A copy of this book was provided for review by St. Martin’s Press.

Around here these days, I try to stick pretty closely to knitting, crochet and yarn crafts (latch hook, macrame, etc.). But when your girl writes an absolutely hi-lar-i-ous craft book about cross-stitch, you make an exception. Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox is an irreverent, fun & contemporary take on an all-time classic craft. It will have you in stitches, as they say, even if you’re new to cross-stitch.

The book comes with over 35 cross-stitch patterns, featuring everything from naughty gnomes flashing their butts to a flowery take on the F-word. Additionally, the book includes a seriously useful and informative guide to how to sew cross-stitch. I definitely learned a few new tricks from Improper Cross-Stitch, particularly for prepping my cross stitch fabric and polishing finished pieces.

If the name Haley Pierson-Cox sounds familiar, it might be that you follow along with the podcast she, Mollie Johanson and I co-host together, Very Serious Crafts. Or maybe you know her from her days running the blog The Zen of Making, now Red-Handled Scissors. Or maybe you, like myself, were a die-hard fan of CRAFT Magazine (RIP!), the blog for which Haley was an Editor/Contributor. The woman is a beast and has a sharp sense of humor. I’m so privileged to get to work with her almost every day on Very Serious Crafts, and she’s a wonderful mentor and friend. I’m very proud of Haley for publishing her first book, which promises to be one of MANY epic, contemporary contributions to the crafts publishing universe.

Don’t forget to get your hands on your very own copy of Improper Cross-Stitch by Haley Pierson-Cox at all major book retailers. (It’s never too early to start compiling your holiday wish list!)

A copy of this book was provided for review by St. Martin’s Press.

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