A Real Time Stitching Sunday

Today’s #stitchingsunday comes from a sweet email this morning from a student who is stitching this stitch on this project on this Sunday. I love it when that happens!

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.

Today’s stitched sample comes from my new Stitch Concept, Moon Dance by Sandra Gilmore. It uses a single strand of Impressions (gray lines) and Glisten (aqua lines). It’s a great stitch to add direction to an area. In this case, it’s the path. The original post shows a slightly heavier version for a background.

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! Happy #stitchingsunday! I wish you a very happy and joyous New Year!

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!

SOS

If anyone is aware of a name for this stitch, please share!  I discovered it a couple years ago and I absolutely love how it looks like a circle, looks better without every intersection covered (in my opinion), and is a fantastic stitch to combine threads (whether it be finish or color).

I'm calling it Circles with Straight Lines until I hear otherwise.

Circle Stitch (for lack of a better name) with Splendor Silk, Petite Frosty Rays, and YLI Shimmer Ribbon (on 18-mesh) for today's stitch on http://whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays blog post. #whimsicalwednesday #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #stitchdiagrams #splendorsilkfloss #petitefrostyrays #shimmerribbon #home #love

A quick note to acknowledge I did not include compensation stitches because it is a complex stitch and I want you to focus on the stitch itself and to not be distracted by compensation stitches.

The base pattern (the dark gray lines) is over 3-4-5-skip a row-5-4-3.  You fill the 2X2 intersections between the base pattern with plain needlepoint (light aqua lines), a Smyrna Cross, beads...whatever your heart desires.

The skipped row in the base pattern (turquoise line) is filled with a contrasting stitch of some kind (whether it be the same color thread with a different finish or a contrasting color).  Here's where the fun starts.  The diagram shows a center stitch over two rows (turquoise line) with yet another contrasting color (the light gray lines) on either side.  Personally, I prefer this stitch with just the single stitch without the light gray stitches on either side.  It makes a more dramatic circle.

The stitched samples tell it all.  The first one is a classic rendition.  It has full coverage and, for the most part, contrasting thread finishes.

The sample on the left below is from a piece in my personal collection.  The stitch is on a pillow and uses beads in the intersections and does not include the accent stitches on either side of the center stitch. The sample on the right below is from Debbie Mumm's Polar Express.  This includes full coverage with multiple colors and finishes.

Circle Stitch (for lack of a better name) with Soy Luster, Petite Silk Lame, and Caravan size 15 beads (on 18-mesh) for today's stitch on http://whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays blog post. #whimsicalwednesday #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #stitchdiagrams #soyluster #petitesilklame #caravanbeads #home #love

27 Likes, 0 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Circle Stitch (for lack of a better name) with Soy Luster, Petite Silk Lame, and Caravan size 15..."

whimsicalstitch.com on Instagram: "Circle Stitch (for lack of a better name) with DMC Floss, Flair, and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12) (on 18-mesh) for today's stitch..."

32 Likes, 0 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Circle Stitch (for lack of a better name) with DMC Floss, Flair, and Kreinik Metallics Tapestry..."

As you can see, this stitch can be all and do all.  I hope you have the perfect spot for it.  And I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Darn it!

The darning stitch is a fantastic glass stitch*.  I love how you can play with the width of the stitches based on the size of your window.  I'm sharing three variations today, offering ideas for different sized windows. 

Today's stitched sample on Instagram illustrates the first stitch.  It is a wider darning stitch I used for a very large window in a Sandra Gilmore piece.    

For a medium to small window, consider a darning stitch over two rows.  

I did this stitch in pairs as I like the way they look.  However, if you prefer your open space to be in smaller bits, feel free to use the over two pattern in single rows with the same offset pattern for every other row, instead of every two rows.

I suspect you have figured out where we will end for this stitch.  Yup...over one row. I was completely doubtful and uncertain the first time I did this stitch.  And I absolutely loved how it so delicately showed the shading, yet was still a stitch.  It's perfect for a tiny window.

I hope you have the perfect windows for these stitches!

*  Yes, I know I wrote about the darning stitch way back when.  I briefly mentioned I used it for glass but didn't elaborate.  Today, I elaborated.  :)

These stitch diagrams, 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.  20 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!