Life
9 Sex-Positive Embroidery Patterns
I’m currently obsessed with embroidery. I’ve collected embroidered artwork for years and always talked about learning how to do it myself, but never actually did it. However, for the past couple of weeks you’d be hard-pressed to find me without my hoop and little bag of embroidery floss, stitching away in cafes and on my couch. It seems like part of my brain is constantly dreaming about new patterns I can try out and because another part of my brain is always thinking about how we can make the world a more sex-positive place, the logical result was a combination of the two: sex-positive embroidery patterns!
Part of the reason I thought of figuring out this kind of crafting was that I was inspired by the knitting craze that swept the nation before the Women’s March. People were whipping out those pink pussy hats at such a pace! I figured if there were that many people who were down to knit pink hats that were based on a homonym, there must be plenty of people who would be into sex positive embroidery.
I’ve seen a few witty patterns over the years that look like traditional embroidery samplers but are actually saying something subversive. One of my favorites is “Home Sweet Homo,” which you can find the pattern for below, because it’s a fun play on a classic cross stitch design. And when I searched for patterns to print and share, most of what I found was cross stitch. I’m doing free-hand embroidery but figured these were worth sharing for you sex-positive crafters out there who are into cross stitch!
Here are nine sex-positive embroidery patterns for your stitching delight!
1Nevertheless, She Persisted
While the design is not explicitly sex positive, I'm including this "Nevertheless, she persisted" embroidery pattern for two reasons: 1. it was created by Erika Moen, who also writes and illustrates adult comic series Oh Joy Sex Toy and, 2. Erika asks that you donate at least $5 to the International Women's Health Coalition before downloading. It's embroidery with a sex positive cause!
Also I'm hoping that Erika will branch out even further and make some of her comics into patterns.
Nevertheless, she persisted, Oh Joy Sex Toy, minimum $5 donation
2We Had Sex In This Room
This one is cute and cheeky and I think it would be hilarious to hang one in literally every room of your house.
We Had Sex In This Room, LiloAndCrossStitch/etsy.com, $3.90
3Thanks For All The Orgasms
Another cross stitch pattern, although this one would make a great gift. Maybe for next Valentine's Day? (Or Christmas, if you just can't wait that long.)
Thanks For All The Orgasms, CrossStitchHouse/etsy.com, $4.00
4Love Is Love
The rainbow motif on this cross stitch pattern suggests that they're talking specifically about queer love, which you know I'm all about. But whether you specifically are about gay rights or you just want to make a general sex-positive statement this pattern runs the gamut.
Love is Love, CraftTimeinArkham/etsy.com, $4.00
5Miniature Vulva
This. Is. Brilliant. I'm 100 percent for a cross-stitched vulva.
Miniature Vulva, MichelleGauthierArt/etsy.com, $7.99
6Women Are Not Machines
This cross stitch pattern says "Women are not machines that you put coins into until sex falls out." Because what's more sex positive than sexual agency and consent?
Women Are Not Machines, hardcorestitchcorps/etsy.com, $3.00
7Home Sweet Homo
As promised, here's the Home Sweet Homo pattern, a cheeky play on a classic cross stitch.
Home Sweet Homo, Subversive Cross Stitch, basic kit $14
8Butch AF/Femme AF
Here are two different awesome gender identity cross stitches: Butch As F*ck and Femme As F*ck. Choose one, the other, or both because you know that gender is a social construct, anyway.
Butch As F*ck/Femme As F*ck, thehomesteady/etsy.com, $2.00 each
9Fancy F*ck
The design is fancy, but the message is simple. Can't get much clearer than that, can it?
Fancy F*ck, Subversive Cross Stitch, basic kit for $14
One thing I’ve realized since I started embroidering is that you can embroider basically anything. All you need is a drawing or a print out of a cool image that you can transfer onto fabric and you’re good to go! So if you’re not seeing the type of embroidery you like here — or you have a cool message you want to do yourself — I’d recommend checking out Sublime Stitching for patterns that you can use to embellish your own original designs.
