I stumbled across this stitch on Pinterest* a few months ago. I had never seen it before and have used it multiple times since. It looks complex, but is the farthest thing from it. I named the stitch Horizontal Pairs.
The amount of symmetry in this stitch makes it so easy. I named it as I did to draw your attention to the fact each row of pairs aligns on the horizontal axis. Add two stitches over two rows, skip two rows on the horizontal, and repeat. It's that easy! (Just don't forget to change directions between the complete horizontal rows.)
The end result looks far more advanced than the stitch really is. I love it so!
See this Instagram photo by @whimsicalstitch * 3 likes
As for threads, virtually anything works. So far, I've only done the stitch in one color with one thread. The stitched sample on Instagram uses Vineyard Silk on 18-mesh. It would look great with rows in alternating colors or thread finishes.
This stitch diagram, along with all other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on a Pinterest board here.
Be sure to follow whimsicalstitch.com on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
If you like what you see on this blog, want to learn some very creative decorative stitches, and how to put them all together, whimsicalstitch.com sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs. 28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.
Enjoy!
* Speaking of Pinterest, the month of January will focus on stitches and techniques I discovered on Pinterest.