• PDF pattern created by Kate, not AI. "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Text is a handwriting font and hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of golden, metallic rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed as wall art or christmas ornament in light wood embroidery hoop.
  • What&
  • "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Text is a handwriting font and hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of golden, metallic rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed as wall art or christmas ornament in light wood embroidery hoop.
  • Two hand embroidery hoops that read, "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Text is a handwriting font and hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of metallic gold rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed in light wood embroidery hoop. In the background is a second hoop with the same message, with the words in blue thread, gold metallic rays, and a sparking cream linen fabric.
  • Two hand embroidery hoops that read, "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Hoops are hanging on a Christmas tree as Christmas ornaments. Text is a handwriting font. One ornament is hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of metallic gold rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed in light wood embroidery hoop. In a second hoop with the same message, the words are sewn in blue thread with gold metallic rays on a sparking cream linen fabric.
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Short and Sweets

Beginner Hand Embroidery Pattern: Joy Is An Act of Resistance quote (PDF Digital Download)

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Beginner Hand Embroidery Pattern PDF. “Joy is an act of resistance" by Toi Derricotte. Toi Derricotte is an American poet, and this line begins her poem, "The Telly Cycle." I love this quote and hope you find it meaningful as well. Make this for yourself and for similarly aligned / optimistic / empathetic / feminist / thoughtful / hopeful / joyful / resisting / whimsical/ democracy friendly / progressive people in your life! Fascists and dictators don't want you to find and share joy because with joy comes hope for the future. And hope means change. Joy to the world, love and joy come to you, and put this on your Christmas tree or Easter basket or give to your Valentine or Galentine if you're so inclined.

I sewed this golden burst of rays and text on light pink cotton, but many other colors would work beautifully (you can see in the photos I made a second one with blue and gold on a cream linen). I think it would also be fun art on a tote bag, tee shirt, or denim jacket. The 4" size is the perfect size for a cute, easy, joyful Christmas ornament, and it might even fit on a hat. The rays are sparkling, shimmering, metallic gold embroidery thread.

This PDF pattern is very beginner friendly and satisfying to sew. I provide DMC thread colors plus stitch suggestions, but I encourage you to be creative and customize with your own personality!

This download includes

PDF PATTERN DESIGN:

- Black and white printable designs for a 4-inch hoop, a 5-inch hoop, AND a 6-inch hoop

- DMC thread colors I used

- Stitches I used

- Full color photos

Please note: You will need a PDF reader to access this file on your computer. If you do not have one, you can get a free PDF reader here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

This is a digital download only. No physical items will be shipped. For personal use only © 2025, 2026 Short and Sweets

More Information

Joy is an act of resistance hand embroidery pattern pdf
PDF pattern created by Kate, not AI. "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Text is a handwriting font and hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of golden, metallic rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed as wall art or christmas ornament in light wood embroidery hoop.
What&
"Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Text is a handwriting font and hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of golden, metallic rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed as wall art or christmas ornament in light wood embroidery hoop.
Two hand embroidery hoops that read, "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Text is a handwriting font and hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of metallic gold rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed in light wood embroidery hoop. In the background is a second hoop with the same message, with the words in blue thread, gold metallic rays, and a sparking cream linen fabric.
Two hand embroidery hoops that read, "Joy is an act of resistance" - Toi Derricotte. Hoops are hanging on a Christmas tree as Christmas ornaments. Text is a handwriting font. One ornament is hand embroidered in black embroidery thread. Words are centered in a burst of metallic gold rays. Fabric is light pink cotton. Framed in light wood embroidery hoop. In a second hoop with the same message, the words are sewn in blue thread with gold metallic rays on a sparking cream linen fabric.