Swoopy Scallops

July 13, 2022 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch was a fun little diversion from my plan for an area…and I love it.

Click image to see the **whimsicalstitch.com Stitch Library** on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

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The stitched sample is the burly chest on a turkey from a soon-to-be-announced Stitch Concept. It uses four plies of Belle Soie silk (black lines) and two strands of Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines) on 13M.

I love using scallop stitches for water, backgrounds, and household objects such as vases. I prefer metallic threads (Kreinik, Treasure Braid, or Petite Silk Lame) for water AND to skip a row between the blocks of stitches. The openness that emerges from the skipped rows adds a lightness to the water and metallic threads are simply an obvious choice.

Scallops can also mimic fish…or mermaid…scales. If I’m working on a glamorous fish or mermaid, I like to add beads as one of the stitch blocks. For example, I would replace the aqua lines in the diagram above with a single bead over two rows on the vertical. (And, yes, there is such a thing as a glamorous fish…this is needlepoint, after all.)

Click on image to see the **whimsicalstitch.com Stitch Library** on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Just a reminder about how to evaluate stitches for size on your project. As you are auditioning stitches (from my blog, books, or any other stitch source), count out 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 are planning 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 and this 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 three books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 250 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. All three books include chapters on Balanced, Diagonal, Layered, Oblique, Small, and Straight stitches. Volume 1 also includes a chapter on Borders. Volume 2 includes a chapter on Beading, and Volume 3 includes a chapter on Tent Pattern Stitches. Any or all are a great enhancement to your stitch library. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.

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!

Hello Gorgeous

June 28, 2022 whimsicalstitch

There is something to be said for dramatic colors against a white background. I’m having a little fun test driving some background stitches for a Santa standup. Truth be told, I’m not sure if I like the stitch or the color combo better.

I’m playing with two plies of Splendor (black lines) and a size 8 Kreinik (yellow lines) on 18M for today’s stitched sample. I navigated around the white space by stitching the blocks of diamonds across the horizontal. I added the groups of three stitches making sure I always started at the bottom of a group of stitches to keep the center(s) clear of dragged threads. I added the gold stitches in vertical columns, weaving the gold Kreinik around the red Splendor on the back, dutifully avoiding the open space.

As I mentioned, I’m test driving background stitches. You may be surprised to learn this stitch is too small for the piece I’m working on. (I was certainly surprised.) But this is a great opportunity to share a way I could have determined that before I stitched the sample.

As you are evaluating stitches (from my blog, books, or any other stitch source), count out 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 are planning 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.

And now back to today’s actual stitch.

Today’s stitch will make a beautiful background on a 18M round ornament with a simple design, like a cute saying. Consider using a size 8 Kreinik (black lines) with 2-3 plies of silk thread (yellow lines) for an extra pop of sparkle. I suspect it will make a very pretty roof with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and a more mild metallic like Silk Lame (yellow lines). I’m also looking forward to using it for some beautifully shaded clothing, such as a Santa’s coat. What a perfect way to draw attention to the coat all the while showing off the beautiful artistry of needlepoint designers.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Keeping Santa Warm & Dry

December 19, 2021 whimsicalstitch

As promised, today’s #stitchingsunday introduces you to the very smartly dressed Santa from my tree. Today’s stitch is from a forever ago blog post and is also included on page 203 of my first book.

Click image to see the **whimsicalstitch Stitch Library** on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Today’s stitched sample is a Santa roll-up from my early days of decorative stitching. The stitched sample uses Neon Rays (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines). The original blog post presents this same stitch on the horizontal, so it’s kinda fun to see the different looks. It’s a fantastic small space stitch. I talk a little about how to navigate the extra bulk this stitch can add, which can be a great feature for certain stitch 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.

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 has a book for you! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches 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. For more information, visit here. Retailers carrying the book can be found here.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Blue Skies Ahead

June 9, 2021 whimsicalstitch

There are too many things to love about today’s stitch. It’s cute. It has personality yet allows other stitches to shine. And, it is a quick stitch. Win-win all the way around.

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.

The stitch is a sky from the Stitch Guide I created for Pumpkin Village by Melissa Shirley. (Full disclosure: it is also known as Pumpkin Lane.) I used blue Elegance on 18-mesh. I included numbering in the left column of the stitch diagram to illustrate specific guidance on the snowflakes. Stitch the snowflakes (also known as eyelet stitches) from the outer edge to the shared center hole. This minimizes wear and tear on the thread. In addition, the lines connecting the snowflakes are nothing more than single darning stitches.

Skies and backgrounds are obvious choices for this stitch. I would love to see it stitched with a lightweight metallic, such as Petite Silk Lame or Kreinik, for a night sky. Alternate columns between a matte, such as Elegance, and a shiny metallic like Fyre Werks or Kreinik Braid, to draw more attention to your sky or background. The only thread I don’t recommend for this stitch is Flair, as it has a tendency to spread when used in longer stitches.

Feel free to adjust the length of the connectors as needed for your piece. The connectors are ten rows tall and the tiny snowflakes are four rows tall. The snowflakes are centered against the connector, so adjust the position of your snowflake(s) accordingly.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Seriously, What Day Is It?

February 24, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Happy Wunday! It’s a good old regular Wednesday stitch with a sweet small Sunday stitch thrown in for good measure.

I haven’t had a lot of time to stitch of late and definitely feel those pangs of jealousy when there isn’t anything for me in the wonderful packages from the finishers. At times like this, I turn to small projects such as ornaments so I can have my own stuff in the next box from the finisher. The current project is a sweet little circus ornament from Plum Design.

The stitched sample is the background from the ornament and is nothing more than a single strand of white Floche on 18M. When I was foraging for a stitch, I kept returning to this one but knew it was too big. So I simply resized it and could not be happier.

I’m looking forward to using this on a medium-size window with Petite Silk Lame. I think it will also make a pretty rooftop with Rainbow Linen.

The second stitch is yet another variation of how to play with Cross Stitches in small spaces. I used three plies of Soie d’Alger on 18M.

My go-to stitch for small columns is horizontal straight stitches over the width of a column. But it wasn’t doing it for me, mostly because of the roof (visit here to see full piece). I love the tiny stripes that emerged from the Cross Stitches. (Before anyone asks, the white stripes are stitched in Encroaching Gobelin with two plies of the same Floche from the sky.)

I’m looking forward to using this stitch on small pieces of clothing with wools. I think alternating between a wool and a metallic in the vertical columns will be a cute twist.

These stitch diagrams, 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.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Hello Dolly!

February 17, 2021 whimsicalstitch

I burst out laughing the minute I removed my new dolly truck from its box because I knew immediately a pattern from the platform was going to be a stitch. And here we are!

The stitched sample is me playing with two colors of Kreinik Metallic on 18M. This stitch covers a lot of ground and it goes quickly. So, win-win.

I already have plans to use this as a background with silk floss (black lines) and Flair (aqua lines). It will create beautiful water with two aqua hues of your favorite metallic. I also see it as a great stitch for a Santa coat, say on one of the 30” Amanda Lawford Santas.

I’m toying with alternating a matte and a metallic for the larger blocks and replacing the Smyrna Cross (aqua lines) with either four seed beads or a single oversized bead over two rows to tie it together. No matter how that plays out, it will be a fun experiment.

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.

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 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!

Happy #smallstitchingsunday

August 9, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Sometimes simple and small is the best way to go. Today’s #stitchingsunday is a shout-out to some of my favorite small stitches.

By the end of the day lately, I’m tapped out. Several of my works-in-progress are large, exquisite, and honestly, too much at the moment. I turned to a small canvas I had in my stash to get me through this week. (Also, loving Perry Mason and the Watchmen on HBO. Not necessarily perfect stitch TV*, but easy stitches make it easier to do both at the same time.)

The canvas is an adorable eyeglass case (on 13M) I picked up a few months ago. The letters are stitched in Cross Stitches, a trick I picked up from a fellow needlepoint junkie, with silver Fyre Werks. The advantage of a Cross Stitch, instead of a French Knot, Tent Stitch, or bead is that a Cross Stitch covers all four sides of an intersection, making the lines created by the stitches (in any direction) smooth and uninterrupted.

The background is nothing more than what I call Plain Needlepoint, but more commonly known as Basketweave, in Vineyard Silk and Pepper Pot Silk. I considered and discarded cuter and more complex stitches because I wanted the attention to go to the letters and the glasses. In addition, I didn’t want to do that much compensating around the same letters and glasses.

And, last but not least, the lenses are covered in Reverse Basketweave with a size 8 Kreinik Metallic to ensure the canvas shows through, as it would do through glasses.

These stitch diagrams, 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.

There’s a time and place for everything and sometimes it needs to be simple. I anticipate I will finish this tonight while I watch the Perry Mason finale. I’m confident you have the perfect spots for any of these stitches. Happy #stitchingsunday!

*Stitch TV = any programming that you can watch and comprehend while stitching. I prefer it to not be completely vacuous; I’m also not a fan of overly harsh reality TV. My favorite Stitch TV includes binging on old series I already know and love (Justified, I’m looking at you), easy comedies (Parks & Rec, anyone?), Great British Bake Off (who doesn’t love an English accent with their sweets?), and sports (or what is passing as sports TV these days).

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!

Zoom!

April 22, 2020 whimsicalstitch

I attended my first virtual needlepoint class this weekend and learned a boatload of new things about Zoom video conferencing (literally our link to the outside world these days) and a darling new stitch! Both will be invaluable going forward.

The stitch is from Ruth Schmuff’s new project, Fashion by Zecca. The stitched sample is from the background of the border and uses three plies of Soie (gray lines) and Petite Silk Lame (turquoise lines).

A couple things to note before you begin. The blocks of vertical stitches include five stitches five rows high. The blocks of horizontal stitches include four stitches six rows wide. I’m not gonna lie; I may have rolled my eyes (ever so gently) when Ruth said to stitch all of the stitches in one direction before you stitch the second group of stitches (horizontal blocks first followed by vertical blocks). Wellllll, I jumped ahead to finish an area for today’s blog post and, yes, confirmed Ruth was correct. Your head gets into a pattern of five over five, five over five, etc. Flipping back and forth took some getting used to. There was a whole lot of “Wait, what?” when I would miss a cue.

This stitch will make a fantastic architectural stitch, including wallpaper, house wall, roof, or flooring. For roofs or floors, I would audition wools for the gray lines and a slightly heavier matte thread, such as Vineyard Silk, for the Cross Stitches (turquoise lines). For walls, I would use threads similar to the ones in the stitched sample.

A couple of variations flicking around in my head are stitching one direction of stitches in a different thread, whether that is a different color, finish, or both. Consider changing the Cross Stitch to beads. Consider adding three tent stitches in the center of each empty row between the blocks to give the stitch slightly more coverage.

I’m not going to lie…I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in a virtual class. I participated in enough hilariously awkward video conferences during my corporate years to be wary. Well, it was anything but awkward. Sure, there were some endearing ceiling shots but it was nice to be able to connect with a lovely group of stitchers from across the country. We all learned through live demos, show and tell (from across the country), Q&A, and a few oops. All in all, a great stitching weekend in my pj’s at my dining room table.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Groundhog Day

April 15, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is an homage to our own never-ending cycle of Groundhog Days.

The Groundhog Stitch is more of a concept than a specific stitch. The stitched sample is upfront because it is one example of a Groundhog Stitch. Any repeated element can be used.

The gold circles in the stitched sample were painted on the canvas. I asked my student to add additional circles in a contrasting color to fill the area. Since the gold circles were not placed in a specific pattern, the blue circles were added in random spots as well. The gold circles use gold Fyre Werks; the blue circles use blue Petite Silk Lame. The stitched sample is a work in progress; more blue circles will be added.

In my opinion, this concept works best for larger areas, including (but not limited to) skies, backgrounds, clothing, curtains (as in the stitched sample), water. I think you get the idea. It doesn’t matter if the area is painted in a solid color or a shaded area.

I’ve seen variations of this stitch using leaves, Upright Tied Crosses, and eyelet stitches. So, clearly, the variations are limitless.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Happy #stitchingsunday

April 12, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Welcome to the first #stitchingsunday featuring stitches from my book. The inaugural post features the Tramme stitch from one of my very first blog posts and one of my favorite go-to stitches.

Today’s stitched sample is an oh so sweet baby pillow from Abigail Cecile, featuring the Tramme stitch as a border. The stitcher used Kreinik Metallics for the base threads (black lines) and Sparkle Rays for the accent threads (aqua lines). Visit the original blog post here for more insight on how to navigate burying the threads as well as a little history on tramme stitches. The stitch can be found on page 147 in my book.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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