“The very warm, human-body curves began to emerge in the design almost from the beginning. At first they were depicted embracing a much more anatomically correct version of the clitoris. But as I worked on them, I realized that echoing their lines in the clitoris itself made the whole thing more visually appealing. Then I anthropomorphized the external clitoral button and hood just a bit and had my very first “Wow, this is it!” moments in cross stitch design.

“And then I couldn​_’t wait to stitch it.”

“Since I published “History Lesson,” every woman-stitcher who’s seen it nods. Automatically, knowingly. An instant sisterhood is revealed.  “History Lesson” is a reminder that misogyny and discrimination have been part of women’ struggle since forever and ever, yes — but it’s also a tweak at those who done the excruciating mental gymnastics to divide labor, somehow, into men’s work and women’s primarily so they can sneer at the latter.”