Let’s Move the Needle: An Activism Handbook for Artists, Crafters, Creatives, and Makers

Downey (design and business, Columbia Coll.) is the artist behind Badass Cross Stitch and a longtime activist. When she returned to stitching during a period of personal burnout, she found that her creative work aligned with her community organizing and activism efforts. These interconnecting spheres led her to craftivism, a centuries-old merging of handmaking and activism that has spread widely through online creative communities. In this guide, she takes aspiring activists through a step-by-step approach to defining problems, building coalitions, setting goals, and developing messaging to motivate and engage. For example, she uses a sample community project involving a beach cleanup as a template. Throughout the book, she emphasizes her key message: craftivism isn’t a “quiet, humble” form of activism; it’s an impactful way to encourage social change. Crafters looking for specific projects won’t find them here, although there are numerous examples of Downey’s work throughout the book.