I started with an idea about alternating directions of stitches over two rows and one…and did not land where I thought I would. But, I kinda dig where I did land.

The stitched sample is me playing with size 12 Finca Perle (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines) on 13M. Changing the direction of the stitches over one in the same group of stitches is something I haven’t seen before and I see myself doing this again. (This does not mean it has never been done; I simply haven’t stumbled across it yet.)

Clothing, sampler, and sky/wall/background are the first areas that pop into my head for this stitch. For a lighter look (similar to the stitched sample), I recommend 2-4 plies of silk floss for the black lines and a lightweight metallic (such as Petite Silk Lame or Kreinik size 4 or 8) for the yellow lines. For a more dramatic look, consider using two metallics such as Crystal Braid (black lines) and Frosty Rays (yellow lines). When I use two metallics in a stitch, I make every effort to make sure they have unique finishes. For example, I’ll mix Kreinik with Flair but not with Crystal Braid.

Don’t overlook the fact that this stitch, like most stitches, is scalable. I’m already planning on using a smaller version for a cute pillow I had no idea what to do with until now.

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 has books (!) for you! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 1 is a contemporary how-to collection of more than 250 stitches for stitchers regardless of skill level. The book includes updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, all-new stitches, and a chapter on the basics of needlepoint. For more information, visit here. Volume 2 will debuts in January 2021.

whimsicalstitch.com also sells Stitch Guides and Stitch Concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, Sandra Gilmore, Purple Palm, Maggie, and Penny MacLeod, and many more. 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! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

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!