Let's Move the Needle

This is such a spectacular resource for anyone who is into activism or crafting or craftivism or wants to learn more! There are excellent tips and ideas in here and I love a good Liz Lemon reference.

Let's Move The Needle is an interesting and helpful introductory guide for new to the world of activism craftivists. Shannon guides those interested in craftivism through the steps of becoming an activist and how to grow and learn within that role, centering the role of activism within the craftivism movement.

An excellent addition to any public library collection, Let's Move the Needle pulls an enormous amount of information together to create an encouraging and accessible guide for both individuals and groups. While libraries often provide space for crafters to meet and book clubs to gather, many libraries are now finding themselves hosting social justice and mutual aid gatherings. In Let's Move the Needle Shannon Downey provides a framework for bringing all of those groups together, demonstrating how small commitments and creative engagement can lead to the creation of both impactful art and lasting social change.

Beginning with dozens of beautifully illustrated and inspiring examples of craft based social engagement, Downey then leans into both the process of reflection and contemplation required for authentic self care and the detailed steps necessary to identify and address the needs of a community. Sprinkled with personal stories, wonderful images of activist art, and extremely practical check lists for the organizational process (how to keep a meeting on track, how to fund an event, how to advertise different types of activism, etc) Downey ensures that the reader will have the tools necessary to turn their enthusiasm into effective and sustainable action. While Let's Move the Needle will circulate well in the general library collection, it would shine as the centerpiece of a mutual aid or community action book club, or as an addition to an existing library crafting program that is looking to fill a community need. Thank you to NetGalley for access to this inspiring and informational arc.

Shannon Downey, better known to many as BadAssCrossStitch on Instagram, uses her remarkable stitching projects to bring the causes that are important to her (and many of us) into the public eye. She has built a worldwide community through that work, and this book is a logical next step, inviting that community to step up and take an active part in creating for their own causes.

This is not a pattern book. Downey has a host of excellent tutorials and patterns available through various channels (her Patreon is one of the easiest places to get access, and yes, I'm a very happy member). This book is a manual for those makers who want to become more deliberate craftivists - to choose to use your craft/art/making as a way to promote understanding and awareness of the issues you care about. There is fascinating history of craftivism, beyond the "Pussy Hat", and a terrific section to work through on identifying which issues might be the ones to put your hands and heart behind. This is not easy work, and Downey does encourage the reader to work through those questions in community.

One part of the book that very much resonated with me was the opportunity to think about what role might best fit you in this kind of activism. When I think about sharing this book with students, I know that they will appreciate knowing that you can be involved behind the scenes in this kind of community project if being front and centre isn't your happy place. Caregiving with food and beverages for the front-line creators can be really important in this kind of community, and Downey makes it clear that there are many roles, and all are valued.

Downey's engaging author's voice is very clear in the writing, and that makes it a very readable text. At times, I felt like I was sitting at Shannon's kitchen table, getting some help from her on how to amplify a message through making. That's a pretty great feeling to get from a non-fiction text.

As an educator, I think this book would be a great one to explore with young adult learners, particularly in the context of a social justice club or a crafting group. Helping them go through the process of identifying what causes really matter to them would be a really valuable practice. I have pre-ordered my own copy, and will be encouraging my university and public libraries to order one as well.

Huge thanks to Shannon Downey, Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc.

This book really hit a lot of marks for me. I feel inspired to keep crafting and this book reminds me why. I help support craft programs at my library and love to take the time to teach new skills to teens& adults. Once people have the skills for cross stitch, embroidery, or crochet the outcomes are so varies and amazing! This book explains why it's important to share those skills and how we can use crafts/ projects/ ideas to make our voices louder, to heal, and to share information.

Thank you to the publisher for this review copy!

I really enjoyed the thinking questions. I felt it was more a "how to be an activist" guide than a crafting guide (I guess I was expecting fun crafting ideas?) but truly, this is what we need.