Skinny Minny

I needed something different for a narrow and tall tree.  I love the Upright Cross Stitch for a tree, so I just put it on a diet. 

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 six plies of DMC Cotton Floss and a cute pearl from SJ Designs on 13-mesh.  The open intersection is 2X2 rows.  If a large embellishment isn't the right thing for your space, consider a size 11 bead over two rows, four French Knots, four beads, an Upright Cross, or even a Smryna Cross.  If you would like less texture, consider four tent stitches, a 2X2 Mosaic stitch, or leaving it open.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I love Lorikeet for greenery.  In my opinion, mixing Lorikeet with a solid color thread is always a good look.  Consider Lorikeet for the gray lines and Glisten or Planet Earth Silk Opal for the accent stitch.   

This would make really pretty clothing with silk floss, such as Soie D'Alger or Waterlilies, combined with beads or a bright metallic.

Flip it 90 degrees and I think you have a wonderful water stitch.  For that, I would use a lightweight metallic and a bead, such as Kreinik size 8 and a size 11 bead (on 13-mesh) or Kreinik size 4 and a size 14/15 bead (on 18-mesh).   

This stitch diagram, along with all other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on a Pinterest board here.

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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!

Open Squares

I created* today's stitch for a beginning student.  It was a great way give the student practice with the Continental stitch, stretch them a little bit with an easy decorative stitch, and add an element of style to the piece.  Win, win, win!

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 student used this stitch for the background of a cute little animal.  You could add a Rhodes square in the 3X3 intersection for a smoother corner. The stitched sample is a background on a Scott Church Creative piece (in progress). It includes DMC Perle Cotton, Flair, and Trebizond Silk. This stitch is wide open.  Use that openness to exploit beautiful canvas painting.  This stitch could help define a grassy area or help highlight the painting in a beautifully shaded tablecloth.  Don't be afraid to use a contrasting color for any of the threads.  Have fun with thread finishes and 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.

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, including the brand new Decisions, Decisions, Passion Flowers and Royal Peeps, and more are in the pipeline.

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

* Note on "creating:"  This stitch may very well exist in a book or on another site.  I can't pretend that I'm the first person to think of any stitches I share with you.  I say "I created it" because I haven't stumbled across this stitch anywhere.

Little Black Dress

The good news is today's stitch is gorgeous.  And easy.  And looks fantastic on the stitched sample....which happens to be black on black.  So, pay more attention to the diagram this week.  And please enjoy and don't use my name in vain too much. 

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.

Did I forget to mention the stitch sample also uses two colors of beads?  Oops.

The stitch is simple with Scotch Squares in alternating directions with a skipped row in between the squares.  (Another wonderful example of how skipping a row opens up a whole new world.)

As you may have already inferred from the title, this stitch is from a little black dress on a recent piece.  So, clearly, it is wonderful for clothing.  Replace the bead with a Cross Stitch and you could have a fantastic floor or any number of architectural elements.  Use a lightweight thread on a beautifully shaded body of water.  

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, including the brand new Passion Flowers and Royal Peeps, and more are in the pipeline.

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

More is More

Welcome to July!  The theme this month is "More is More," meaning metallics, beads, and lots of layers.  I hope you enjoy!

The inaugural stitch is a riff on a common #whimsicalwednesday theme, Tied Crosses.  What makes this version pop is the bright matching metallic plus a contrasting bead.  Take a look.

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 purposefully added the beads in alternating rows.  The metallic thread was so bright that I did not want to lose that crisp accent by surrounding all of it with beads.  Personally, I like the little break.  That's simply my taste. Feel free to add more beads if your heart so desires.

The stitched sample is from a dress and includes Very Velvet, Fyre Werks, and Sundance Beads.  I think a lot of fun could be had with thread combinations that include pearls (any color) or matte beads. The stitch lends itself to so many areas.  Due to the bling of the stitch, it will work best for an area you want to draw attention to, such as a dress/coat, Santa bag, large hat...I think you get the idea.  The open areas in the stitched version will let any shading show through but I wouldn't necessarily consider this an open stitch because your eye will be drawn to the bright accents. 

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, including the brand new Decisions, Decisions, Passion Flowers and Royal Peeps, and more are in the pipeline.

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

Karen's Diamond

Leave it to Karen Hennessey of Zecca to provide another clever take on a diamond stitch and have a wonderfully bright stitched example to go with it.

The stitch begins as your more traditional diamond with outer rows over three rows and a row over two in between the rows going over three.  But, she skips a row between the outer edges and that's where things get interesting.  

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.

Due to the many unique components of this stitch, this might be one stitch that I don't see with threads all of one color.  It almost NEEDS the multiple thread colors to add definition.  As an example, the oblique tied crosses in the center of the diamonds stand out in their own color.  I love how the diamonds are in a darker shade to help add to that definition.

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 have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!