This content originally appeared in the 2024 spring issue of Spooky Little Halloween—The Magazine.
Meet Lindsay Swearingen, the Halloween lover behind “Creepy Cross-Stitch” and “Magickal Cross-Stitch.”
She also just released her third book last month, “Cross-Stitch from the Dark Ages.”
Whether you’re a seasoned stitcher or just want to give it a try, both of her books are approachable, full of gorgeous original patterns, and extra spooky! Get to know her in this quick Q&A.
5 Q’s with Author Lindsay Swearingen
1. Tell us who you are and what you do in the Halloween community.
My name is Lindsay Swearingen, and I’m an artist by night living in northern California. I design cross stitch patterns for the dark-of-heart. My designs are subtly spooky and showcase a fondness for our beloved Halloween.
2. Why do you love Halloween?
There are so many reasons I love Halloween! It fosters creativity: I loved making costumes and Halloween decorations growing up (and I still do). You can be anything or anyone on Halloween! And I took that seriously; one year I was a map of Mesopotamia.
But I think my very favorite thing about Halloween is that it brings people together who are typically considered outsiders. The Halloween community is one of the kindest and most welcoming, in my opinion!
3. How did you become interested in cross-stitching?
When I was a kid my mom taught me to cross stitch with a tiny pattern of a little girl with blonde hair (like me!). My mom had a big trash bag filled with cross stitch materials, which makes me smile thinking back; I too struggle to organize my craft supplies.
I didn’t finish my little girl pattern, but years later as an adult I came across a pattern of an anatomical heart, and my mind was blown. Cross stitch could be modern and (gasp) creepy? From then I was hooked.
4. Where did the idea for your book series come from, and what is your favorite pattern?
I was very fortunate to have my publisher, Page Street, reach out with an idea to do a book of creepy cross stitch patterns back in 2021. I was so excited (and so scared!) — I’d never done anything like this before. I was so surprised that folks seemed to enjoy “Creepy Cross Stitch,” and even more surprised when my publisher asked me to write “Magickal Cross Stitch.”
Writing these books has been one of my biggest sources of pride, and it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have received the opportunity. My favorite pattern has to be my Green Man design from “Magickal Cross Stitch”. I just think he’s so strange and beautiful!
5. How do you celebrate Halloween all year long?
One of my favorite parts of Halloween is making my own outdoor decorations, which can sometimes take all year. My neighborhood is known to get over 500 trick-or-treaters on Halloween, so I do my best to make my home as fun and spooky as possible.
Last year I made an Over the Garden Wall vignette, complete with an 8 foot tall Enoch! My neighborhood goes all out; we share drinks and chat all night, and a couple a few houses down play their violin and mandolin for the trick-or-treaters. It’s my favorite night of the year.
More from Lindsay Swearingen
Lindsay’s new book, “Cross Stitch from the Dark Ages” is now available. You can also follow her on Instagram for more creativity and the occasional cat.
Want to try one of her patterns for free? Check out the end of this blog post.
