Pretty in Pink

I’ve admired this full coverage stitch from afar for a while. And, while I was pulling together the stitched sample, I discovered that leaving out half of it is just as fun!

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.

The stitched sample is me playing with 6 plies of Splendor (black lines) and Neon Rays (gray lines) on 13-mesh. Most of the other stitched samples I’ve seen for this stitch used the same thread for both lines. I used two colors to add interest and more distinct and unique direction to the stitch. It’s a great stitch whether you use one or two threads.

It will make a great jacket or pants with a strandable Merino wool or single strand silk. Flip it 90°, thread up with some overdyed silk floss and, voila!, you have a beautiful grass field. Consider stitching the single stitches (that are going in the opposite direction) in a contrasting thread, whether that be finish or color. That could make a very interesting floor or roof.

The second photograph is the stitch in progress before I added the Neon Rays. As I was stitching this step, I kept thinking what a pretty glass stitch this would make. I would love to use it on one of the large windows from a Sandra Gilmore room. It would be gorgeous with a lightweight Kreinik Metallic, Petite Silk Lame, or Bijoux.

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, Sandra Gilmore, Purple Palm, Maggie, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

MF17YO

Today’s stitch comes from a pillow I stitched for one of my favorite people, MF17YO (my favorite 17-year old). She’s adorable, just like this sweet and straightforward 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 Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

The stitched sample uses Elegance (aqua lines) and Fyre Werks (turquoise lines) for a panel on an & more sayings canvas.

Its symmetry makes it an ideal architectural stitch, such as a floor, wall, tabletop, or roof. Consider using a solid matte thread, such as Elegance, silk floss, or wool for the aqua lines and add a second overdyed thread (floss or wool) in a slightly darker color for a bit of contrast. Alternatively, it would make a very handsome coat with Very Velvet and a Kreinik metallic.

If you want to really dress it up, consider replacing the turquoise lines with beads.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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! And please have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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!

Just Hanging. How About You?

Welcome to October! This month’s stitches come from stuff just hanging around my house. Today’s stitch is from an adorable 3D Christmas ornament I did forever ago.

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.

To the best of my recollection, the stitched sample uses Silk & Ivory (black lines) and Shimmer Ribbon (aqua lines).

I like the additional stitch element of the smaller diagonal scotch element (over 2-3-2) in between the larger squares. I think it adds more interest to the overall stitch. As I created this diagram, I kept thinking this is a large space stitch. (And it is.) However, ornaments are generally small and this stitch worked perfectly. The lesson is to always have an open mind regarding stitch size. Don’t be afraid to use smaller stitches in larger spaces and vice versa.

Clearly, I like this stitch for clothing. Other cute thread combos would be silk floss and Kreinik Metallic for a lighter touch. For more dramatic clothing, consider Very Velvet and Fyre Werks. It would make an intriguing architectural element, such as a pathway or tile floor, with a silk perle (black lines) and an overdyed wool (aqua lines).

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, Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

Rabbit Holes

Sometimes falling into the Internet rabbit hole pays off.  Today's stitch is an example.  

I stumbled across this stitch via a photo on Pinterest.  I have no idea if it is exactly how it is stitched but I'm absolutely fine with this as it is diagrammed.  I love how the directional stitches are countered by small accents.  

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.

I want to play with this stitch endlessly.  My first thoughts are to use it for a floor, roof, or basket.  It would make beautiful clothing.  Change the darkest gray lines to beads and you will have a gorgeous dressy dress.  Use Very Velvet, Silk Lame, and Kreinik Metallic and you will have the most handsome of coats.  I used Burmilana, Wisper, and Lorikeet for a coat in the stitched sample.  It's really quite stunning.

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. 47 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

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

Which Way is Up?

Today's #smallspacesunday combines of a wide variety of cashmere stitches...horizontal, vertical, and diagonal.  It's quite interesting but you have to pay attention as the alternating directions are not the same pattern.  One includes a full cashmere and the other is a diagonal cashmere..  

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 stitched sample uses four plies of DMC Floss on 18 mesh for a roof on a Melissa Shirley Halloween building.  It would work really well as a floor, greenery, grass, or tabletop.  Consider stitching one of the Cashmere columns in a second contrasting thread, whether that is color or finish.  If I had to do this roof over again, I would add a complementary metallic thread.

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. 44 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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

Don't Forget Color Combos

We wrap up the month of stolen stitches with, well, a classic Cashmere stitch, using one type of thread (wool).  So, not something that should really jump out at you.  Yet, this stitch does.  I really love it.

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

It's an unpretentious stitch brought to life with two colors of wool in a clever use of color within the columns.  This would make a darling sweater, roof, walkway, house...you get the idea.  As much as I love to combine threads with different finishes, this little gem reminds me to combine colors.

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. 43 guides are currently available, including the brand new Passion Flowers and Royal Peeps, and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you learned something from the month stolen stitches.  Next month's theme is "More is More."  So, yes, there will be lots of beads and lots of thread finishes.  It was really fun to assemble and I hope you will enjoy it!

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

Tiny with a Powerful Punch

In case you were wondering, yes, you can get three different fibers into a small decorative stitch.  

On most days, I choose a stitch pattern to fill a space, rarely the other way around.  Today's stitch is an exception as this stitch came to be as a result of how a canvas was specifically painted.  As I mapped it it out, I realized it had many applications and decided to share it with you.  An offset 2X3 rectangle is the heart of this stitch.  Three different accents are provided on the diagram.  Select one (or more) that fits your mood! 

This stitch is a great way to draw attention to a small area.  The needlepoint world has done a great job in creating ornaments for every season.  This stitch would make a great coat or bag for Santa on a Christmas ornament, a great basket for a Spring ornament, or even water on a Summer ornament.  As I mapped out the diagram, I could not stop thinking about using this in a 4th of July piece, so I stitched a tiny sample to demonstrate the color combination possibilities.

Cashmere Variation with Petite Very Velvet, Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12), and Silk Lame (on 18-mesh) on this morning's #smallspacesunday blog post (http://www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2017/04/16/tiny-with-a-powerful-punch). #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #kreinikmetallics #rainbowgallery #veryvelvet #silklame #summerinspring #fourthofjuly #needlepointstitches #excusethecathair #home #love

1 Likes, 1 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Cashmere Variation with Petite Very Velvet, Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12), and Silk Lame..."

This stitch is a great way to draw attention to a small area.  The needlepoint world has done a great job in creating ornaments for every season.  This stitch would make a great coat or bag for Santa on a Christmas ornament, a great basket for a Spring ornament, or even water on a Summer ornament.  As I mapped out the diagram, I could not stop thinking about using this in a 4th of July piece, so I stitched a tiny sample to demonstrate the color combination possibilities.

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.  34 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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

Skip a Row and...

...amazing things happen.

Today's stitch is a variation of Alternating Cashmere.  Examples of a small and large Alternating Cashmere are included here and here.  Today's version is different because a row is skipped between the individual rectangles.  By doing so, a whole new world opens up.

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.

In the example, the cashmere rectangle is 3X5 rows.  When you skip the row in between the rectangles, fill that row with no more than the smallest dimension of the rectangle and center it against the adjacent edge of the rectangle (in this case, three rows).  This creates a 2X2 square to have fun with!  In the diagram above, and on the stitched sample on Instagram, I filled the square with a Smyrna Cross.  

You could fill it with beads, a single bead on the vertical over the center hole, or more Plain Needlepoint in a contrasting color.   It is an exceptionally elegant and fun stitch.

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.

If 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 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.

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!

It's a (Small) Brick House

Today's stitch is a small version of the Cashmere stitch.  The Alternating Cashmere stitch simply alternates 4X2 rectangles, leaving one intersection available for an accent.

It's great for small houses, as illustrated by the stitched sample on Instagram.  Other ideas for areas include backgrounds for small pieces (ornaments, box inserts, eyeglass cases, etc), clothing in smaller areas (especially pants), boots (for any size boots), rooftops, or ground cover.    

So, a funny thing happened on the way to the accent stitch (the yellow lines).  While I charted it to be distinctly different, whether through contrasting color or contrasting thread type, when I stitch, I've been using the same thread as the remainder of the area for a really subtle end result. 

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  22 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!