years? Clare Hunter has thoughts on that: “I think the digital age has left people yearning for something that feels individual and comes from the heart, and needlework and other crafts are coming back into fashion.” She describes needlework as a tactile expression of thoughts and emotions. I would take it a step further. People realize that clicktivism and slactivism is not enough. Plus, it’s the perfect, quiet activism for the covid-age and introverts everywhere. It’s also a solution to those who cannot afford to donate money for a cause they believe in, so they donate art instead. Even Julie Jackson admits that in-person protests are not her vibe. “I’m not comfortable in crowds, so I do my protesting online,” she said. “I’m the one throwing rocks from behind the curtain.” Many people I spoke to, including Sarah Vargas of Notorious Needle (see the article
about her on page 4 of this issue!), feel that the 2016 election in the United States, and the events that have followed, kickstarted the switch from stitching a few snarky quotes and some pop culture references, to pointed, political commentaries. Shannon Downey, the creator behind Badass Cross-Stitch, said in 2017 that her patterns “took a political turn and now it’s from Bendy Stitchy sort of exclusively politics, feminism, and social justice because that’s really all that’s on my mind.” Same for The Craftivism Collective, launched in 2008. It brings together like-minded crafters, including those who focus on needle arts, to make an impact in a creative yet forceful way. Whatever the message, stitchers are showing that the pen may be mightier than the sword, but the needle may be mightier than both.
References Stitch in time: How needlework has created huge political and social impact across the world. Murray Scougall. The Sunday Post. February 4, 2019. 7 Fun Facts About the History of Cross-Stitching. Cross Stitch Academy. History of Cross Stitch. Julie’s X Stitch. Feminist Icon Cross Stitch. Anna Fleiss and Lauren Mancuso (2017) Feminist Cross-Stitch. Stephanie Rohr (2019) How Feminist Cross Stitching Became a Tool of the Resistance. Kase Wickman. Bustle. September 26, 2017. Hillary’s Stitchery. The girl-power movement has taken back embroidery—and Clinton’s 2016 campaign is capitalizing on it. Ruth Graham. The Atlantic. November 21, 2015. Embroidery as Record and Resistance. Krista McCracken. Contingent Magazine. November 19, 2019. Wikipedia.org Craftivist-collective.com 22
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