Has Social Media Improved Cross Stitch?

You can walk into pretty much any craft shop today and you’ll find something to do with cross stitch. From kits and patterns to threads and notions, cross stitch has managed to become so intertwined with craft that it’s a byword for the cute craft astetic. And in no part as social media flown under the radar while this happened; instead being the bastion for all things craft in our modern times. But has social media and cross stitch been a good relationship? And more importantly, has social media improved cross stitch for the better?

The Good Old Days?

If you told me when I started cross stitching that it would not only be a common craft, but a social media darling, I would have laughed at you. I remember when I had no where to show my stitching, taking to the fringes edges of the web to find cross stitch forums that would fit a niche that it felt like only I had.
But it was those forums that build the original; cross stitch craze, perfectly timed so that cross stitch history and a global recession hit a sweet spot in time. Those forums grew, moved platforms, and now social media groups on the likes of Facebook hold up to two million global members.
And channels like YouTube now host cross stitch guides and tips to help new stitchers or advanced stitchers alike. And that’s nothing to say of the massive followings FlossTubers get.
But was it actually better ‘back in the day’?

I’m definitely not one to harp back to yesteryears, but I do wonder just how much cross stitch has changed thanks to its social media overlords…

 

 

Accessibility

The first arguably positive outcome is that of simply being more accessible. From tutorials and guides everywhere, to groups of like minded cross stitchers on Reddit offering advice, someone can now hear about French Knots, watch a video and learn how to do them perfectly every time all within an evening. For someone who may have puzzled over shading, or learning how to dither, these techniques are now just a simple search away.

But with this comes pressure too. The ever present pressure to be perfect.
Social media thrives on visual perfection, and small and simple projects can seem insignificant in the face of mammoth epic cross stitches or walls of professional looking photo-ready masterpieces. I’ve even caught myself hesitating before posting a project, wondering if it’s good enough. I still don’t post to Reddit on projects I see as ‘failures’.

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Energy

But with this level of access and scrutiny also comes passion.
Once where there was a massive barrier to entry, social media now blasts funny and creative cross stitch in the face of the younger audience, through clever ideas or memes. These new stitchers are the life blood of cross stitch, but at the same time, this also draws away from the traditions.
Long gone are the days when every one stitched a home sweet home sampler, now small snappy designs and eye catching whit is rewarded. Traditional larger works are overlooked, with many designs now being made for the camera or a quick buck on sites like Etsy rather than the passion for the craft.

Cross Stitch Mistakes

But despite this shift, the new social audience is also more accepting, and honest, about cross stitch mistakes.
I remember when people would chastise others for having a messy back, or gate off basic information as a ‘need to know’. But now people proudly show off their messy backs knowing that they’ll do better next time, wearing it as a badge of honour instead of shame.
Sure, beginners can feel that they’re falling short when others show fantastic firsts, but there are just as many people honest about accidentally using Aida instead of waste canvas or stitching with a full skein instead of 2 threads, and there are always those seasoned stitchers ready and waiting in the wings to offer free support and a kind word.

 

The Rise Of The Cross Stitch Designer

But the biggest win in my mind is that of the designer. Where patterns could only be sought from craft shops or niche cross stitch magazines, pattern generation and design has truly been delivered into the hands of the every day stitcher.
Yes, this may now be in the process of loss, thanks to AI in cross stitch, but designers like myself have a place we can turn our passion into a business. An opportunity where a simple quick click will lead to a sale.
But so can that quick click also lead to a poor choice. AI slop or pattern mill designs and copyright infringed works still plague places like Temu.

Conclusion

So whilst there are negatives to all of these, I have to admit, the positives are hard to ignore. Social media kept the craft not only alive, but relevant and constantly changing. Once where people asked is cross stitch dead? now people talk about sarky stitches, in-jokes, and playful designs. All side by side with traditional works and the slower rhythm of cross stitch.

For me, undoubtably I can see social media has changed cross stitch. And I think for the better.
It’s opened doors, created new friendships, new businesses, and taught thousands a new craft that helps with mental health. But it has also created new pressures, commercial motives that wear people out, and unfair comparisons to masters in the craft.

But cross stitch has, and always will be, one of community. Those negatives are always heavily outweighed by the passion of seasoned stitchers, but the love for the craft, and the busy, diverse and imperfect little community we have.
The hobby no longer hides in the background, and we can proudly say we cross stitch, supported by cross stitchers everywhere.

I don’t think social media has saved or ruined cross stitch. Instead I think it amplified it. It took a simple hobby where with a needle and thread you can stitch a design into being, and allowed others to see the pleasure in that too.

A quiet afternoon with some aida and needle still feels the same, even if now the whole world can watch too.

Happy stitching,
Lord Libidan

References

1. Thiriez. Thiriez Museum. Publish Date: 23-08-07. Access Date: 09-08-25.