Flashbacks to Geometry

November 28, 2018 whimsicalstitch

There are many things to love about today’s stitch. What I love the most is how fast this complicated looking stitch goes!

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 named it Triangle Squares because a square emerges from four triangles coming together in the center. Each side (triangle) is an identical sequence, which is what made this so very easy. To minimize confusion, I stitched a square in one color, changed the thread to the second color and stitched the adjacent square so to not get mucked up with the counting. It made life much easier.

[Update (11/29): Stitch each triangle from the outer edge to the center. This will reduce wear and tear on the thread in the shared holes.]

The stitched sample is from the vase on my Lemons Stitch Guide and uses two shades of Pepper Pot silk with a brown accent (Silk Lame).

Clearly, this stitch is for larger spaces. This would be a very interesting background stitch with lightweight threads such as Silk or Cotton Perle, such as Elegance and DMC Perle #8, with a smaller metallic, such as size 8 Kreinik or Petite Silk Lame. It also lends itself to architectural areas, such as a tile floor or roof. It would make beautiful and dramatic clothing, especially with Soie D’Alger and your favorite metallic. If you are going to go down the floss path for this stitch, be sure to use a laying tool to keep the strands smooth and straight. Also, consider upping the ply count 1-2 strands to ensure full coverage.

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!

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!

Weaving In and Out

February 28, 2018 whimsicalstitch

And here we are at the end of February and glorious Spring is almost here! In honor of the pending spring, I bring you a cute little woven stitch!

While this looks like a Tramme stitch, it uses a different sequence. Add the black lines first. When complete, and only when complete, start at an outer edge and weave the thread under the groups of vertical stitches, alternating between two separate horizontal rows of stitches.

For this example, start at the upper right corner. Weave the thread under the groups of stitches on the top row and the groups of stitches two rows BELOW. Return to the top row, take the needle under the next group of stitches, and return to the next group on the axis below. Repeat until you reach the end. When you get to the end, repeat this sequence in reverse. Start on the third row of groups of five stitches and weave UP to include the second row of stitches.

This stitch is quick and easy...seriously. I used a variation of this stitch for the back panel of a wicker chair. It was a perfect fit for the chair and maximized the beautiful shading behind the chair. Other ideas include a basket using Rainbow Linen or Lorikeet. It would make a great fence with wools. It would also make a really charming roof. The stitched sample uses Pepper Pot (aqua thread) and Gloriana Princess Perle (white thread). I urge you to use single strand threads, especially for the top threads, to avoid any snagging when weaving the second thread underneath.

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!

Santa Came in January!

January 31, 2018 whimsicalstitch

With all the holidays this month, it was a so fun to receive an email giving me a gift. My new friend, Amy Poore, sent me today's stitch and stitched sample. It's adorable!

I've seen versions of this stitch around and really like what Amy did with it. It's a fun mix of diagonal and straight stitches, with some alternating directions thrown in for good measure.

Amy used a single color of Pepper Pot for this stitch as a background on one of her new pieces and it's adorable. I recommend stitching it in horizontal columns to keep the straight lines wrapped crisply around the edges. Don't obsess with dragging threads as needed as it is a pretty full coverage stitch. This stitch is great for anything you need to add texture and height to, such as pants, a chimney, a tree trunk...you get the idea.

I've seen versions of this on the horizontal and it's equally charming. It makes a great ground cover, open field, or even clouds.

Threads are dictated by the area of course. But, I do have a hankering to see this done with threads in two different finishes (one for the straight lines and one for the diagonal lines). I have seen this stitch as a ground cover in the combo of an overdyed and solid thread. It was gorgeous.

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. 60 guides are currently available, with 12 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!

Sweet Scallops

December 20, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch integrates a technique I often do when I feel a stitch is too predictable. I alternate rows in height, thread, or both. I talked about this a tiny bit in my first post about Scallop stitches.

Scallop stitches are cute on their own. My preference is to include empty rows in a scallop pattern. It emphasizes the scallop pattern and is a great way to integrate the shading of the canvas. Another fun technique is to add rows of alternating heights to the mix. It's cute pattern and, more importantly, it offers an opportunity to add another color or finish. The stitched sample uses Pepper Pot Silk and Flair.

This stitch works well for many pieces of clothing, especially dresses, coats, and pants. It's lovely for water, especially with the directional element provided by the shape of the stitch. It's also a current favorite of mine for vases.

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. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works. I will be posting about 15 new Stitch Concepts in mid January!

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

Just Right

November 1, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is great for small, medium, and larg-ish areas. In other words, it's just right.

The stitched sample includes Gloriana Florimell Silk Floss (gray lines) and Kreinik Metallics Medium Braid (#16) (aqua lines) on 13-mesh.

This stitch could work for so many things. I see it as water with Petite Silk Lame and a lightweight Kreinik. The combination of Burmilana (gray lines) and Gloriana Lorikeet (aqua lines) would make an attractive hillside or field. Using the same thread for all the stitches, such as a Pepper Pot or an Appleton Tapestry Wool, would make a great beard. I hope these thought-starters help you come up with something perfect for your space!

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

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

Never Too Early

April 26, 2017 whimsicalstitch

It's never too early to work on holiday projects, especially since we in the needlepoint world have done an excellent job of creating and sustaining the need for ornaments for every season. I would argue we created seasons for ornaments. (I'm looking at you St. Patrick's Day.)

The next two weeks will focus on cute stitches on a holiday project from a stitching friend of mine. Today's stitch is a variation of what I consider a classic, the Tied Upright Cross. By leaving a row in between the crosses on all sides, you have an opportunity for a cute accent.

Upright Tied Crosses with Accent with Planet Earth Silk, Kreinik Metallics, and Sundance Beads on this morning's #whimsicalwednesday blog post (www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2017/04/26/never-too-early). #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #needlepointstitchdiagrams #planetearthsilk #kreinikmetallics #sundancebeads #beading #bling #home #love #guaranteednocathairthisweek 📷: @lbertelson @ #ecss

9 Likes, 2 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Upright Tied Crosses with Accent with Planet Earth Silk, Kreinik Metallics, and Sundance Beads on..."

The diagram includes two possibilities, a bead over two rows on the vertical or a small upright cross. The stitched sample illustrates the bead in all the intersections. You can use one or both accents. It's completely up to you.

Speaking of the stitched sample, it uses Planet Earth Silk, Kreinik Metallics, and Sundance Beads.

The thread combinations are kinda countless as it completely depends on how sparkly (or not) you want it to be. A matte variation could include Very Velvet (gray lines) tied down with Rainbow Linen (black lines) with a matte Delica bead as the accent. I think that would make an adorable whimsical basket.

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

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

Magical Milanese

December 21, 2016 whimsicalstitch

I've never chatted about Milanese before, so why not start with a large, dramatic Milanese stitch?

Milanese stitches are diagonal stitches, typically in groups of four with each stitch one row wider than the previous. The resulting element looks like a triangle or an arrowhead. Today's stitch idea blows this up into a group of six stitches for each triangle.

Let's start with the diagram.

The triangles are in diagonal columns. Every row of an individual triangle aligns with a specific row in the triangle on either side (going in the opposite direction). I use the "total" to determine which stitch (of the triangle) is in the next diagonal column of triangles. In the above example, the total is seven (7). The sixes match to the ones; the fives match to the twos; the fours match to the threes. The "total" counting method helps me easily add subsequent columns and is a real help when adding compensation stitches. Honestly, it keeps me sane. I recommend stitching the triangles first and return to add the accent stitches (the aqua lines).

The stitched sample on Instagram takes this concept one step further by alternating finishes for the diagonal columns of triangles.

(Very) Large Milanese with Kreinik Metallics Medium Braid, Very Velvet, and Frosty Rays (on 13-mesh) on this morning's #whimsicalwednesday blog post (www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2016/12/21/magical-milanese). #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #kreinikmetallics #purpleandoink #rainbowgallery #veryvelvet #frostyrays #halloweenindecember #home #love #excusethecathair

See this Instagram photo by @whimsicalstitch * 1 like

The diagram below is the exact same as above, but I changed the color of alternating columns to align it with the stitched sample for clarity.

Since Milanese is a dramatic stitch that stands out, I think it calls for substantial, full coverage threads. The stitched sample uses Very Velvet and Frosty Rays. Both of those threads add a certain puff to the stitched sample. Confetti or Rachelette would be a fun alternative for the Frosty Rays. Right now, I am pondering how fun it could be to use Gloriana's Chenille for the triangles (on 13-mesh).

Other substantial threads, albeit with less puff, are Silk & Ivory, Planet Earth Wool, Planet Earth Silk, or Kreinik Metallics (size 12 or 16). Fyre Werks and Flair are great metallic threads to consider as well. While they may appear lighter weight, they are great threads as they lie flat and wide. They make great accent threads.

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, want to learn some very creative decorative stitches, and how to put them all together, whimsicalstitch.com sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs and Zecca Designs. 28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

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

It's a Brick...House!

August 23, 2015 whimsicalstitch

Today's #smallspacesunday features the Brick Stitch. It is, quite possibly, the easiest stitch ever. It can be done on the vertical or horizontal.

It is also scalable. The only caveat is to go over an even number of rows (to keep the bricks centered on each other). The above example is over two rows; it is over four rows in the example below. I wouldn't necessarily consider an over-4 brick stitch a small stitch, but wanted to demonstrate the adaptability of the stitch.

You can also skip rows if you would like to show the shading on the canvas or to make the stitching a little less dense.

The last example is the trifecta! It doubles up on the bricks, skips rows, and adds a small accent.

As for use, this is a great stitch for bushes (especially in the background), ground cover, small area clothing, small area backgrounds, buildings.

I am a big fan of plied cotton and silks. I like using 4-ply on 18-mesh and 6-ply on 13-mesh for this stitch, along with my trusted laying tool. There is something about the softness of the plies that make the final finish soft and gentle. It also works well with stranded silks, such as Vineyard Silk or Pepper Pot Silk.

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

Be creative and enjoy!

There is Always an Exception

July 22, 2015 whimsicalstitch

You may notice I am a big fan of symmetrical stitches. There are not very many overtly diagonal stitches in my day to day repertoire. There are always exceptions.

I rediscovered this stitch as I was admiring the array of completed needlepoint just back from the finisher at my local needlepoint store the other day. It's called Diagonal Mosaic*.

It's a great way to fill a larger space, works well in either direction (whether I like that or not), and an excellent way to add contrast with fibers, either in complementary or contrasting colors.

My favorite combo for this is Pepper Pot silk and a soft sheen metallic such as Rainbow Galleries Fyre Werks. It's a great stitch for a roof as it lends itself to the angle of the roof (if the canvas is painted that way). I also use it on coats (in alternating directions), bags, baskets, and trees.

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

Enjoy!

* One of the many names I found for this stitch. As this is not unusual, you will find I describe a stitch in a widely known name (if it exists) or create my own name for it.