It took my glasses, the iPhone magnifier feature, a window, and turning up the lights in my office to decipher this stitch from my earliest days of decorative stitches. I can tell this is from long ago because it is about as full coverage as a full coverage stitch can be.

My best guess on the threads is Splendor (black lines), Neon Rays (yellow lines), and a size 8 Kreinik (aqua lines) on 18M. The column of tent stitches down the center, underneath the beard, indicate where two edges of the front of the coat meet. As you can see, I used a slightly darker color to make it stand out and compensated the stitch so it matched on both sides.

As much as I love open stitches, I’m kinda thrilled I stumbled across this stitch and am looking forward to using it in an upcoming project. It will make beautiful clothing, as illustrated above. It will also make a beautiful tree that you would like to draw attention to. I would use a solid wool thread such as Bella Lusso for the black lines. Ideas for the two accent threads include Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines) and an overdyed wool for the yellow lines. If you want to simplify it a little, consider changing the yellow diagonal lines over three rows to match the black lines. In addition, consider using a single metallic thread for the Upright Tied Crosses in the open areas.

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.

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 for free the first chapter from my first book which covers 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.

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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog