Have You Read It: Witchy Stitching

Witchy Stitching is the debut cross stitch book by Meg Black, a stitcher who is better known as The Witchy Stitcher. Her publisher, Herbert Press generously sent me a copy for review and I can't wait to share with you what's inside.

Now you might be wondering, why am I, an embroiderer, reviewing a cross stitch book? What you might not know is that 'embroidery' is an umbrella term for all things stitching. Cross stitch, hand embroidery, needlepoint, crewel, goldwork, etc are all in the same family. They're like cousins, similar yet slightly different. If you like to embroider you might also like cross stitch and vice vera.

Witchy Stitching by Meg Black

What is Witchy Stitching?

Witchy Stitching is a spooky and humorous guide to the dark and unusual corner of cross stitch. Black features 25 haunting patterns that showcase her love of the macabre. These projects are sure to bewitch your home and "...transport you to the realm where shadows dance and magic lingers in the air."

Why You'll Enjoy Witchy Stitching

Witchy Stitching is a spooky yet straightforward cross stitch manual (or grimoire, as Black calls it). The book starts off like most DIY craft books with a detailed introduction into materials, shares how to read a cross stitch pattern, how to start stitching, offers diagrams for regular and specialty stitches, and has helpful ghosts provides tips along the way.

To create the unique vintage and antique look to fabrics and patterns, Black also shares how to use beads, paint fabric to look antique, and dye fabric with coffee and tea.

Before diving into the 25 haunting projects, Black also offers an in-depth stitching vernacular, so you don't have to become close friends with Google, as she did, in an attempt to make sense of all the cross stitch jargon.

Patterns in Witchy Stitching are sorted into four categories: For the Coven, Gothic Gallery, Halloween, and Haunted Holidays. For the Coven features witchy inspired designs, Gothic Gallery features haunted creations with a dash of whimsy, Halloween features Halloween-inspired designs with a vintage feel, and Haunted Holidays features holiday inspired patterns with a creepy twist.

Why You'll Enjoy Witchy Stitching

Black combines humor and levity into a macabre pattern cross stitch book. Her personality shines throughout. Many stitching patterns out there (some of mine included) feature flowers and a light and airy, while Black is not afraid to dive deep into this haunted corner.

As an embroiderer who is terrible at counting these patterns feel detailed yet approachable with the guidance and tips laid out within the pages of Witchy Stitching. I appreciated the detailed and close up photos of projects. And even though the patterns spread across the middle of the book, Black and Herbert Press took this into account when designing the book and noted it with a special ghost tip (on page 61).

In each of the project introductions, Black offers delightfully spooky tidbits about the themes referenced in her patterns, such as the history of the Ouija board, the legend of Count Dracula, superstitions, and more. Within the pattern details, you can also find difficulty levels, specific fabrics, and even the total number of stitches used in each pattern. The Superstitious Stitches pattern on page 83 has 1,976 total stitches!

Where You Can Order Witchy Stitching

Witchy Stitching can be found at most major book stores and on Amazon (affiliate link). If your local bookstore doesn't have Witchy Stitching in stock, you can have them order it for you or you can request a copy at your local library so you and others can enjoy it in the near future.