There are almost 900 different Pokemon in the Pokemon franchise as of writing, and each of them has a number for easy identification in the Pokedex. The Pokemon listed as number one is Bulbasaur, one of the first and most beloved pocket monsters created. Bulbasaur's popularity and cute design have made it a favorite for costumes and custom designs, but one Pokemon fan recently created an adorable holiday Bulbasaur design for their cross-stitch.
Bulbasaur, known as the Seed Pokemon, is the grass-type starter found in the Kanto region. Its design has two main features: a body that resembles a mix between a small monitor lizard and a large frog, and a large plant bulb positioned on the creature's back like a turtle shell. The bulb gradually opens into a flower as the Pokemon evolves, which has inspired many artists to put their own spin on Bulbasaur.
Redditor Moomin1401 created a seasonal Bulbasaur design by replacing the bulb with a decorated Christmas tree sprouting from the Pokemon's back. The artist gave Bulbasaur a big smile and then captured this image in a cross stitch, which they are reportedly giving as a Christmas gift. This isn't the first time a Pokemon fan has created a seasonal variant of Bulbasaur, but it may be one of the most festive.
Cross stitch is a form of counted thread embroidery that has been around for a very long time and is currently making a comeback in popularity. The crafter stretches a piece of fabric filled with small holes over a wooden or plastic frame to hold it taut and counts out stitches using a chart. The result often resembles a piece of pixel art, which is especially fitting when creating video game fan art. Moomin1401's decision to replace Bulbasaur's bulb with a Christmas tree takes inspiration from other fan art replacing Bulbasaur's bulb with a variety of plants, foods, or objects.
As of writing, it appears that other fans have given Moomin1401's take on Bulbasaur a warm reception. Several fans of Bulbasaur congratulated the cross stitch design for its creativity and execution. One user even announced that finding this post was a sign that they should dedicate themself to learning cross stitch in 2022. Moomin1401 gave them some advice about learning the craft, but warned them that it was an expensive hobby. Several other users also expressed a wish to learn cross stitch so they could make their own Christmas Bulbasaurs. One Pokemon fan even dubbed this variant of Bulbasaur "Baublesaur," which is a clever name for a great design.