Today’s stitched sample reminds me why I love lightweight threads. Technically, it’s a full-coverage stitch. Yet, I used nothing more than two threads and you can see all of the beautifully painted shading without buying multiple threads or dealing with stark thread changes. It just makes me so happy.

This is a project from forever ago, so my best guesses on threads are a single strand of DMC Floche (black lines) and a size 4 gold Kreinik (yellow lines) on 18M. The stitch is a straightforward pattern of diamonds wrapped with Chevron-esque borders. The lightweight threads add a simple elegance, allowing the shading to shine.

DMC Floche should never be confused with cotton floss. Floche is a single-strand cotton thread with a slight sheen because it is mercerized. I typically use 1-2 strands depending on the mesh size and the end result I am looking for. It’s an all-around great thread for embroidery and needlepoint. You can read more about it here. (Mary Corbet is my embroidery queen. She has taught me a ton about threads and techniques.)

So, back to the stitch. We’ve seen its value as an “open” stitch with lightweight threads. Truth be told, it also makes a legit full-coverage stitch with heavier threads. It will make a smart jacket with Pepper Pot Silk or Vineyard Silk for the black lines and a heavier Kreink for the yellow lines. I also like the idea of overdyed floss for the yellow lines and a complementary solid silk floss for the black lines for the leaves on a medium to large tree.

As you are auditioning stitches (from any stitch source), count the number of canvas threads on the diagram that match your mesh size. And there you have what an inch of the stitch will look like. Evaluate that against the area where you plan to use the stitch and make your final decision. If you start integrating this step into your stitch selection process, you may be surprised at how many stitches you think are large are much smaller than you realize.

By (sometimes) including this step in my own process, I find I am now integrating much longer stitches than I ever thought I would. I used to think a stitch six rows long was super big. I have very much changed my tune, which has helped me expand my creativity, especially for large-space stitches.

Today’s 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, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of four books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 200 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.

New to needlepoint or looking for a refresher? Please download a handy how-to 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.

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, the layering of colors demonstrates you add them in that order.  They can also provide ideas on integrating 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!