Suede, one cross-stitch at a time
50,000 stitches. Five months. One Suede album cover. Jo Jones has patience. Lots of it. Jo turned the cover of Autofiction in the most beautiful cushion. "Stitching tunes out the world," she says. "And I am happy to combine two of my passions."
Inspired By Autofiction
“I always wanted to do something Suede-related. The skill I have is cross-stitching. My mum taught me when I was little."
"I usually stitch animals or buildings, but when Autofiction came out, I thought the black and white would work really well, so I decided to do something Suedey with my hobby."
The Making of Autofiction in 9 Pictures
Relax
Naturally, Jo listens to Suede while she stitches, unless her husband is watching a film. "It takes me five to six months to stitch one album cover. It helps me to relax and clear my mind when I’m following a chart. It tunes out the world." Her current project is Suede.
Overly Complicated
Before she can start stitching, Jo needs to make a pattern. "I take a picture and a photo converter turns it into an overly complicated cross-stitch chart. 80,000 stitches is just too much, so I simplify it to 50,000."
Coming Up: Pattern Would you like to try for yourself? Download the pattern of Coming Up. Warning: this is still the overly complicated 80,000-stitch version. ‘It needs another level of cleaning up, but I’ll do that when I’ve finished Suede.’ Jo is also happy to share her patterns of Autofiction and Suede. |
Lyrics Around The Edge
After Autofiction, Jo made a freehand embroidery version of Antidepressants. This technique gives her a little more freedom.
"You can add a lot more detail. I trace the outline and add some lyrics around the edge. It is more of an artistic impression."
The Future
"I want to stitch all the albums. I think The Blue Hour will look amazing. A New Morning might not have enough detail with the CD on it."
"I am not sure what Night Thoughts will be like, whether the cover will get lost in translation. Maybe freehand embroidery would be a better choice for that one and for The Blue Hour."
The Queen of Patience
Jo turned her Autofiction cover into a cushion recently. I admire the result, but perhaps I should start a little smaller.
“No, I don’t take commissions,” Jo laughs. “But I’d be happy to do an online class.”
For me, that would probably have to be an online class in patience first. Jo, on the other hand, seems to have mastered it already, one cross-stitch at a time.
Jo's Suede PassportName: Jo Jones Country: Michigan, USA Suede fan since: Stay Together came out as a single Favourite album: Depends on the day, but today: Autofiction Favourite song: Disintegrate, Stay Together, Trash Favourite B-side: Killing of a Flash Boy, There Is No Me If There Is No You Favourite concert: Newport Centre (1996) / Ally Pally (2024) Most underrated Suede song: Obsessions |
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