Stitching Up Trouble: Tallahassee Trans Man Uses Embroidery for Social Activism

By Autumn Rendall

When you think of embroidery, the image of a delicate grandmother stitching dainty flowers on a pillow might come to mind. Loss Cat Stitchery, however, is smashing that stereotype. Putting a modern, risqué twist on this old-fashioned hobby, the Tallahassee-based makers’ boutique stitches up designs with profanity, edgy jokes, social activism, and support for the queer community.  

Sam Reichard is the owner of Loss Cat Stitchery and creates most of the artwork himself. Until a year ago, he spent over a decade working in the nonprofit sphere, which sparked his interest in social activism. “Embroidery is an art,” Reichard says. “Historically, [it] has always been considered sort of a housewife type of activity. It’s about breaking down the stereotypes of what this kind of work is.”

When he came out as a transgender man, Reichard says he did not want to burden his clients, who were already going through their own troubled times as marginalized people, so he left his position to focus on his own mental and physical health. “I needed [support] in my transition and [wanted] a lot of people to understand me,” Reichard explains. “I didn’t want to put that kind of expectation on my clients.”

As a form of self-care, Reichard rediscovered his love for art and found that stitching was the perfect form of meditation for him. Having something simple to keep his hands busy while also self-reflecting was cathartic, and he began to grow his embroidery and DIY creations into Loss Cat Stitchery. “I discovered that, while I was transitioning, I also had the option of being able to run my own business and help support myself and my family and get a lot of enjoyment out of the artwork as well,” Reichard says.

Being able to “stitch out” trauma from the past, speak out about social issues, and process emotions through art is something Reichard finds incredibly therapeutic. “It’s almost the same concept as journaling or writing a note on a piece of paper and throwing it into the fire,” Reichard describes.

If he’s in a creative rut, Reichard will have a talk with friends or read current events, which empowers him to choose the topic for his next embroidery piece. He says that, if he can’t help people by being a doctor or an attorney, he’s going to use his words to either trigger or inspire the world to make a difference.

Loss Cat Stitchery also does commissions, and, even if it’s not an issue or saying he’s personally bonded with, Reichard says he loves knowing that he’s creating art that someone’s going to enjoy. “I just love all my work,” Reichard says. “I just want everybody to feel loved. That’s it.”

Reichard’s work can currently be found in The Other Side Vintage, a shop in the heart of Tallahassee’s art district. He hopes to soon open his own brick-and-mortar store, where he can provide the chance for smaller creators, especially queer and POC artists, to showcase their work. “All I want to do [is to] support as many people as possible with my work,” Reichard says.

In Florida, it is still legal to fire and end a lease with someone for being transgender, so Reichard says he is thankful during this “really scary time” to be able to be his own employer. “I feel so grateful and really privileged to be able to do my work, have the space to do it, and to be able to continue to provide for my family first and foremost,” Reichard says.

For the holidays, Reichard has gotten a lot of vintage Christmas fabrics to create festive art, but he is also open to commissions for anyone seeking a unique holiday gift. “One I just sold last night said, ‘Santa supports enthusiastic consensual sex,’” Reichard laughs. “I have another one that says ‘All I want for Christmas is dick.’”

Loss Cat Stitchery can be found on their Instagram and website, and at The Other Side Vintage located at 607 McDonnell Drive in Tallahassee, Florida.