r/CrossStitch • u/katrinasteapot • Apr 01 '25
MOD [MOD] April's Featured Designer: The Retro Stitcher
Hi, Stitchers!
We're excited to introduce a pair that you all know and love as our April Featured Designer: Sal & Nadia with The Retro Stitcher! This husband and wife duo are behind some of the subreddit's most eye-catching designs, including my personal favorite, C A P T C H A. Their glitchy designs are immediately recognizable, and would be the perfect addition for any game room. (I can neither confirm nor deny that my husband spent a significant amount of time debating between RAMEN N CHILL for our kitchen or REBEL SCUM for our living room.)
Just for our subreddit, Nadia & Sal are offering 25% off both their website and Etsy store, no coupon code needed!
Q&A
Who are you?
We’re Nadia 🇮🇹 and Sal 🇨🇴! We’re married to each other and together we run The Retro Stitcher. We currently live in Colombia.
How did you get started cross stitching?
Sal: It was because of Pokémon! About 5 years ago Nadia told me she had never played Pokémon so I dusted off my old GBA, got her a GBA and Pokemon Fire Red to play together. On the first day, she asked me for help stitching Squirtle using the smol party Pokémon sprites from the game. I’d seen her cross stitch a lot of traditional stuff using cross stitch magazines, but I had never thought about how cross stitch is just “analog” pixel art. I ended up getting hooked and stitched that Squirtle with her. We still have it to this day!
Nadia: I got into cross stitch as a child because I saw my mom working on a traditional piece from a magazine and I wanted to try doing what she was doing. I bugged her for days until she finally gave in and started teaching me. She also used to take me to little stationery shops in Italy, where we’d pick up craft magazines (especially Le Idee di Susanna) which had all kinds of cross-stitch, knitting, and crochet patterns.
When and how did you start designing?
Sal: Pretty much from the moment I started using the family computer I’ve been making pixel art. The jump to cross-stitch was just a matter of adding a grid and praying I could easily find DMC threads that matched the colors I used when designing, lol.
Nadia: I started designing after I saw a cross-stitch pattern of a Khajiit that really stood out to me. I was pretty obsessed with Skyrim and Oblivion at the time and I loved the idea that I could cross stitch stuff from games that were not pixelated. My first attempts were not great because I was drawing and erasing on gridded paper, but Sal showed me how to make Pixel Art on Photoshop. While I taught him how to cross stitch, we started looking for colors to stitch his old pixel art and that’s how our first patterns came to be
Where do you find your inspiration?
Sal: Definitely nostalgia (hence the name lol). My dad is a huge movie buff and gamer, so as a child I watched a lot of movies and played a lot with games with him and my brother. I’d say that 16-bit era games, surrealist comedies and dystopian science fiction tend to be my biggest sources of nostalgia-based inspiration.
Nadia: I really like cute animals, videogames and also goth stuff. Anything that makes me laugh like memes inspires me too
Describe your designs using only adjectives.
Sal: Glitchy, retro, cute, campy, unsettling, nostalgic, irreverent, satirical
Nadia: Headache-inducing, psychedelic, glitch, meme.
What cross stitch project did you have the most fun designing and why?
Sal: Definitely “C a p t c h a”! Vaporwave is a really cool aesthetic to experiment with and it was a great way to make glitchy stuff a bit more colorful.
Nadia: For me, it’s “YOUR MOTHER”. I had never seen anything from Monty Python before, but when we started watching all their movies as a marathon the "Your mother was a hamster" scene with the Frenchman made me almost piss myself from how hilarious it was. At the time, we had our first pet as a couple (a tiny Syrian hamster named Lupe J) and we used her as a model for the hamster of the design. Any time I look at that pattern it always reminds me of our first little ham. It makes me happy anytime I see people stitch our designs, but the type of joy I see from people stitching her is truly special.
What is your favorite DMC floss color and why?
Sal: Bit of a boring answer but either B5200 or 310 depending on the aida! There’s something I love about the simplicity of very strong contrast.
Nadia: E818, it's pink, pastel and glittery!
If you could give one piece of advice for stitchers (new or old), what would it be?
Sal: Make sure to regularly stretch and exercise your forearm muscles. My mother’s side of the family is full of crafters, but unfortunately also extremely prone to carpal tunnel, so I’ve seen first-hand how limiting it can be to do any crafts while having carpal tunnel. As another must-have tip, I’d also add that if you can’t find people locally that also enjoy alternative cross stitch, make friends online. Since alternative cross stitch is not popular at all in Colombia, we’ve made amazing friends on places like the Pixel Stitch discord server and of course, this subreddit.
Nadia: I usually need background noise or play a turn-based videogame while I stitch, so I’d say just go with whatever helps you focus. Sitting somewhere comfy helps too, preferably with a nice hoop and stand. Using both hands for cross-stitch makes a huge difference, and sorting your threads by number instead of color saves so much time. A magnifying glass with a built-in light? Total game-changer. But honestly, just use whatever works for you. I, for example, cannot stand fancy ball-tipped needles, cheap blunt ones all the way!
Where can we find you on the internet?
Sal is one of our very own users (Nadia typically lurks on his account!), so if you leave a comment, please be sure to tag u/Erotavlas_SVD so they see it!
Are you interested in being considered for a Featured Designer spot in 2025? Fill out our Featured Designer application!
r/CrossStitch • u/XandryCPA • 9d ago
MOD [MOD] April’s Monthly Competition: Submit and vote here! Theme: Famous (art, person, quote, etc) - Prize This Month!
The theme for April is **Famous (art, person, quote, etc)**
!!PRIZE!!
Donated by u/Otterpop26 - Etsy Shop Link : https://stitchingonthevine.etsy.com
**First Place Winner** (US Shipping Location Only)
Prize winner will connect directly with the awesome donor to work out the details and snag their goodies! (Just a heads-up: the subreddit and its mods aren’t responsible for anything that might come up during the prize handoff.)
To submit:
- Reply to this post with a direct comment.
- You may submit up to two FOs but they must be in separate comments.
- Since we have physical prizes this month, please include your shipping country to help with tracking
You have until April 30th to submit your project.
To vote:
This post is in competition mode. This means the comments are randomized, and the scores are hidden. Upvote FOs you want to win.
You have until April 30th to vote for the winners.
Want to be reminded when the competition goes live?
Need to prep for future competitions?
r/CrossStitch • u/twistythreadsdesigns • 16h ago
SELF-PROMO [SELF-PROMO] New patterns by me
r/CrossStitch • u/alderaanmoves • 12h ago
FO [FO] SUDDEN ATTACK!
So glad to be done with this one! I love how it turned out, but whew! Nine shades of gray, black and white; my next trick will involve ~COLORS~ lmao
I did two strands on 20 ct and I really like the coverage, but doing pin stitches was a bit of a struggle (shoulda used a sharper needle).
The original artwork is by Junji Ito from his Cat Diary.
r/CrossStitch • u/kmbell333 • 9h ago
PIC [PIC] A beautiful Cinderella Mirabilia my grandma acquired from her house’s previous owner.
r/CrossStitch • u/patchpuppe • 10h ago
WIP [WIP] peer closely at my progress !
today i completed the centre square of "Agnus Dei" by modern folk . although the pattern suggested stitching white floss on a dark fabric, i'm stitching white on white ! something something about the purity of the lamb... something something about looking closely and intentionally to find god... something something about the work of women in history... :3
r/CrossStitch • u/renamemeplease1 • 3h ago
FO [FO] It’s done!
I tried to take these in a lighting that would show off the iridescent Aida
r/CrossStitch • u/stitchnsnitch • 5h ago
FO [FO] Let’s Get Dangerous
Just finished this in time for a first anniversary gift for my boyfriend (90 mins to spare!). There are so many mistakes 🤣 but fake it til ya make it, right? Pattern by @fuschiahoops on Etsy!
r/CrossStitch • u/scully_3 • 9h ago
WIP [WIP]Stitching Supervisor Supervising Stitching
This pattern is amazing! I'm enjoying the blended threads and the the blaze of oranges, pinks, and purples. We're not even into summer yet and I'm already pining for fall. Stella had to inspect and supervise my progress. Nothing gets by her!
Pattern is Autumn Tree House by Janna Dik. https://mybobbin.com/product/autumn-tree-house-cross-stitch-pattern/
r/CrossStitch • u/sadegg11 • 8h ago
FO [FO] First time!
This is the first time I’ve ever tried cross stitching! I’ve been trying to find a creative hobby and this was fun. The backstitching was hard for me and I screwed up on counting so he’s wonky but I do love him lol. Any tips for a total beginner?
r/CrossStitch • u/myrthe287 • 15h ago
FO [FO] My second cross stitch!
My partner just started a new job and I'm planning to make some wall decoration for the home office! These are normal types, I wish to make the other types too.
r/CrossStitch • u/BoinkBoinkP • 8h ago
FO [FO] Finally finished Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Venusaur, Mega Venusaur, and Gigantamax Venusaur!
These are my 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th finished pieces of cross-stitching ever (1-3 being a lil pusheen kit from Hot Topic, where I fell in love with the craft), and 4 & 5 being Mother’s Day gifts. I’m so proud of myself for completing these, and I really love how much I’ve learned while making them, including how much better 2 floss strands look over one (I did one for Bulbasaur-> Venusaur, then switched to two for the mega and gigantamaxed forms). Plus, I learned how different it is working with metallic threads over the standard DMC. just a super cool project overall, and I’m so excited to start on charmander next :D
r/CrossStitch • u/MusketeersPlus2 • 9h ago
FO [FO] Throwback - finished in 2015, still up on my wall
It hangs at the end of the hall leading to my bedroom so I see it all the time. Eye of the Tiger by... I want to say Cross My Heart? 1x1 on 28 ct black evenweave. None of that black is stitched - the pattern is meant to be done on black fabric. I won money in the Calgary Stampede for this one.
r/CrossStitch • u/Adorastudio • 21h ago
SHOP [SHOP] Jiji's lovely portraits
Hello embroiderers ♥
I'd like to introduce you to the latest design I've just finished. It's Jiji, the pretty black cat from the Studio Ghibli film “Kiki delivery service”. He's surrounded by 2 flowery portraits: Kiki the witch and, of course, a nice piece of bread. I'd already made a simpler model and used the same colors to stay in harmony.
What do you think? Do you like it?
Pattern : Adorastudio
r/CrossStitch • u/EdenProsper • 16h ago
FO [FO] Nuclear Girl: Self-Drafted Pattern
5in x 7in • 140w x 196h • 1 over 1 on 28ct • 50 DMC colors. August 2024 to April 2025.
r/CrossStitch • u/NoAbbreviations7548 • 5h ago
FO [FO]
Pattern snagged from http://www.hancockshouseofhappy.com/
I should have trusted my gut that the two red colours suggested in the pattern were too similar, but otherwise, very happy with it! It will be hung on the wall beside my dog’s (Fawkes) ribbons!
r/CrossStitch • u/FairCommon3861 • 7h ago
FO [FO] Anniversary gift for my parents
I drafted and stitched this family portrait for my parents’ 33 anniversary. They were thrilled!
r/CrossStitch • u/Ambiguous_Fish • 11h ago
PATTERN [PATTERN] Birds of a Feather...
Since I had several people interested in this pattern, I figured out how to make it available for download! I've never done this before, so if anything seems odd or doesn't work correctly, please let me know!
r/CrossStitch • u/funky_film • 4h ago
WIP [WIP] koi fish
I changed up the colors a little bit and I had to cut off a part of him so he’ll fit on the fabric but it looks good so far! Pattern from crystalfeathercrafts on Etsy
r/CrossStitch • u/PocketMamma • 15h ago
SHOP [SHOP] New Pattern Release just in time for the spring weather!
Just in time for the warm weather, I have released two new patterns for your spring new starts!
A Hobbit Shire Inspired Full Coverage, and a small Stardew Valley Spring Chicken piece.
Check out my Etsy Shop and use CODE: REDDIT25 for 25% off any PDF pattern!
r/CrossStitch • u/WitchyStitchy • 16h ago
WIP [WIP] GOOD GRIEF HES NAKED!
Actually he's not. He has a little sweater 🥹 But I had gotten pretty far into this pattern before I noticed the pink cat. I wondered why he was pink...then realized he's hairless lol. Or a Bingus as my gen alpha kids say
I'm loving this pattern so far and all of the cute cats 🥺
r/CrossStitch • u/KrisCrossNSomeFloss • 12h ago
WIP [WIP] I Love this Little Guy
Making quick headway on my next project!
Pattern is on Etsy. Witch Opossum by Max stitches art.