Self-promotion / Shop Owner's FAQ

The goal of this FAQ is to help users adhere to the r/CrossStitch subreddit rules regarding self-promotion

Where can I find the most up-to-date information on how to interact with the subreddit as a shop owner?

It is this FAQ. There are other posts out there on reddit. Consider this FAQ the info you should use.

Can I advertise my store on this subreddit?

No. 

When you signed up for Reddit, you agreed to its content policy and user agreement. In those agreements, you agreed not to use Reddit as a free advertising platform. Read more about these rules.

You may purchase a targeted advertising plan via Reddit Ads.

Can I post links to my Social Media? (Facebook group, Discord Server, Flosstube, Instagram, Blog, TikTok, etc?)

No.  Any link that goes to your own Social Media is self-promotion. While we sometimes use the terms 'shop' and 'store', the rules apply to all forms of self-promotion where you're leading people to your own content outside of /r/CrossStitch.  It doesn't matter if you are selling anything or making any money. Note that the [SELF-PROMO] tag is now live, but we may still have references to 'shop' or 'store'. Please let us know if you see them and always assume we're talking about all forms of self-promotion whether someone is making money off of it or not.

But how can I share my store or content on this subreddit?

We provide users many ways to share their stores.

• You may sign up for the Continuous Craft Fair. This is a collection of stores owned and run by reddit users.

• Once per month you may make a post that will contain a link to your own shop or content using the [SELF-PROMO] tag.

• You may donate a prize to the Monthly Competition.

• Once per month you may share a free pattern [PATTERN]. The pattern must be free. You may not ask users to sign up for a mailing list to get the free pattern.

• You may ask to be the Featured Artist. Your store must follow certain guidelines.

No matter how you choose to interact with the subreddit, you must follow the 90/10 rule.

What is the difference between share and advertise?

By sharing, you are part of the community. You post your own items but you also frequently comment on other people's projects, give advice, and/or participate in the subreddit so other users see you as part of the community. By advertising, you are posting only things related to you and your store, and users see you more as a "commercial" rather than as a member of the community.

I want to post something and put my shop's name in the post. Is this okay?

Maybe. If your posts are constantly reported to us as spam, we will send you a message and tell you to not do that anymore.

Just to be safe, put your shop info in the comments. We find shop owners who put the shop info in the comments are more highly upvoted than those with the info in the title - that's a good thing for you! Get those upvotes!

I need to watermark my pictures so they don't get stolen. Is this okay?

Watermarks are ok as long as they reference your Reddit username in the format u/username. If your watermark leads people to your own content outside of Reddit, it is self-promotion and should be tagged [SELF-PROMO].

What if I don’t want to be part of the community? That sounds like a lot of work!

You may buy targeted ads through the reddit ad marketplace.

Do I have to follow all of /r/CrossStitch’s rules on all of reddit?

No. We only look at your behavior and interactions on /r/CrossStitch.

What is the 90/10 rule?

For every one post or comment you make that shares your store on /r/CrossStitch, you must interact with the /r/CrossStitch subreddit in nine ways that are not related to your store. For example, you may post a comment on another user’s post. You may post a [WIP] or [FO] that is designed by someone else, as long as you're not selling anything else in your post or linking to your own store/content there. We have archived a previously posted PSA with examples that may be helpful for you to learn our expectations.

This subreddit is a community of stitchers. The 90/10 rules exists to help you become a member of the community. We only consider posts and comments on /r/CrossStitch. We're glad to have community members who happen to have a store, as long as they treat us like friends and not a captive audience for promotion.

Other users comment on my posts and I reply to those comments. How are these comments related to the 90/10 rule?

They do not count in the 90/10 rule. They neither promote your shop nor create a sense of community not related to your shop.

Can I share finished cross stitch pieces?

• Yes, but you are limited to once a month and you must use the [SELF-PROMO] tag. (For ease of moderation, we use 'one month since you last posted'. So, for example, if you posted on December 1, you can post again on January 1. )

• You may share finished pieces that are stitched.  Do not post digital mock-ups.

• If someone else stitched it, please credit them.

• You may reply to your post with a comment that links to your store to satisfy rule 4.  

• Do not put the link to your shop in the title. It is hard to follow links in reddit titles.

• If you want to showcase multiple finished objects, create one post with multiple photos. You don't have to link each stitched object individually in your comment. 

• You may not use 'self-drafted' to bypass self-promotion rules, especially regarding frequency.

How do I follow rule 4 and rule 6 at the same time?

Rule 4 is cite your pattern source. If your source is your own pattern that you sell, you must use the [SELF-PROMO] tag and follow rule 6. The key is transparency - if you are promoting your own content, people need to know that before they open your post, by clearly identifying it in the post title. Yes, this does mean that you can't post FOs of your own designs and you're limited to one post a month for your own designs. 

Can I share finished digital mock ups of cross stitch patterns using the [SELF-PROMO] tag?

No.

Can I share works in progress [WIP]?

Yes, with a big IF. If you're stitching someone else's design and you're not selling anything related to it and are not leading people to your own content. However, if you're selling something in the pic (including, but not limited to: the pattern, the FO, the needleminder, the floss bobbins, etc), or if you're linking to your own content (including, but not limited to: Instagram, Flosstube, blogs, etc.), you are limited to once per month and you must use the [SELF-PROMO] tag. This is only for projects made by you with thread and fabric. Do not link to your store or mention your store in the title. Again, it's about transparency. If you're trying to entice people to your own content, it needs to be tagged as self-promotion.

That's not fair! I want to post WIPs of my own designs! You're punishing me because I have a shop!

While we can understand that point of view, we are not a platform for you to sell products, promote your brand, or do market research.

Can I share limited-time sales, giveaways, coupon codes, store opening, store closing, instagram feed, stitch-a-long, etc. using the [CHAT], [FO], [WIP], [PATTERN], [PIC], or [VIDEO] tag?

No.

Can I ask for sample stitchers (people who will stitch my pattern and give me a photo of the final finished piece)?

Yes, but you must pay your sample stitchers. You may not ask for stitchers to work for you in exchange for free patterns.

Can I share a digital pattern that I am making that is a “work in progress” using the [WIP] tag or a “finished object” using the [FO] tag?

No. If you would like a critique of your designs, try asking /r/Design_Critiques or /r/CraftyCommerce.  We do not allow market research.

Can I ask for feedback on my patterns, store layout, which storefront to use, how to set up a storefront, what I should design next, etc.?

No. Use /r/Etsy, /r/Design_Critiques or /r/craftycommerce.  We do not allow market research.

Can I post a cross stitch pattern?

Yes. Use the [PATTERN] tag. The piece must be 100% free. You must offer the pattern directly. Do not ask users to sign up for a mailing list in exchange for the free pattern. You must not require a physical shipping address.  You may use the website GumRoad, as this is what our resident free monthly pattern design uses. Other suggestions are google drive, imgur, dropbox, etc. 

Can I host a stitch a long (SAL) to advertise my shop?

No, but feel free to send modmail and ask to have your SAL added to our ongoing list. 

I would like to share a free pattern. How does that count in the 90-10 rule?

Sharing a freebie counts towards the 10 part of the 90-10 rule. While we all love it when designers share freebies, at this time we're counting it towards self-promotion. 

Can you add my pattern to the “free patterns” tab?

No.

How can I donate a prize to the monthly competition?

Message the mod team. 

Donating a prize means you pay shipping to the winner. Winners can be all over the world; international shipping can be expensive.

How do I sign up for the Continuous Craft Fair?

Click "Apply for the Continuous Craft Fair" on this page.

Why isn’t my shop showing up on the Continuous Craft Fair?

We add new shops to the fair by hand. You may contact the mod team via modmail if it has been longer than a month since you applied.

How can I become the Featured Artist?

You must have 30 or more patterns in your store. You must not have patterns stolen from other creators. You must follow the rules of the subreddit.

Contact the mod team via modmail to apply.

Why wasn’t I chosen as a Featured Artist?

Please message the mod team and ask.

Do I have to post cross stitch related things on /r/CrossStitch? I also crochet, embroider, knit, cook, have a cute puppy, etc.

Yes.

How do I use reddit?

Please refer to the Reddit FAQ.

Why did you send me a message saying I broke the rules? I didn’t know the rules! I just joined reddit!

When you signed up for reddit, you agreed to its content policy and user agreement. In these agreements, it outlines you are responsible for following the rules of reddit and the subreddits you participate in. Being new to reddit does not excuse you from following the rules. Read and review our rules.

I read your rules and found a loophole I can exploit. Can I argue exhaustively with you about how you did not explicitly say I could not do this?

No. That's actually a good way to get suspended from our subreddit.

I saw another user who doesn’t follow these rules. What do I do?

Report the content or message the mod team.

You didn’t answer my question. What do I do?

Message the mod team.