Santa Came in January!

With all the holidays this month, it was a so fun to receive an email giving me a gift.  My new friend, Amy Poore, sent me today's stitch and stitched sample.  It's adorable!

I've seen versions of this stitch around and really like what Amy did with it.  It's a fun mix of diagonal and straight stitches, with some alternating directions thrown in for good measure.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Amy used a single color of Pepper Pot for this stitch as a background on one of her new pieces and it's adorable.  I recommend stitching it in horizontal columns to keep the straight lines wrapped crisply around the edges.  Don't obsess with dragging threads as needed as it is a pretty full coverage stitch.  This stitch is great for anything you need to add texture and height to, such as pants, a chimney, a tree trunk...you get the idea.

I've seen versions of this on the horizontal and it's equally charming.  It makes a great ground cover, open field, or even clouds. 

Threads are dictated by the area of course.  But, I do have a hankering to see this done with threads in two different finishes (one for the straight lines and one for the diagonal lines).  I have seen this stitch as a ground cover in the combo of an overdyed and solid thread.  It was gorgeous.

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  60 guides are currently available, with 12 new Stitch Concepts just added! 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!

Sometimes Being Right Isn't Everything

And that's because today's stitch comes from another mistake!  The diagram below was my first attempt at diagramming this adorable window stitch, it wasn't quite right.  It wasn't right because it didn't match the stitched sample, but it's still a cute stitch on its own merits.  So meet the Patterned Cross Stitch's cousin, the Patterned Cross Stitch!

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

My counsel for this version is the same as the cousin.  Use it to help an area recede, such as a sky or a horizon behind a beautiful landscape, or to let how the canvas is painted standout.  The pink area of this canvas was so cute that I didn't want to overdo it.  It's also a foolproof way to highlight shading in a small area.  A stitch like this is always top of mind for water or windows.  I recommend using lightweight threads with a stitch this gentle.  For example, the stitched sample uses Trebizond Silk on 18-mesh.  Depending on what you are stitching, consider Petite Silk Lame, Silk Straw, 2-3 strands of your favorite silk floss or wool.  

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

#stitchingsunday

Welcome back to another episode of #stitchingsunday.  This recently added Sunday theme* highlights stitches from blog posts in current stitching projects.

Today's #stitchingsunday uses a variation of the Double V Stitch I originally shared with you last April.  I love the use of a Smyrna Cross instead of the Upright Cross. The stitcher used the stitch on a sweet Christmas stocking for her grandson.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Today's example used Vineyard Silk and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12).  The original stitch diagram, as well as the variation, along with all other #whimsicalwednesday, #smallspacesunday, and #stitchingsunday stitch diagrams, can 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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

* Don't worry.  #smallspacesunday hasn't disappeared.  I like to mix it up a little.

#stitchingsunday

Welcome back to another episode of #stitchingsunday.  This recently added Sunday theme* highlights stitches from blog posts in current stitching projects.

I always enjoy hearing when a reader shares one of my stitches was perfect for their project. What's more fun is to see how it is used.  Today's stitch example uses the Darning with Backstitch and comes from Amy Poore.  What is even better is that Amy used it for a background and on the vertical axis, neither of which I mentioned as possibilities in the original post.  And I absolutely love it.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Today's version provides more coverage with Perle Cotton and Flair.  The horizontal columns would lend themselves to wallpaper, chimneys, fireplace mantles, tree trunks, pants...anything tall and/or narrow.  

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

* Don't worry.  #smallspacesunday hasn't disappeared.  I want to mix it up a little.

Amy's Stitch

Today's stitch and stitched sample come from a new whimsicalstitch.com friend, Amy Poore, of www.apooregirlpaintsneedlepointdesigns.com.  Her designs are adorable and designed to appeal to a new generation of needlepointers.  They are sweet and easy stitch pieces.  

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Just like her designs, the background stitch is crisp and clean.  The small accent and the skipped row are a delightful surprise.  The stitched sample uses DMC Perle Cotton for the gray lines and Glisten for the accent stitch (gray lines).

This stitch would work on so many areas.  Of the top of my head, ideas include animal fur (with solid colored wool for the gray lines) and a variegated wool for the small accent stitch or a floor with two shades of Princess Perle.  It would make an interesting stitch for a larger tree or even water.  I just love stitches that have so many applications.  

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!