A collection of essays on activism interspersed with pictures of craft with attitude, this book is perfect for crafters looking for inspiration to spread their message. Perfect for those who carry knitting needles and a patch saying "this machine kills fascists" as well as those who want to change the world but don't know where to start. No patterns, only inspiration and hope.

This is an interesting book about "craftivism." I found each section from various creatives to be very interesting and inspiring. There are well-known names as well as lesser-known 'craftivists.' This is an inspiring book that makes the reader want to create and craft to help the world become a better place. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I had imagined this would be a book of projects, but it is more about creating an incentive to craft something. I found it interesting and I think it is a good reference book for those of us who would like to craft with more intention.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's a thoughtful and informative read.

This is a great read for crafters who love social justice. It’s a series of interviews with crafters and activists about crafting as a form of protest. There are some really cool people in here, from a member of Pussy Riot to Dolly Parton‘s sibkid (non-binary child of her sibling) who does drag burlesque and curates Dolly’s 60+ year costume collection. Each one features an example piece, often embroidered, and an in depth interview. I wish there were more crafts but I loved the profiles and interviews.

I read a temporary digital loan of this book for review.

As a crafter I jumped to read this. I was hoping for project but I did enjoy the profiles on crafters. I wish each profile was given equal love and attention though.

Not quite what I expected when I picked it up, but not as upset as I would expect. Giving this a 3.5 out of 5. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Like many others, I expected this to be more craft book with some memoir but what I got was memoir with a little crafting. The experiences shared by the collaborators are powerful and really interesting to read. There seemed to be a bit of a bias towards needle craft, such as embroidery, but there were some cute recipes and other craft directions included.

Part memoir, part craft book, part art book, part advocacy. This book does a lot and also a little with essays, crafts, and quotes from a variety of crafters. In some ways this is a balm against everything happening. The author/collaborator/editor reminds us the power of coming together through stitch (that's the main focus. If you're looking for a DIY book, this is not it. If you're looking for a way to contribute to the greater good, this is a solid pick. It does, feel to me, that the audience for this book is going to be particular, but it is a necessary book for crafty folks who need their crafts to go beyond pretty.

This is a set of short crafter-artist profiles, focusing on how they stretch boundaries and ally themselves with social issues. Thought-provoking and inspiring. Recommended.

As other reviewers have mentioned, I thought this book was going to have more craft projects included. Although it's not 100% what I expected, I still greatly enjoyed it; so many awesome voices speaking on important topics, and how they find solace, inspiration, release through their crafts. Worth your time to even just skim through and find some inspiration!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.)

Crafting is just an easy and creative way to add sustainability to this chaotic place we call Earth. I loved the ideas from this book and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy when it comes to print in September!

This book was just okay for me. I think along the lines of several other reviews - this book isn't what I thought it was going to be unfortunately.

This was a collection of voices talking about different crafts and how that person incorporates their craft with a form of activism. I loved this concept! However, the description made it seem like there would be more craft inspiration than there really was.

Most of the sections were short - a couple of pages each, with an intro from the author and a short essay from the crafter. I found it hard to connect with the crafter because of the length. There were very few actual projects mentioned which didn't get my inspiration juices flowing. There were also a couple of collections that were in interview format - which were my least favorite. One section was even an intro and then some random quotes or lines from the person and that was it.

I liked the concept of this, but felt the execution was a bit lacking. This is a short read and I definitely recommend still - but don't expect a ton of actual crafting inspo.

This book is quite different from other crafting books that I have read. The author focuses on crafters who are socially conscious and are trying to make a difference in the world, There are a few crafts projects with instructions for the reader to try, but the book is mainly about artists using art to make a statement. I enjoyed reading about theses crafters and was inspired to try some new crafts of my own.

This isn't really what I was expecting. It's a collection of profiles of various crafters, artists, and activists that the author finds inspiring. Based on the description I was expecting way more craft projects but less than half of the profiles included a project. Some of the profiles had a short essay by the subject, some a short interview, and in one case, nothing at all. I think this would have been more effective with fewer profiles and greater depth. I would rather have had a dozen profiles that each had an essay, an interview, AND a project, rather than two dozen with sporadic participation from the profilees.

I enjoyed Crafting a Better World in the same way I enjoy ordering an appetizer sampler for the table when I go out to eat: I get to taste a little bit of everything, but I don’t have enough to get sick of it. Though Diana Weymar is listed as the author of this book, the majority of the essays are actually written by other artists and activists, with brief introductions by Weymar. I think this is for the best, because when Weymar herself dominated the conversation (as in the interviews she conducted with other artists) I found it a lot harder to connect to what was being said. At times, it seemed that the author wanted to aimlessly wax poetic about her art, or pat herself on the back for the bravery of taking on an ostensibly political project. There was no sense of urgency in her activism. I also struggled with the formatting of the ebook, as I felt that this was a story best told in a more visually dynamic way. I assume this would not be true of a print copy of this book, but it did impact my enjoyment of the book overall.
This book about crafting and activism is absolutely one that I would recommend to crafters, but not necessarily to activists. I don’t know that the book has any real political heft to it, and I think people looking for that will be disappointed. But for vaguely politically-minded crafters, I think this book could be a really entertaining read.

This wasn’t what I expected. The cover sort of alluded to crafts to actually make, so I was disappointed on that front.


However, the stories felt like “home”, like when I read chicken soup for the soul books, so, that was a quick remedy.


Interesting concept!

I was scrolling through Instagram when a post caught my eye. Words had been embroidered on a vintage handkerchief.

I have a massive handkerchief collection. I love quotes and words on textiles and quilts. And what cinched my interest was the political message on the handkerchief. I had to know more.

I discovered that the crafter had a book coming out and it was on NetGalley, and I requested it. I waited on pins and needles for approval. Did they check my bio? Did they know I was a quilter?

I got the egalley and sped through the pages, excited by the possibilities.

I have included subtle political messages in my quilts for decades. The last block on my embroidered President’s quilt is “Hanging Chad.”

Diana Weymar’s first project was a needlepoint seat cover which she embroidered with “I am a stable genius.” “I knew immediately that it was great material: garish, ridiculous, delusional, horrifying, and hilarious,” she writes in her Introduction.

That piece became the first Tiny Pricks Project which over six years and thousands of social media followers turned into a five thousand collection of activist textile art.

Many of the projects are acts of resistance to Trump’s presidency. But other causes are also addressed. Activists are quoted in the projects, and activists, artists, and people from all walks of life are interviewed in the book.

Embroidered on a vintage hanky is “In my life, activism is a verb, so is love,” quoting Jamie Lee Curtis who wrote the introduction to the book.

The book is a handbook that will lead you to make your own ‘craftavist’ textile works demanding a more just world. But even if you are not a crafter, the interviews and thoughts in the text and the photographs of the art will inspire.

My favorite is a tatted edged white handkerchief embroidered with “Reading is resistance.” Amen to that!

Thanks to the publisher for a free egalley through NetGalley.

This book wasn't really what I thought it was going to be based off of the description. I thought there would be more hands-on activities included but it mostly revolved around personal stories from people during the pandemic, the election and other stressful events from the past few years. I didn't hate it, it just was kind of disappointing not to get the type of book I was expecting.

If you're like me, turning on the news each day requires a deep breath and a certain amount of stubborn determination to stay informed despite the insanity. From wildfires to insurrections to racism to war....it just goes on and on. Fortunately, there's a way for each of us to make the world a better place and Diana Weymar has put together this book to guide us on how to take action.
Crafting A Better World is a collection of essays, actions, recipes and projects that are meant to guide us through divisive times. Crafting as activism isn't a new concept but this is a wonderful reminder from people like Jamie Lee Curtis, Jayna Zweiman, the Guerilla Girls, Tanya Selvaratnam and so many more on how being creative can guide us through grief and can form like-minded communities and can make the world a better place. This book is a reminder that activism is easier with allies and that we're surrounded by those allies if we just take a few moments to look for them. As a knitter, I love the idea of the Welcome Blanket Project and as an avid baker I adore the recipe for the love cookies. I look forward to sharing this book with my friends!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book.

I found this book to be very inspirational. Specifically, I thought it was amazing how they sewed and used a photograph as inspiration, they were so accurate! I am always looking for a new craft project and now I have a few ideas I would like to try.