More than Windows

September 23, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today's #stitchingsunday takes us back to my second #smallspacesunday post. Today’s visit down Memory Lane illustrates how this great small space stitch can be used in larger spaces as well.

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.

The stitched sample is from the Aviva Floral from a recent embellishment event. I wanted to make the geometric borders interesting yet wanted the eye to go to the flowers. So, I divided the shapes into four with intriguing borders and added Reverse Basketweave to the quadrants. (And my student was very open to all of the above). It was a fun way to break up the individual shapes. The only thing missing from the stitched sample is a single bead in the empty intersection in the middle.

And, before I go, just another reminder that this is one of my favorite glass stitches.

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! 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!

Wide, Wide Open

June 20, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch came from two places. A stitching friend used it on a background for a floral piece. My plan was to borrow it from her piece. Imagine the very pleasant surprise when I realized I had it on one of my very own pillows! (You probably aren't surprised to learn I have more than my fair share of needlepoint pillows.)

The stitched sample is a single petal from a retired Melissa Shirley floral. (It's not on her site, but it is a cousin of this, this, and this canvas. (I have a sneaky suspicion I have at least one of cousins in my stash somewhere.)

The stitched sample uses a single strand of Impressions (turquoise lines in the diagram) and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12) (gray lines). I recommend adding the diamonds in halves across the horizontal axis and following up with the Kreinik, weaving around the Impressions on the back of the canvas to minimize dragged threads. I absolutely love the end result. Quick tip on choosing the thread to use in dramatic open work. I gravitate towards the dominant color. In this case, for the entire flower, the dominant color was the yellow.

As I mentioned earlier, a stitching friend used this stitch for a lovely open background on a floral still life. It would also make a wonderful floor, wall, or roof. Clearly, it lends itself to use in a sampler. I would love to see it in the center of said sampler with other fun open stitches surrounding it.

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!

A Second Life

May 13, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is an obvious variation on a go to stitch in my stitching circle. It's a really subtle variation that makes the stitch go even faster. Win win!

The stitched sample is me playing with two plies of Impressions and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid #12 on 13-mesh. The right side includes a small Cross Stitch in the middle of stitches on the horizontal row. That could easily be a bead or a French Knot. This stitch leaves more room for shading to show through than its cousin.

This is a stitch for all seasons. It would make great tree leafy greenery as well as tree trunks. Roof, floor, wall...virtually any architectural element. Clothing is also an obvious use for this stitch. I would love to see it as a Christmas stocking hung by the chimney with care. I think you get the idea.

I lifted my thread commentary from the original post because it is a good reminder about thread weights.

The cross stitch over one row condenses the stitch and adds a small level of bulk. If you do not want that added texture, your thread choice should be lighter than you normally use for the specific canvas size. As an example, I like to use DMC Pearl #5 or Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) or Tapestry Braid (#12) on 13 mesh. Elegance or 4-ply floss is a good choice for 18 mesh.

Truth be told, just last night, I used this stitch with a 4-ply floss on 13 mesh because 6-ply floss added way too much bulk for the stitched area. It was a great reminder that there are guidelines in needlepoint, but you need to let your eye tell you what the right thing to do is.

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. 91 guides are currently available, with 20 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! 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!

It's About the Stitches...and the Threads

April 11, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is a variation on a common theme on whimsicalstitch.com. I do love my Oblique upright crosses. But what I really like about this is the understated thread combination.

This is the shirt from Joachin by Sandra Gilmore that I stitched in the early 2000's. The threads are a single strand of Impressions (gray lines) and an overdyed floss for the vertical straight stitches in the center (aqua lines). I'm so used to mixing thread finishes in a stitch, this popped out to me. It's a nice reminder contrast isn't exclusively thread finish.

As with most perfectly symmetrical stitches, this would be great for architectural elements such as a roof, floor, tabletop, or walls. We see it works for clothing. It would also make a great tree trunk or other greenery. Not all greenery needs to be dramatic. This is a good companion stitch where you have multiple green spaces. Put the drama in the one you want to stand out and use this stitch for the other.

Consider replacing the vertical straight stitch (aqua lines) with a single bead over two rows (in either direction!) for water, clothing, or even flower petals. The bead technique makes this a more open stitch, so the shading will show through.

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. 61 guides are currently available, with 13 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!

Everything but the Kitchen Sink

July 19, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Technically, this stitch is a composite of small stitches. However, there are too many elements to name that make it wonderful. As I was creating the diagram image, no other title that popped into my head after the first one seemed appropriate. It truly is everything but the kitchen sink.

Believe it or not, the stitch includes only two threads and one bead. The gray lines are Shimmer Ribbon; the black lines AND aqua lines are one strand of Impressions; the turquoise circles are gold beads. The best sequence to use (and I say this from experience) is to stitch the gray lines first, followed by the black and aqua lines, and end with the gold beads. Establishing the pattern with the gray lines will make the rest of it go much easier. I swear.

Clearly, this stitch belongs in a space you want to draw attention to. I used it on a dress. It would make a great roof, Santa bag, sampler area, or grass area (without the beads). It would also be wonderful as snow, but only if you want that snow to dominate the piece. Have fun with it. You can experiment with different sized beads for a more subtle effect.

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

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

Pot-Pourri

March 29, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is a hybrid of all good things...a tied stitch, a Scotch stitch, and a Hungarian stitch.

Hungarian Scotch Variation (on 18-mesh) on this morning's #whimsicalwednesday blog post (www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2017/3/29/pot-pourri). #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #needlepointstitchdiagrams #impressions #fyrewerks #splendor #rainbowgallery #caroncollectionthreads #home #love #excusethecathair

0 Likes, 1 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Hungarian Scotch Variation (on 18-mesh) on this morning's #whimsicalwednesday blog post..."

I love this stitch largely because it challenges even my own pre-conceived notions about stitches. I'm a traditionalist at heart, yet here I am using a stitch combining three distinct stitch types (Hungarian, Scotch, and Crosses) and loving every second of it. Last month, we cobbled together small stitches to create a large, open pattern. Here we are combining stitches to create a full coverage stitch. My point is to not be afraid to combine and add stitches. The end result is often spectacular.

This is certainly not a stitch for anything and everything. It would make a great coat or dress, basket or bag, eye catching section of a sampler or, as the stitched sample illustrates, a flower pot. This is a stitch that commands attention and you want to use it in an area where you want to draw attention to.

For the stitched sample, I combined complementary colors and finishes to create a bold statement for the pot, including Fyre Werks, Impressions, and Planet Earth Silk Floss.

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 for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 32 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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