Launching on April 7th, On Pins and Needles by Kamden Cornell is possibly the most thorough dive into magical poppetry I’ve ever read.
I received an arc of this book from the publisher, and I am very glad I did. It was a fascinating read. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about making poppets for witchcraft or magical work, it’s a great book.
So today, let’s talk about why it works. If you’re a witch like me, I hope you add it to your TBR. If you’re writing a nonfiction book, let’s break this one down and talk about why it works.
Thorough overview
The first thing I like about On Pins and Needles is how thorough it was. Not so much in one part of poppetry, but in the practice as a whole.
The book contained a brief history of the craft. Though honestly, several books could be written just on the history alone. It talked about the many different supplies that can be used, from stuffing to scissors. It talked about the creation, the magic, the intention, and all the many ways this sort of working can be used.
This really gave a wide picture of poppet work, rather than diving down into the weeds with one specific part. Which is why this is such a good place for beginners to start.
Non judgemental explination of some dark material
This part might get a little touchy. But that’s why we’re talking about it.
Poppet work can be used for all sorts of magic. Healing, luck, love, prosperity, protection. They are so much more than the ‘evil voodoo doll’ people not in the know tend to picture.
Boy howdy, is that a shitty and racist stereotype, by the way.
However, like any magic, poppetry can be used for baneful magic. Now, I’m not going to openly admit to or discuss cursing anyone on the internet. But you’ll get no judgment from me if you choose to do so. And, you’ll get no judgment from Cornell, either. Instead, what you’ll find is a frank and open discussion of how to make a poppet for curses or baneful work, and some safety tips along the way. That was especially nice to see.
I really appreciated the lack of judgment on a subject that tends to get the ‘light and love’ crowd up in arms.
Inspiration!
Another thing I loved about On Pins and Needles was the examples of amazing creativity that can go into poppet work. Because honestly, you can use just about anything to make a poppet.
This is where craft supply hoarders like me shine! Want to make a paper doll? Go for it. Have a bunch of scrap fabric lying around? Use it! Do you like carving? Carve a doll! Got a bunch of those gems from a forgotten diamond painting? Use them to make a face on your doll!
This book had me itching to make a doll. Or, like twenty. I kept putting the book down to write out ideas. And honestly, that’s my favorite sort of nonfiction book. The sort that has me inspired to dive into the subject myself, and leaves me with a ton of new knowledge to do that with.
Real-life understanding
Finally, I want to shine a light on Cornell’s work with dolls. They make it clear through this book that they have done the work. They’ve made dolls, researched the topic, and seen results from it.
First-hand knowledge is always the best source for nonfiction work. Especially when it’s more of a how-to sort of book. And it’s clear that this author had that in spades.
Overall, I learned so much from On Pins and Needles. It was entertaining, creative, and bursting with inspiration. If you’re interested in all in poppet work, I cannot recommend it enough.
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