What Rules?

November 20, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I’m not a fan of the needlepoint police. When students ask me if I have any rules, I insist I don’t but acknowledge I have very strong opinions on certain issues. One such “very strong opinion” is plain needlepoint is best for faces. Except, of course, if it is the face of a pumpkin who is sporting purple pants and an olive green jacket. I mean, duh.

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 DMC Perle Cotton (black lines), Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines), Soie D'Alger (gray lines), and Neon Rays (turquoise lines).

So, clearly this is not your typical face stitch nor is it your typical pumpkin…which is why I don’t have rules per se. Everything is relative and you have to have an open mind based on the personality of the piece, the personality of the stitcher, and the final look you are going for.

I would love to see this stitch on any pumpkin (with or without purple pants). You could use it for the purple pants with Petite Very Velvet (black lines), a medium weight Kreinik (aqua lines), any Silk Floss (gray lines), and Silk Lame (turquoise lines). It would be a gorgeous stitch for a fruit tree with your favorite combo of greens for everything but the turquoise lines. Stitch the turquoise lines in the fruit color.

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.

IIf 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 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!

Best Laid Plans

November 13, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I thought this morning’s blog would literally write itself. The diagram was complete…the photo of the stitched sample existed…so, it’s done, right? Do I need to tell you that this was not the stitch diagram and photo I was anticipating I would be sharing with you? Even so, it’s still kinda cute!

The stitched sample is a pear from a vintage Melissa Shirley fruit piece (as part of the pinnacle of my fruit pillow years). It uses DMC Perle Cotton (black lines), and two Kreinik Metallics (gray lines and yellow lines).

Eyelet stitches are beautiful but do require a smidgen of pre-planning. As you can see in the stitched sample above, the stitches creating an eyelet share a single and larger center hole. The larger hole was created before the stitching began by inserting a tapered laying tool inside this hole and gently pushing it to create a slightly larger hole. Truth be told, this terrified me and I always found someone to do it for me…or wouldn’t do eyelet stitches at all. I got over it when I realized, to create similarly sized holes, you could put a small tick or tiny rubber band (ask your kid’s orthodontist for some) on the laying tool to indicate what point to not pass.

The second point to keep in mind is, with any hole that multiple (more than 2-3) stitches share, always stitch from the outer edge to the inside shared hole. This minimizes friction on the thread inside the shared hole. (Also, fun fact for you. Eyelet holes don’t have to be in the center!)

This is a great all-purpose stitch for an area that you want to draw attention to and highlight the canvas painting. It’s great for clothing, water, Santa’s bags…even a floor. More substantial threads will draw even more attention to this stitch. For example, consider the combination of a single strand silk (Vineyard Silk, Pepper Pot Silk) for the black lines, Fyre Werks for the gray lines, and Silk Lame for the yellow lines for a clothing or bag stitch. Another idea is to replace the Smyrna Cross (yellow lines) with a single larger bead (size 8 or even a 3mm pearl) over two holes on the vertical axis.

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 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!

BOO!

October 23, 2019 whimsicalstitch

And a very happy early Halloween to you! Today celebrates one of my favorite needlepoint holidays with two darling stitches from an adorable Mary Lake Thompson stand up (from Melissa Shirley).

Allow me to address what seemed odd to me as I mapped out the diagram. The orange columns are four rows wide and the white columns are five rows wide. It seems like an unusual purposeful choice for a stitch pattern, which leads me to believe it was painted that way. I can’t confirm or deny this as the canvas isn’t listed on Melissa’s site. BUT, this now becomes a great lesson in crafting a stitch pattern to fit how something is painted. You can adjust the squares or the long columns of white tramme to fit whatever width you need. (Reason #257 why I love Tramme stitches.)

The stitched sample for the background uses orange Fyre Werks, lime green size 12 Kreinik braid, white DMC Perle Cotton, and (because there clearly was not enough metallic), YLI Shimmer Ribbon on top of the Perle Cotton. The pumpkin uses a single strand of Impressions, tied down with another Kreinik metallic. It’s bright, it’s shiny, and it’s PERFECT for Halloween.

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!

All Hail!

October 16, 2019 whimsicalstitch

All hail the small crown stitch! It’s a great all-purpose stitch that adds pizazz to any area it is in.

The stitched sample uses size 8 DMC perle cotton on the wall of an adorable Melissa Shirley 3D house (18 mesh) DMC from my friends at Aristeia Needlepoint in Santa Monica.

This versatile stitch is great for trees, roofs, walls, water, and clothing. It would be cute to leave an empty row in between the horizontal columns, which would enhance any shading on the canvas. That technique would be great for little choppy waves with a lightweight metallic. I would love to see someone use two different threads (color or finish or both) for a roof or clothing. Clearly, you can flip it in or turn it 90° to accentuate a specific direction.

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!

Well, Hello Again

January 2, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Hello 2019! We are going to ease into the year with a sweet, lightweight stitch. I hope you like it!

Today's stitch comes from a blue and cream striped and more pillow. (The stitch for the blue stripes was featured last year.) I added the blue accent to the cream stripe to augment the adjacent blue stripes. The stitched sample uses Elegance (dark gray lines), Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines), and Sundance Beads with clear beading thread.

This stitch would make a gorgeous roof or floor. I love the filled centers. You could do them all in the same direction. However, I am drawn to the interest the different directions add. If a bead isn’t your style, consider adding your favorite 2X2 stitch in the center of the open square. This link offers several other 2X2 ideas.

A lightweight thread combinations for a floor include DMC Perle Cotton (gray lines), Bella Lusso Wool (aqua lines), and a matte finish seed bead. I would use Glisten (gray lines), Vineyard Silk (aqua lines), and an Upright Cross for the center of the squares in Flair for a roof.

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!

Pairs of Squares

November 7, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch has been in the background of many stitched samples on my Instagram feed. It’s time for its closeup!

Today's stitch comes from one of my very first (and very favorite) Zecca pieces, Sprung. It’s light, sparkly, and simple. The stitched sample uses DMC Perle #8 and Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) (on 18-mesh).

The stitch was used for the sky. I stitched it in a backstitch of sorts. Starting at the top, I stitched pairs of stitches in vertical columns. I added the horizontal columns after that. I used two colors of blue Kreinik for the accents. Feel free to use one color for all the accents.

This would make a great stitch for a large open field, especially one with beautiful shading. I would use a single strand silk or wool, such as Planet Earth Silk, Vineyard Classic Silk, or Merino Wool for the gray lines and an overdyed matte thread, such as Rainbow Gallery’s Overture or Rainbow Tweed, for the accents. I often interchange sky and background, so it’s easy for me to see this as a background for one of many beautiful florals with a solid background. I love silk perle for stitches like this. My go to 13-mesh is Rainbow Gallery’s Elegance for stitches like this. Dinky Dyes Silk Perle 1000 is another great choice for this. I would use size 12 Perle (similar to Dinky Dyes Perle 600) for 18-mesh.

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!

Such a Square

November 4, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is a distant cousin of Brick Beading with a little surprise.

It’s a great way to draw attention to a small space and super easy. Add the beads first, follow with the squares.

The stitched sample uses size 11 Sundance Beads and DMC Perle Cotton #5 (on 13-mesh). I had all but forgotten about this stitch, even though it sits on my office wall. It’s a flower in my Shell Table project. (There’s also a blue version of Shell Table!)

I would love to see it as water, using Kreinik or Petite Silk Lame along with a bead. It would make a cute party hat with Neon Rays and beads. I want to play with it for a bird using variegated silk floss and maybe a Hex bead. I might have to get on that one sooner rather than later.

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. Click here to see the newest guides and click here to see the entire collection.

hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy! Happy #smallspacesunday!

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!

Make it Go Faster

August 29, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is one of my favorite cheats. It's pretty but also goes really, really quickly.

Truthfully, most diamond stitches are fast stitches. However, today's stitch goes especially quickly because you add two rows on either end for subsequent stitches leading to the center stitch. In addition, you skip a row between the diamonds on all but the center stitch. (This helps provide a clear path for the accent stitch.) The stitched sample is me playing at home with Vineyard Silk (gray lines) and Flair (turquoise lines) on 18-mesh. So, a quick and easy full coverage stitch. Win, win!

I've used this stitch for clothing (with the thread combo from above). It would be a fantastic architectural stitch, such as a roof, pathway, or wall. However, I recommend distinctly different threads for those ideas. The Flair used in the sample adds a certain softness to the stitch, as is appropriate. For architectural stitches, I recommend a more defined metallic (such as a Kreinik or Treasure Braid) for the accent stitch. If metallic isn't appropriate for the accent thread, use a lightweight perle thread, such as Soie Perlee, Gloriana Princess Perle, Rainbow Gallery's Elegance, DMC Perle Cotton, or Dinky Dyes Silk Perle.

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!

Large and in Charge

July 18, 2018 whimsicalstitch

It's always fun to see how the same base stitch looks with different fills. Today's stitch is a distant cousin of one of the early #whimsicalwednesdays. Today's stitch is the "just right" between full and empty in the center. Truth be told, all choices are great.

The common denominator between the two versions is the double diamond (with stitches over five rows on all sides).

Today's stitched sample is from a large floral. As you can see, it draws attention to the beautiful shading. It uses Trebizond Silk (turquoise lines), Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) (dark gray lines), and a Sundance size 11 bead (aqua circle). I chose lighter threads with an open stitch to draw attention to the shading yet still offer an interesting pattern in the larger area.

As mentioned in the first post, I love these large diamonds as background stitches. They add visual interest, yet are subtle. For backgrounds, I like to use a Perle cotton, such as DMC or Prescencia Perle Cotton size 8 on 18-mesh and size 5 on 13-mesh. More often than not, I add a Smyrna Cross in a subtle metallic to the 2X2 intersection and then play with the inside of the diamond with some sort of metallic.

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. Click here to see the 20 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!

Big Red

June 27, 2018 whimsicalstitch

I can't decide if today's column is about a stitch (it is) or about threads (it is). Because, frankly, the diagram is kinda boring. The stitched sample is far from boring.

The stitched sample uses DMC Perle #5 (light gray lines), Neon Rays (black lines), and Fyre Werks (turquoise lines). The layering for this stitch is very important. Start with the light gray (vertical) lines, followed by the black (horizontal) lines, and end with the X's on top (aqua lines). The stitched sample is from the retired Linda Carter Holman piece I've featured in a few posts recently (here and here).

More often than not, I use the same threads for the straight stitches in a layered stitch. Today's sample is an exception to my typical pattern...and I like it. Two distinct threads for the straight stitches add contrast, especially the Neon Rays. The two rows of Neon Rays merge together to look like a wide ribbon, a fun contrast to the distinct shape of the DMC Perle. Clearly, a laying tool played a role here.

This stitch would be so much fun with different colors. Imagine it as a coat for a Santa with Very Velvet (vertical lines), Vineyard Silk (horizontal lines), and an oversized Kreinik in a contrasting color, such as gold, for the X. Consider using two colors for the stripes, say blue for the vertical and green for the horizontal, tied down with a third color for a bedspread or decorative pillow. Combine some really unique textures, such as Rainbow Linen and Impressions for the straight lines, and tie it down with Wisper or Fuzzy Stuff for a very au natural roof.

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. Click here to see the 20 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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog