marnie at March 31, 2007 10:57 AMThanks for the link! Those are hilarious... and I can see you doing those kits, for sure! I've been reading them to Jacob and we're both laughing over here. I'm totally cracking up at the "Pussy got my Dizzay" and the "Beeyatch" patterns. Oh my word! I love it. Posted by: Mary-Heather at March 31, 2007 10:01 AMThe best thing about cross stitch patterns is that they're knitting patterns in disguise. Posted by: Dawn at March 31, 2007 09:07 AMSome friends and I went to the craft boutique store and I saw that same book. One of our friends is an avid cross-sticher and her birthday was coming up. We had to get this for her. I loved it so much. Like you, all of the hearts and flowers, teddy bears and then some crazy phrase which is not what you would expect. We were cracking up in the store and I went home to tell my bf about it and he just didn't get it. As I was reading them off to him, I was cracking up again and again. I'm almost tempted to get it for myself just because it's so funny. Whether or not I will ever cross-stich remains to be seen. Posted by: Wanda at March 31, 2007 08:28 AM |