It Could be Simple, But Noooooooo

August 11, 2021 whimsicalstitch

I have a weird thing about Satin Stitches. And that’s where I make things complicated…for myself.

Click image to see the whimsicalstitch Stitch Library on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams. — Click image to see the **whimsicalstitch Stitch Library** on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click image to see #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday Stitched Sample Gallery on Instagram. — Click image to see #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday **Stitched Sample Gallery** on Instagram.

I knew I wanted to do vertical columns three rows wide for the house in the photo. A Satin Stitch was the obvious choice. For clarity, Satin Stitches are diagonal stitches over the width of an area. They are great for columns and I frequently use them for columns anywhere between 2-4 rows. Satin Stitches can be found on page 18 in my first book as well as the Essentials guide. An alternating Satin Stitch can be found here.

Here’s where I make things complicated. I have a weird aversion to the simplest of Satin Stitches. I feel like I should do more. As a stitcher, I don’t like to fall back on the same thing (except for basketweave) when there are cute alternatives. And, as a teacher, I like having a bigger basket of tricks to pull from. And that is how I landed on today’s stitch. It’s a scaled-down version of a stitch I’ve seen a lot of on pinterest.

The stitched sample is three plies of white Splendor (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines) on another adorable Plum Stitchery holiday ornament.

It’s already in an upcoming stitch plan for some Charley Harper birds. The student will be using silk floss and a still to be determined metallic. It will also work well for clothing, especially pants, with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and a Kreinik metallic (aqua lines). I think it will make a beautiful bedspread or tablecloth with silk or cotton floss (black lines) and Soie Perlee (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.

IIf you like what you see on this blog, there's more: Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 1 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; Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 2 features chapters on Balanced, Beading, Diagonal, Layered, Oblique, Small, and Straight stitches.

Also, you can download for free the first chapter from my first book which covers basic needlepoint stitches and stitch compensation techniques along with new top-line information on needlepoint materials and tools, how to handle threads, and other helpful needlepoint resources.

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!

Sugar Plum Fairies

June 2, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Only in our little world of needlepoint does working on Christmas ornaments over Memorial Day weekend make sense. I may have missed a few clues in the murder mystery I was watching on Monday night because I was kinda captivated by today’s stitch.

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 is nothing more than a patterned skip tent on the background of Sugar Plums by the Plum Stitchery. The blocks alternate between two plies of Soie d’Alger and a lightweight Kreinik on 18M. I wanted something simple and elegant because I want the tutus to stand out. And y’all know I’m a sucker for any open stitch.

This stitch will be gorgeous for water with two colors of lightweight metallics. I look forward to using it as a sky with a single color of blue, or perhaps a subtle overdyed silk floss. Another idea floating around my head using a light and a dark hue of the same color in a silk floss for a floor.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Seriously, What Day Is It?

February 24, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Happy Wunday! It’s a good old regular Wednesday stitch with a sweet small Sunday stitch thrown in for good measure.

I haven’t had a lot of time to stitch of late and definitely feel those pangs of jealousy when there isn’t anything for me in the wonderful packages from the finishers. At times like this, I turn to small projects such as ornaments so I can have my own stuff in the next box from the finisher. The current project is a sweet little circus ornament from Plum Design.

The stitched sample is the background from the ornament and is nothing more than a single strand of white Floche on 18M. When I was foraging for a stitch, I kept returning to this one but knew it was too big. So I simply resized it and could not be happier.

I’m looking forward to using this on a medium-size window with Petite Silk Lame. I think it will also make a pretty rooftop with Rainbow Linen.

The second stitch is yet another variation of how to play with Cross Stitches in small spaces. I used three plies of Soie d’Alger on 18M.

My go-to stitch for small columns is horizontal straight stitches over the width of a column. But it wasn’t doing it for me, mostly because of the roof (visit here to see full piece). I love the tiny stripes that emerged from the Cross Stitches. (Before anyone asks, the white stripes are stitched in Encroaching Gobelin with two plies of the same Floche from the sky.)

I’m looking forward to using this stitch on small pieces of clothing with wools. I think alternating between a wool and a metallic in the vertical columns will be a cute twist.

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.

Also, you can download The Essentials, a free guide covering basic needlepoint stitches and stitch compensation techniques along with new top-line information on needlepoint materials and tools, how to handle threads, and other helpful needlepoint resources.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Smile!

October 14, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch has lots of beads and makes me smile. It also happens to be from one of my favorite projects and stitcher/designers, Plum Stitchery. It’s one of the adorable ornaments from Twelvetide. It makes me smile…a lot.

The stitched sample is two plies of white Needlepoint Inc. Silk (black lines) and white and blue Sundance beads (yellow and blue circles, respectively) with clear beading thread on 18M.

My learned advice on this stitch, and with all leaf stitches in general, is to stitch them from the outer edge to the shared hole. This will reduce wear and tear on the threads and make the process so much easier. In addition, stitch the mirrored stitches sequentially (from side to side) so the layering matches on both sides. (See sequence in the lower left-hand corner of the diagram).

This is rapidly becoming my new go-to stitch for trees and birds. More often than not, I use silk flosses (solid or overdyed), as that helps me manage the potential heaviness of the stitch. As I mentioned, the stitched sample on 18M uses two plies; I would use a minimum of three plies on 13M. If you want a more dramatic look (read heavier), consider a single strand Perle cotton, Elegance, Grandeur, or Trebizond Silk. If you want to minimize the bead, feel free to use a single bead. In that case, I would use a bead slightly larger than the canvas typically calls for. Specifically, I would use a size 11 bead on 18M and a size 8 bead on a 13M canvas. If you want to add more sass, consider an appropriately sized bugle bead or even add a Boho bead to the mix.

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 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.

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, the 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!

Stitching Sunday

July 21, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Okay, you caught me. Technically, this was a #stitchingsaturday. I worked on a cute little Plum Stitchery floral piece last night while re-binging Legally Blond (the original, not any of the less than sequels).

I flipped the diagram 90° to create vertical columns and added a contrasting color for the vertical columns over two rows. Today’s stitched sample uses a single strand of Floche (black lines), pink Petite Silk Lame for the alternating vertical columns, and a size 8 Kreinik (for the other vertical columns and the trios of stitches over two rows). Technically, this is a full coverage stitch and adds interesting detail. However, I purposefully chose lighter threads so it did not overwhelm the flowers. (Canvas is Plum Stitchery Wildflowers 15AA.)

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! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Procrastination Squared

May 26, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I need to rip out a section on a current needlepoint project. Naturally, the solution is to post the blog I intended to post last Sunday. I am confident my kitchen cabinet will be reorganized before I finish ripping out the stitching. Okay, before I even start.

A stitching friend shared this stitch (without the beads) with me a while ago. I immediately forgot about it (#middleagedbrain) and went on my merry way. While looking for a small stitch for a wing, I stumbled across it in my photo stream, added some beads, and voila!

The stitched sample comes from Joanna at the Plum Stitchery. It’s from 4 Colly Birds, part of the Twelvetide Club hosted by the Wool & the Willow in Cleveland Heights. It uses two plies of Needlepoint Inc. silk floss and a size 14 Sundance Bead (on 18-mesh).

This stitch would be perfect for water with a lightweight metallic (Kreinik size 4 or size 8, ThreadWorx size 4 or size 8, Petite Silk Lame, or Flair) and a seed bead. (Great seed bead resources include Bead Dazzle, Caravan Beads, Sundance Designs, or S&J Designs.) This stitch will make an adorable jacket for an elf or a doll dress with Petite Very Velvet and a size 11 seed bead. Consider alternating matte and metallic threads by horizontal row. A suggested thread combo is 4 plies of silk floss for the matte with Silk Lame (18-count) for the metallic with a seed bead or a Swarovski round crystal for the bead accent.

Why 4-ply when you used 2-ply in the stitched sample? It’s all a matter of taste, the thread combos, and what your are trying to accomplish. I used two plies for the birds because I wanted the shading on the chest to show through. I recommended four plies for the alternating example because I needed the weight of the matte thread to be similar to the weight of the metallic thread. Otherwise, the metallic thread would overpower the area.

Technically, today is a two-fer as you can eliminate the beads for a more straightforward small space stitch. You could also add two small beads in each intersection for a truly glamorous stitch. (Stitch diagrams are never truly to scale, so please trust me that this will work.) You could also add the beads over three holes, instead of two as illustrated, for even more possibilities.

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.

hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy! Happy #smallspacesunday!

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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog