Today's stitch is an obvious variation on a go to stitch in my stitching circle.  It's a really subtle variation that makes the stitch go even faster.  Win win!

The stitched sample is me playing with two plies of Impressions and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid #12 on 13-mesh. The right side includes a small Cross Stitch in the middle of stitches on the horizontal row.  That could easily be a bead or a French Knot. This stitch leaves more room for shading to show through than its cousin. 

This is a stitch for all seasons.  It would make great tree leafy greenery as well as tree trunks.  Roof, floor, wall...virtually any architectural element.  Clothing is also an obvious use for this stitch.  I would love to see it as a Christmas stocking hung by the chimney with care.  I think you get the idea.

I lifted my thread commentary from the original post because it is a good reminder about thread weights.  

The cross stitch over one row condenses the stitch and adds a small level of bulk.  If you do not want that added texture, your thread choice should be lighter than you normally use for the specific canvas size.  As an example, I like to use DMC Pearl #5 or Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) or Tapestry Braid (#12) on 13 mesh.  Elegance or 4-ply floss is a good choice for 18 mesh.  

Truth be told, just last night, I used this stitch with a 4-ply floss on 13 mesh because 6-ply floss added way too much bulk for the stitched area.  It was a great reminder that there are guidelines in needlepoint, but you need to let your eye tell you what the right thing to do is.

This stitch diagram, along with all other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on a Pinterest board here.

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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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 91 guides are currently available, with 20 new Stitch Concepts just added! Click here to see the newest guides and click here to see the entire collection.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!  Happy #smallspacesunday!

A Note about Diagrams
I use color in diagrams to make them as clear as possible.  The primary function of different colored lines is to illustrate a stitch sequence.  For example, layering of colors demonstrates you add them in that order.  They can also provide ideas on how to integrate additional threads (one line for each color).  Or, you can use the same thread for all color lines.  That's where I encourage you to use your imagination for the space you are stitching!