Pairs of Squares

Today’s stitch has been in the background of many stitched samples on my Instagram feed. It’s time for its closeup!

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.

Today's stitch comes from one of my very first (and very favorite) Zecca pieces, Sprung. It’s light, sparkly, and simple. The stitched sample uses DMC Perle #8 and Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) (on 18-mesh).

The stitch was used for the sky. I stitched it in a backstitch of sorts. Starting at the top, I stitched pairs of stitches in vertical columns. I added the horizontal columns after that. I used two colors of blue Kreinik for the accents. Feel free to use one color for all the accents.

This would make a great stitch for a large open field, especially one with beautiful shading. I would use a single strand silk or wool, such as Planet Earth Silk, Vineyard Classic Silk, or Merino Wool for the gray lines and an overdyed matte thread, such as Rainbow Gallery’s Overture or Rainbow Tweed, for the accents. I often interchange sky and background, so it’s easy for me to see this as a background for one of many beautiful florals with a solid background. I love silk perle for stitches like this. My go to 13-mesh is Rainbow Gallery’s Elegance for stitches like this. Dinky Dyes Silk Perle 1000 is another great choice for this. I would use size 12 Perle (similar to Dinky Dyes Perle 600) for 18-mesh.

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!

Just Hanging. How About You?

Welcome to October! This month’s stitches come from stuff just hanging around my house. Today’s stitch is from an adorable 3D Christmas ornament I did forever ago.

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.

To the best of my recollection, the stitched sample uses Silk & Ivory (black lines) and Shimmer Ribbon (aqua lines).

I like the additional stitch element of the smaller diagonal scotch element (over 2-3-2) in between the larger squares. I think it adds more interest to the overall stitch. As I created this diagram, I kept thinking this is a large space stitch. (And it is.) However, ornaments are generally small and this stitch worked perfectly. The lesson is to always have an open mind regarding stitch size. Don’t be afraid to use smaller stitches in larger spaces and vice versa.

Clearly, I like this stitch for clothing. Other cute thread combos would be silk floss and Kreinik Metallic for a lighter touch. For more dramatic clothing, consider Very Velvet and Fyre Werks. It would make an intriguing architectural element, such as a pathway or tile floor, with a silk perle (black lines) and an overdyed wool (aqua lines).

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!  

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!