What Day Is It?

April 9, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a fun little open stitch from our friend, Ruth Schmuff. In all honesty, I don’t know what I like more…the stitch itself or just the very happy color combo on the piece. I hope this little burst of color helps brighten your indoor day, wherever that may be.

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 stitch uses two plies of Soie D'Alger (black lines) for a background on a sweet topiary. I would love to see this stitch on a large window with a lightweight metallic such as Bijoux or a Kreinik Metallic. I think it might be fun to do the single straight stitches in a different color or finish (or both) for a roof or floor.

While the stitched sample is a solid color, please remember how well open stitches enhance any beautiful shading that many contemporary canvases have.

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 has a book for you! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a contemporary how-to collection of more than 250 stitches for stitchers regardless of skill level. The book includes updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, all-new stitches, and a chapter on the basics of needlepoint. For more information, visit here. My favorite needlepoint retailers that carry the book can be found here.

whimsicalstitch.com also sells Stitch Guides and Stitch Concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, Sandra Gilmore, Purple Palm, Maggie, and Penny MacLeod, 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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

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!

Not Available Right Now

June 12, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch came from a recent foray into the internet rabbit hole. For once, I reappeared from said rabbit hole a. after a reasonable amount of time, b. with a darling new stitch idea, and c. no new and unusable knowledge about contemporary pop culture. Take that, internet rabbit hole!

The stitched sample is me playing on 18-mesh with a size 12 red Kreinik and a green Fyre Werks. (More on that below.)

These squares are really rounded squares as the corners are over two rows (on the diagonal). I put an empty row between the squares because the sides don’t line up perfectly and I was afraid you would lose the distinct pattern of each square.

In all honesty, the first thing I thought of when I pulled this stitch together was how cute these would be in a random placement. Yes, I know random anything gives some stitchers hives, but hear me out. The size of these begs for random placement. They would be wonderful sprinkled on a solid background, like one of the new tall Zecca birds or a Mary Lake Thompson still life white background. Or, put them in columns, alternating color or finishes or both between columns. You may add as much open space between columns as you need.

These would make a great addition to a sampler. I like the idea of alternating them with another 10X10 square stitch, creating a checkerboard. As I mentioned earlier, I think they would make a wonderful background stitch. Using a Mary Lake Thompson still life as an example, I would stitch these in columns, leaving 3-4 empty rows between columns with a lightweight silk perle. Returning to the stitched sample for a moment, you see the distinct difference the Kreinik makes in defining the individual stitches. That is important since the empty rows between the stitches is an important part of the design.

BUT! Consider filling those empty rows in between the metallic stitches with a contrasting color for some real drama. That could make a fantastic Santa Coat on a tall stand up Santa, such as Amanda Lawford’s line. You could also add a single Upright Cross in the center of each square or a single bead over two rows on the vertical.

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, Purple Palm, Maggie, 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!

Decisions, Decisions

April 24, 2019 whimsicalstitch

A club I’m stitching up was a great chance to experiment with new stitches. As it played out, I realized it was an opportunity to illustrate how I land on a stitch, which isn’t always what the diagram shows you. All are great stitches but it’s all about finding the right one for the spot and for you.

My objective was to find a medium-sized stitch (3-5 rows tall or wide) that integrated the exquisite shading of the canvas, so it needed to be an open stitch. And it needed to complement an adjacent stitch that included diamonds.

I found the original inspiration, the Square Diamond Scotch (diagram on far left), in Ruth Schmuff’s latest book Stitches Volume 5. The squares and diamonds were a great partner with the adjacent diamond stitch. But five rows was too tall for the area and the Scotch squares in the center were too much. I removed the squares and made the sides of the squares four rows wide/tall and created the Square Diamonds (center diagram).

This stitch was too open for the area and it was tough to distinguish the squares versus the diamonds, so I altered the diamonds to be overlapping, hence the Square Layered Diamonds (diagram on far right). This added unnecessary texture and height to the area, so it went bye bye.

My obsession with diamonds covering the corners wasn’t helping. Walking away really helped. When I returned to the piece, I took the diagonal stitches and moved them to cover the open area where the corners meet. Voila! This is what worked for me for the area. The stitched sample uses Elegance (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (gray lines) on 18-mesh.

I feel the need to reiterate that I liked every single one of the stitches I discarded. It’s all about what works for the unique space you are stitching. All four stitches would make excellent architectural stitches for floors, walls, or roofs. I would love to see the Square Diamond Scotch for a dramatic coat or dress with Petite Very Velvet (black lines) and a size 12 or size 16 Kreinik Metallic. The Square Diamonds will make a beautiful water stitch with Petite Silk Lame (black lines) and Kreinik Metallic (gray lines). Consider the Square Layered Diamonds for a tree with Elegance (black lines) and Silk ‘N Colors (gray lines). You could also glam up any of those stitches by adding a single in the center hole of the intersection where the four corners meet.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy!

You're a Square!

December 7, 2016 whimsicalstitch

I choose to take that alleged insult as a compliment, thank you very much.

Today's post is really about utilizing complementary stitches in shared spaces. My case study is a dress on an ice skater. The shared space is the dress and I used two different square stitches for the bodice and the skirt. I made that choice because of the tiny waist, blouse, and arms. I also wanted something to stand out. Once I landed on a standout stitch for the skirt, I selected a similar stitch on a smaller scale for the blouse.

The blouse is stitched in a simple Mosaic stitch and the skirt is a fun 5X5 layered square.

The stitched sample used Neon Rays on 13-mesh. What I like about Neon Rays for this application is how smooth and flat it is. It lays perfectly (with a little help from a laying tool).

Layered Squares with Neon Rays (on 13-mesh) on this morning's http://whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays blog post. #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #rainbowgallery #neonrays #home #love #excusethecathair

50 Likes, 0 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Layered Squares with Neon Rays (on 13-mesh) on this morning's..."

If you want a more pronounced lift with a metallic thread, use a more defined and substantial thread such as Kreinik Metallic (size 8 on 18-mesh and size 12 on 13-mesh). For a flatter matte finish, use a stranded floss (silk or cotton) with a laying tool.

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 and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

3X3

January 24, 2016 whimsicalstitch

3X3 squares can be frustrating because they are just on the cusp of being something significant. If you could just do one or two more rows, there are lots of fun options.

Alas, you are so wrong! (Okay, I'm wrong, but work with me on this.) Since it is still a small space (and this is #smallspacesunday) don't forget that combining threads (whether color or finish) is always a great start. Here are four straightforward 3X3 stitches. The first is the classic Scotch square. The remaining three all have a little extra something due to the addition of a second thread.

As I was playing with 3X3 stitches for this post, I wanted to add a tied stitch, but realized I covered that in the 4X4 post with the Tied 4X4 Square. (You could also "tie" 3X3 Alternating Scotch Squares.) I started to play with this idea and ended up with what I call Whimsy Squares.

This is a version of a Rice Stitch with the top stitches going over two rows instead of one. (If there is a formal name for this stitch, I would love to hear it! I could not find a name anywhere.) The gray lines are added first, followed by the yellow or aqua lines. Play with thread choices and have fun!

The sequence of the yellow and aqua lines can be tricky.

The sequence is numbers followed by letters. The only step to be mindful of is the last step of the diamond on the top. Take a look at the "g-h" step. You slide the final thread ("g-h") under the pre-existing thread ("a-b") to complete the stitch.

I consider the next stitch the classic 3X3 square, the Rhodes stitch.

The Rhodes Stitch is an elegant, clean stitch. It's great for borders or corners as its height gives it some stature. It also makes a fantastic Christmas ornament or button, as it is a scalable stitch. It is also adjustable to the space, whether it be a larger square or even a rectangle, as illustrated by the stitched sample on Instagram. It is the same concept. Starting in a corner, go to opposite corner, and continue to rotate around shape until it is full.

The last stitch for today is a stitch I call a Layered Diamond. This is a beautiful accent, whether in a larger space, a border, or even as individual accent.

I call it a Layered Diamond because the sequence of the four stitches creating the central diamond are all layered above and beneath each other. The sequence for the diamond is the same as the sequence for the diamond in the Whimsy Square. You insert it under the previously stitched thread, as illustrated in the "Whimsy Square Sequence" diagram above.

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!

The True Inspiration

January 13, 2016 whimsicalstitch

The true inspiration for a month of squares is this stitch from Carol H. Lake's "Desert Island Stitches."

I discovered this stitch last Fall while working on a club series and was absolutely charmed. It was the perfect proportion for the space, I could add contrasting color, and it was such a unique interpretation of a square.

The stitched sample on Instagram uses contrasting colors. I also used it on the body of a boat (with a solid color and a white accent for the cross stitch). I love both as they play the stitch completely differently.

If you are interested in the book, you can find more information here. More information about the club series, hosted by What's the Point! in Dublin, Ohio, can be found here. (Scroll down a little bit for information on The Petite Bouquet Club.)

The next 5X5 square is a modified Rice Stitch. The traditional Rice Stitch contains an X over the square space (gray lines below) with each leg tacked down by a single stitch, typically in the outer corners (yellow lines). (There are versions where the legs are tacked down by a stitch over two rows, but I digress.)

The stitch sequence is numbers, followed by small letters, followed by capital letters. The only step to be mindful of is the last step of the diamond (small letters). Take a look at the "g-h" step. You slide the final thread ("g-h") under the pre-existing thread ("a-b") to complete the stitch.

Expanding this into a pattern illustrates what a pretty stitch it is. It's perfect for a floor, tablecloth, or clothing.

The single stitches in the corner are optional as you may want more of the underlying X to be exposed for whatever effect you seek. Another idea for the intersection where the yellow stitches are is to add an upright cross over two rows in each direction.

The combination of thread weights and finishes is important for this stitch. You need a balance of lightweight and heavy threads, with an emphasis on lightweight. An example for 13-mesh canvas is a heavier thread, such as Rainbow Galleries Very Velvet, for the X, and follow with a lighter weight metallic such as Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) for the aqua diamond and a stranded silk or floss in a contrasting color for the yellow corners.

The last 5X5 idea for you today is the Covered Scotch. This is another scalable stitch and is a great way to add color and texture to a space.

This stitch works equally well with threads with similar color values or contrasting colors. My favorite combination is a flat metallic thread (such as Neon Rays, Fyre Werks, or Shimmer Ribbon) for the bottom thread and Very Velvet for the corners, with both threads in similar color values. The eye gravitates towards the corners, so put the finish or color you want the attention to go to in the corner.

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.

Enjoy!

Silly Squares

January 6, 2016 whimsicalstitch

A very happy New Year to you and yours!

I'm trying something a little different for you this month. #whimsicalwednesdays and #smallspacesunday posts for January will focus on variations of a common stitch, specifically square stitches.

The collection of diagrams for this month were curated from my personal favorite stitches, stitched pieces that inspire me (from my circle of needlepoint friends), and my go-to books. Each post focuses on a specific size square and includes a small sampling of the stitch possibilities for that size square. These are just thought starters and I hope they help you create something magical!

The month begins with 4X4 squares. A simple and elegant way to dress up 4X4's is to alternate the directions of the squares AND add contrasting threads, in the opposite direction, on top of the square.

The stitched sample on Instagram illustrates a tone on tone with a bright accent with similarly weighted threads. However, don't let that or the width of the gray line in the diagram restrict you. This is a great stitch when you add a light thread across the top. Think Vineyard Silk on 13-mesh with an overlay of Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid #8.

By alternating the squares and setting the corner stitches apart with a contrasting thread (color or finish), you begin to see whole new patterns that don't even look like squares, but are squares.

I call it the Corner Stitch because the eye is drawn to the unique corners. You can take this one step further and add open space and more pronounced accents.

This version removes the single stitch corners, creating two open spaces. One is shaped like a square and one is shaped like a triangle. You can fill one or both with the same or contrasting stitches. Personally, I like to fill only one as it creates a smoother design pattern, but it is a matter of personal taste and what the space requires. Alternate filling stitches include Plain Needlepoint, Smyrna Cross, Beads, or French Knots (select list). Mix and match to your heart's delight.

The next diagram splits the widest stitch in half. This is a personal favorite as I like the subtle texture it adds. It is a technique that works better with lighter colored threads, so the split stitch is more clearly visible.

The next diagram provides an open alternative. It is an exact square but looks much softer than other square alternatives.

The above diagram is scalable as well and works especially well with even numbered squares, allowing the gray Upright Cross to be in the exact center of the stitch.

The last two diagrams are related. I call them "Forgetful" Squares. By "forgetting" to add the single stitch in each corner, a world of possibilities opens up.

When you start expanding the color palette, as you do in the larger version of Forgetful Squares, it can be downright clever and beautiful.

The color inspiration for the pattern in the larger diagram is drawn from the stitched photo in the lower right hand corner of this collage on flickr. I absolutely love the colors in the sample.

I hope these diagrams prompt a lot of creative ideas for your next square stitch!

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.

Enjoy!

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