Today’s stitch is a hodgepodge of stitches that I’ve stumbled across lately. The original inspiration comes from a Patricia Sone background. It’s also a great example of why combining threads of different colors or finishes is a good choice.

The stitched sample uses white Grandeur (black lines) and blue Silk Lame 18 (yellow. lines) on the background behind some butterflies (on 13M). The contrast of the blue adds a nice pop.

This stitch makes a great background. I’m also considering using it for a border with Soie D'Alger (black lines) and Neon Rays (yellow lines). It will work well for most architectural elements, such as floors, interior or exterior walls, and pathways. The best thing about this stitch is that it is scalable. Depending on the space, you could do as few as two rows of black lines and as many as you would like. I also want to play with it on a large window with a lightweight Kreinik. I think that might be interesting.

I hope you have the perfect spot for it. Have fun playing with it. I hope you enjoy it!

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.

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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, 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!