In this article, we reflect on the connection between cross stitch and pixel art, born from a love of all things retro and that aesthetic that fills us with nostalgia and takes us back to simpler times—when an afternoon playing video games while eating chocolate spread sandwiches wasn’t a luxury, but an everyday (and very fun) reality.

Embroidery has been with us for thousands of years, and cross stitch, although more recent, also has a fascinating history. From Paleolithic pearl embroidery to 17th century educational samplers, this technique has traveled from China to Europe along the Silk Road, decorated Mexican tunics and survived industrial revolutions and world wars. Today, in the digital age, cross stitch is re-emerging as a creative hobby, with a vibrant community and patterns at the click of a button.