My Favorite Day of the Year

December 26, 2018 whimsicalstitch

The day after Christmas is my favorite day of the year. Seriously. It’s calm. There’s a lingering glow from the month+ of holiday activities and months of prep. There’s no rush because we still have New Year’s to look forward to. It’s the perfect day to de-stress and stitch. And here’s a stitch for that spot you weren’t quite sure what to do with.

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.

It’s that “just right” stitch, if you will, as it falls precisely in between a small Alternating Cashmere and the larger version. The stitched sample uses Impressions and Neon Rays+ on 18-mesh. It’s an easy full coverage stitch with a zillion applications. This stitch, or either of its cousins, are great for backgrounds, baskets, floors, walls. I love the symmetry and elegance of it.

For backgrounds on 18 mesh, I would use silk Perle, such as Elegance, for the gray lines and my favorite metallic such as Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12) or Entice for the aqua lines. For a basket, I recommend an overdyed wool (Lorikeet or ThreadWorx), with a more subtle metallic such as Flair or Silk Lame. I love the smoothness of silk floss for walls. Pair it with a Neon Rays to enhance the smooth finish. Mix two matte threads for a rustic floor, such as Rainbow Linen and a Burmilana Tweed.

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!

One Stitch. Two States.

September 19, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch started in Baltimore and ended in Alabama. How does that work?

The original stitch was a single column of 3X3 diamonds with a second diamond and a cross stitch embedded inside the diamond. It was for a accent area six rows wide on a chest of drawers on a Charley Harper Stitch Concept (from my embellishment event at Bedecked & Beadazzled). A few weeks later, I was working on the background for Flight School and I kept returning to this stitch. I wanted a slightly larger stitch so, to make it work, I added the Upright Cross Stitch in between the vertical columns. The stitched sample (from Flight School) uses Soie D’Alger (black lines), Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines), and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12) on 13-mesh.

I would love to see this stitch for a floor (indoor or outdoor) with Rainbow Linen (black lines), ThreadWorx wool (aqua lines), and Neon Rays (gray lines). It would be a great stitch for clothing with Very Velvet (black lines ), Silk Lame (aqua lines), and Fyre Werks (gray lines). It would make a great roof with Silk Perle (black lines), such as Elegance or Treenway’s Tranquility, Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines), and Straw Silk for the Upright Crosses.

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!

On the Road

September 5, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Summer stitching travels took me to Michigan, Maryland, Northern California, and Alabama. September's stitches are postcards from those travels and include stitches from several projects I worked on with students during those visits.

Today's stitch comes from my event at the Needle Bug in Alabama. It is a fun variation of diamonds from my new First Thanksgiving Stitch Concept. The bead between the diamonds (in the vertical columns) is an elegant and easy accent.

The stitch was used for clothing in First Thanksgiving with Pepper Pot Silk, Flair, and Sundance Beads. I also used variations of this for skies with Splendor, sequins, and beads. It would make a great roof with Rainbow Linen, matte beads, and an overdyed wool. I would love to see it as water, as the bead adds a wave-like texture.

There are other variations available. Consider leaving the diamond empty for a more open stitch. Consider swapping the bead and Upright Cross locations. Consider adding a straight stitch over two rows on the vertical instead of the bead. Have fun with it and let us know what you did with it. It could be a future #stitchingsunday.

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!

Oui Oui!

July 25, 2018 whimsicalstitch

The final post for July includes the last open stitch example from the I-Will-Never-Finish white flower project. The stitch is a cousin of both the Parisian and Brick stitch.

There are three things I like about this stitch. The first is the primary stitch element (over 2-2-4-4-2-2 rows) is not a perfect pair. Check. On the off chance you didn't know, I'm always a fan of skipping a row between columns. Check. The oblique Upright Cross between the primary elements is a pleasant surprise. Check. The stitched sample uses Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8), Trebizond Silk, and Flair.

I would love to see this stitch as a roof with a mix of textures, solid colors, and variegated colors, such as Rainbow Linen, Treenway Tranquility, and maybe a little Burmilana thrown in for good measure. It would also make wonderful water with my water favorites of Kreinik Metallics and Petite Silk Lame. I would use Flair for the oblique Upright Cross in that example.

My last idea is to rotate the stitch 45° and stitch it in vertical columns for clothing. I would love to see this stitch as pants on Santa or a nutcracker. Here my mind is playing with Petite Very Velvet, Pepper Pot Silk, and Fyre Werks.

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!

Va Va Va Voom

May 16, 2018 whimsicalstitch

When I first laid eyes on today's canvas, I knew EXACTLY what I was going to do with the white flowers...and completely clueless as to what to do with the red flowers. Ten plus years later, I have no regrets and am more excited about the red flowers than the white flowers.

The stitched sample used Neon Rays (black lines) and Fyre Werks (turquoise lines) on 13-mesh. A laying tool was essential in keeping the Neon Rays flat and smooth. It works, I promise. And it's easy.

I really do love this stitch. It has straight and oblique stitches, leading to a really pretty symmetry. Technically, it's an open stitch, but really passes as a full coverage stitch. I recommend using this stitch for an area you want to draw attention to. Clearly, I like it for a flower. Other space ideas include clothing, an intriguing roof, or a dramatic bag.

Ideas for thread combinations include Very Velvet (gray lines) and Fyre Werks (turquoise lines) for a jacket, Rainbow Linen (gray lines) and Lorikeet (turquoise lines) for a roof, or Soie D'Alger (gray lines) and Silk Lame (turquoise lines) for a bag. If you want more bling, swap the metallic and matte threads in any of the mentioned combos.

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!

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!

More Trifecta Goodness

October 25, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Part of the joy of traveling to teach at stores outside of my neighborhood is seeing a variety of thread inventories, learning about regional nuances (for me, the use of the pin stitch) and seeing lovely stitched samples (the most fun).

The stitch below combines several things I came across during recent travels. It includes overlapping diamonds (shades of a recent post), a tramme (a long time favorite of mine), and open work.

The stitched sample includes Rainbow Gallery's Cashmere (aqua lines), Princess Perle (dark gray lines), and Entice (light gray lines).

I used two different colors for the base threads to mix it up a little bit. While this stitch is complex, it would still serve well as a background with 2-3 different threads in the same color. Or stitch the dark gray base thread in a contrasting metallic. It would make a great basket or ground cover with matte thread combinations such as Lorikeet, Soie D'Alger, Planet Earth Merino Wool, or Rainbow Linen. Use it for clothing with Very Velvet, silk perles, and Kreinik. 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!

Technical Difficulties

October 11, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I really, really like this stitch. I am confident of this because this has been one of those posts that had multiple "technical difficulties" during every step (diagraming, stitching, and writing). Every. Single. Step. (Please ignore the fact those difficulties were of my own doing.) But, I was so excited by this stitch that I kept going. I give you the Triple Diamond.

This stitch pops up in my Pinterest feed on a regular basis and I am always happy to see it. I'm not sure the original teacher nor the original source, so all I have to offer is a broad "thank you!" The diagram and stitch sample replicate the really clever color plan with three shades of a single hue plus a metallic. (The original post was blue and silver.)

As I was creating the stitched sample, I reached a point where I wasn't "done-done" but I still really liked it. So, here's a variation with a slightly lighter touch.

I can't wait to use this stitch for a larger (and/or wider) area where I want to draw the eye. It would make a great Santa coat or bag, large trees, even ground covering, or a large flower. The second diagram provides a version where some of the shading can show through.

Have fun with the thread combinations. A dramatic stitch calls for dramatic threads. Ideas include two hues of Very Velvet (diamonds) with Kreinik 1/16" ribbon surrounding the diamonds, Painters threads (diamonds) with wool or single strand silk for the surround, Lorikeet (diamonds) with Rainbow Linen or Grandeur for the surround.

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 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!