I talk a lot about scalable stitches in this blog. And today’s stitch is one such example.
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Today’s stitch is a taller and far more subtle version of this stitch from 2017. The stitched sample is a background stitch for one of Debbie Mumm’s pots from a club I worked on several years ago. It uses Elegance and Flair, like every other background in the series. (The six projects from the club are here, here, here, here, here, and here.)
And here is where the height of the stitch makes a difference. While I used the same threads in all six backgrounds, I used six different stitches. All of the backgrounds are open stitches (in varying degrees), so I needed more white space between the stitches and that is why this stitch is so tall.
Between the layered X and the three cute accents on top, this stitch also has the added benefit of texture. I love tall stitches to enhance the height of a tall area, such as pants, chimneys, or tree trunks. The added texture makes those areas all the more interesting, in my opinion. Pants would look great with a combination of Pepper Pot Silk (black lines) and Neon Rays (gray lines). I would stitch a chimney in silk floss (black lines) and a very subtle metallic, such as Glisten (gray lines). Frankly, it would look just as elegant if you used the Glisten for the X’s with the silk floss on top. A perfect combo for a tree trunk is Rainbow Linen (black lines) with Bella Lusso or Burmilana as the accents (gray lines).
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IIf you like what you see on this blog, there's more: 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; Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 2 features chapters on Balanced, Beading, Diagonal, Layered, Oblique, Small, and Straight stitches.
Also, you can download The Essentials, a free guide covering basic needlepoint stitches and stitch compensation techniques along with new top-line information on needlepoint materials and tools, how to handle threads, and other helpful needlepoint resources.
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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!