It Took a Minute

April 15, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is nowhere near what I planned on sharing this morning. And that’s a good thing because the journey took me to four different places and I’m sharing two of them with you.

Click on image to see on pinterest. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

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

The diagram on the left shows the final stitch, and I love its scale. Oblique crosses make simple squares with the corners covered by an X. I used four plies of Soie Cristale for the yellow lines and gold Radiance 18 for the gray lines on 13M. The middle diagram uses four plies of the same Soie Cristale and is reflected on the right-hand side of the stitched sample. (Yes, there were two other steps/stitches in this journey, but these two were my favorites.)

The metallic in the stitched sample for the first stitch draws more attention to it. Turning that into a matching color would bring it down a smidge and help it make a great background or tabletop. The stitch in the middle is a variation of a t-stitch that almost mimics diamonds in motion. (It is also possible I haven’t had enough coffee this morning.) I love that stitch for a simple sky or water with a lightweight metallic, such as Petite Entice or Radiance Mini. As with most stitches, it is scalable. You could switch the X’s to cross stitches in between the corners for a more delicate stitch or you could make the oblique crosses longer for a more open grid. Have fun with it!

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 that you add them in that order. They can also provide ideas on integrating 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.

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

Evaluating Stitches for Your Project
As you are auditioning stitches (from any stitch source), count the number of canvas threads on the diagram that match your mesh size. And there you have what an inch of the stitch will look like. Evaluate it against the area where you plan to use the stitch, then make your final decision. If you start integrating this step into your stitch selection process, you may be surprised at how many stitches you think are large are much smaller than you realize.

A Note about Stitch Names
I am absolutely loving the rising popularity of needlepoint, and if you are new to the blog, I want to take a second to chat about stitch names (again). TLDR: Don’t overthink them.

Most of the names for the stitches you see here are made up out of whole cloth. When I started needlepointing 30+ years ago, a teacher would draw or describe what she recommended, and off I went. Seriously. When I started my blog, an industry friend told me stitch names were crucial. I searched high and low for proper stitch names. What I found was stitches with no names or, even worse, identical stitches with two+ names from different sources. On top of that, some of my favorite stitches had generic names, such as Rug 1 and Rug 2. I quickly learned to focus on the diagrams, which are prettier. A stitch by any other name is still just as interesting!

There are some commonly understood stitch names, such as basketweave, continental, Scotch (3X3 and above squares), Mosaic (2X2 squares), Smyrna Crosses, and Hungarian (groups of diagonal stitches over 2-3-2 rows). It feels like it ends there. When naming stitches for my blog and books, I make every attempt to integrate generally accepted names, but also feel that a legible diagram is more important.

I’ve also learned that there is a very good chance that a stitch pattern that I come up with may not be new. But it is new to me. I spent almost an entire afternoon at a stitching friend’s home, poring through binders of stitches she gathered over five decades. Not only were many of them drawn by hand (whoa!), I discovered stitches that I thought were created decades later, with a different name, in a different presentation, from a different source. So, a stitch doesn’t belong to a single person or teacher. They are all part of a huge and decades-old network of really creative people.

Today’s 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, and Instagram.

More from whimsicalstitch.com
If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of four books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 200 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.

New to needlepoint or looking for a refresher? Please download a handy how-to 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.

Are You Related To?

April 8, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Having grown up with a large extended family with an unusual last name, I’ve spent most of my life answering, “Are you related to so and so?” Well, the answer was always yes, and today’s stitch suffers the same fate. Yet, just like my great-grandmother, I love all of the relatives of this stitch the same, just as she loved all of us the same.

The stitched sample uses two shades of Radiance Mini on 18M to reflect a building on water. This is why I love lightweight threads. The combo of this stitch and lightweight threads accomplishes everything required. No question that is water and no question it is a reflection in said water.

This stitch is a first cousin of one of my favorite stitches, the Trifecta Stitch. Blog post here and original Trifecta Instagram post here. The original stitch is also found on page 260 of Volume 1 of Mary’s Whimsical Stitches. By simply moving the path, it becomes a whole different stitch. And I love it. Water, sky, backgrounds, tabletops, walls, snow. So. Many. Uses. I would encourage you to use this stitch as a thought starter. Play with it in ways that make the most sense to you and satisfy your own aesthetic goals for your project.

I am absolutely loving the rising popularity of needlepoint, and if you are new to the blog, I want to take a second to chat about stitch names. TLDR: Don’t overthink them.

As you are auditioning stitches (from any stitch source), count the number of canvas threads on the diagram that match your mesh size. And there you have what an inch of the stitch will look like. Evaluate that against the area where you plan to use the stitch and make your final decision. If you start integrating this step into your stitch selection process, you may be surprised at how many stitches you think are large are much smaller than you realize.

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 integrating 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!

Needlepoint Unicorn

March 29, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s small space stitch is another example of how I interpret canvases for stitches. I rarely follow a canvas exactly how it is painted, but I always try to honor, in some way, the colors it is painted. And today’s stitched sample is a unicorn, as it is about as close as I get to accomplishing both.

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

The stitched sample is Rachel Barri’s Monsieur C. Cracker. Honestly, I avoided the pants for as long as I could because I loved the way they were painted, but I didn’t want to add more basketweave next to the adorable tiger (proudly cloaked in Petite Very Velvet). Thankfully, my student is beyond lovely and patient. And I am loving where we landed. The stitched sample uses two shades of Impressions (black and turquoise lines), two shades of Radiance 18 (light gray and yellow lines) and good old black Silk Lame 18 (dark gray lines).

Looking ahead, I see this stitch for clothing (obviously), a blanket or bedspread, or even a floor. Not all applications will require five threads. I think it will be just as interesting with cashmere and oblique cross areas in the same two threads throughout. If you want to really dress it up, consider replacing the black tent stitches with beads.

Have fun with it!

By (sometimes) including this step in my own process, I find I am now integrating much longer stitches than I ever thought I would. I used to think a stitch six rows long was super big. I have very much changed my tune, which has helped me expand my creativity, especially for large-space stitches.

If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of four books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 200 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.

New to needlepoint or looking for a refresher? Please download a handy how-to 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.

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, the layering of colors demonstrates you add them in that order. They can also provide ideas on integrating 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!

Stitch Names

March 18, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch comes from one of my favorite catch-all categories…a composite stitch. Technically, virtually all stitches are composite stitches. And this is why I don’t obsess on stitch names. Are they helpful? Absolutely. Are they consistent? Absolutely not.

The stitched sample is me playing with blue Elegance (black lines) and green Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines) on 18M. A full square (that includes the four oblique crosses in the corners) in the stitched sample is just a smidge over a square inch. So, you need some open space to get the most out of this stitch. The stitch will make a great wall or background, or even a floor on an appropriately sized canvas. A really cute variation on this stitch is to alternate straight stitches in two colors. For example, each block of straight stitches is five rows wide (or tall). Do the first, third, and fifth rows in a solid color, say blue. Stitch the remaining straight stitches in a white thread. Add a blue sparkly thread for the aqua lines, and you are off to the races.

I am absolutely loving the rising popularity of needlepoint, and if you are new to the blog, I want to take a second to chat about stitch names. TLDR: Don’t overthink them.

Most of the names for the stitches you see here are made up out of whole cloth. When I started needlepointing 30+ years ago, a teacher would draw or describe what she recommended, and off I went. Seriously. When I started my blog, an industry friend told me stitch names were crucial. I searched high and low for proper stitch names. What I found was stitches with no names or, even worse, identical stitches with two or more names from different sources. On top of that, some of my favorite stitches had generic names, such as Rug 1 and Rug 2. I quickly learned to focus on the diagrams, which are prettier (and more important, imo).

I’ve also learned that there is a very good chance that a stitch pattern that I come up with may not be new. But it is new to me. I spent almost an entire afternoon at a stitching friend’s home, poring through binders of stitches and notes she gathered over the five decades. Not only were many of them drawn by hand (whoa!), I discovered stitches that I thought were created decades later, with a different name, in a different presentation, from a different source. So, a stitch doesn’t belong to a single person or teacher. They are all part of a huge and decades-old network of really creative people.

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 integrating 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!

Dealers Choice

March 4, 2026 whimsicalstitch

This is going to be quick. (It’s been one of those weeks.) Today’s stitch is a wonderfully simple background stitch, with a medley of accent options.

The stitched sample is me playing with two strands of white Floche (black lines) and Silk Lame 18 (yellow lines). The plan was columns with horizontal stitches over three rows, with a darning stitch between (far-right yellow lines). Then I went rogue and started playing with other ideas in place of the darning stitch and here we are.

The stitch on the left is what I call Woven Hungarian. I included the compensation stitches on the diagram because they can give stitchers fits. The middle stitch is a diagonal skip tent. And the stitch on the far right is a darning stitch over three rows. (All three of those stitches, with numbered sequences are in volume 1 of Mary’s Whimsical Stitches.)

I like this as a background stitch and you can adjust the size of the columns to align with your background size. I also like the idea of the columns with the center choice for the exterior of a house. The Woven Hungarian option could make a cute bedspread.

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 integrating 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!

Waste Knots and All

February 18, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch was inspired by a fun stitch from Bedecked and Beadazzled I shared a few years ago. It’s also a work in progress, but a great opportunity to see how I work to minimize visible threads.

First, the stitch. I used blue Pepper Pot Silk (black lines) and size 12 Kreinik braid (yellow lines). The original plan was to stitch just the horizontal yellow lines, similar to the inspiration stitch. But something was missing, so I added the vertical lines on top of the horizontal lines and was happy with where I landed. Well, honestly, I may change the Kreinik to a lighter-weight metallic to make it recede a little bit.

I like this as a background stitch and you can add more or less space between the columns to achieve the coverage you want. I’m looking forward to using this on a basket with an overdyed wool for the black lines with a solid color silk floss for the yellow lines and NO skipped rows between the columns.

There are two examples of how I navigate open stitches on the stitched sample. The first, a small running stitch, is in the lower right-hand corner. When I completed the column on the far right, I needed to return to start the column under the S. The running stitch 1-2 rows away from the design area will be swallowed by the fabrication of the ornament. Magic! There is a waste knot (aka away knot) underneath the long vertical stitches on the upper right of the canvas. I added that knot in the direct path of the long vertical stitch and it will stay there until I add the Kreinik on top of those three stitches.

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 integrating 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!

This is Not Last Week

February 11, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a fun little experiment for a background and, unlike last week, super easy.

The stitched sample is a background for the Twelve Drummers Drumming of the Plum Stitchery Twelvetide set. I used white Elegance for the aqua lines and a light blue Petite Silk Lame for the black lines. I like the simplicity of the stitch, combined with the little pop of color with the blue accents.

It would be so easy and cute to replace the tent stitches with seed beads, or even a bugle bead. I want to play with this a little to create a grid of sorts, so I have that fun to look forward to. Naturally, you can make the oblique crosses taller for larger areas. There’s a lot to come from this stitch. I hope you have the perfect spot for it.

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 integrating 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!

Please Learn From My Mistake

February 4, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is gorgeous (IMO). Today’s stitch is a challenge to stitch. Please don’t stitch it in the sequence I did. Meaning, please keep reading.

A lovely alternative stitch if you don’t want to pull your hair out like I did.

A stitching friend sent me today’s stitch. It was love at first sight for me. I seem to be on a background stitch of late, so I thought this would be a great addition. The stitched sample uses two plies of white Mandarin Floss (black lines) and green Kreinik Very Fine Braid (size 4) on 18M. I absolutely love everything about this stitch…except stitching it for the first time. Last night. After I got back from a long weekend in wine country.

Created the diagram and did what I always do…I stitched the primary threads (black lines) first. Gah! What a mistake. Stared at the stitching, stared at the diagram, and realized I should have stitched the easiest to follow pattern first. Ripped it all out and added the yellow lines first. What a difference. Took me about half the time as the first pass.

The second pass also revealed a lovely alternative (photo on far right). It’s only the yellow lines, and it’s way more open, but there is always a place where an understated open stitch will work. I hope you have the perfect spot for either of these background stitches. More importantly, I hope you have an easier time with your first pass than I did. I am glad I persevered because I really do love both versions.

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 integrating 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!

Be a Star

January 28, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a happy stitch with a gentle reminder (from one of my favorite stitchers) to always be a star.

The stitch draws inspiration from an embroidery stitch I found on Instagram. I love the initial shape…basically four M’s creating a fun star (or snowflake). The stitched sample is me working with three plies of Soie D'Alger on 13M. This stitch is made for a background or a sky. Imagine a light blue or gray winter sky with a matching metallic for a snowy sky. Perfection.

You can also add individual stars randomly. (I also understand the majority of the needlepoint community may have just groaned at that.) I also experimented with stitching the stars immediately adjacent to each other and wasn’t thrilled with the end result. I do want to play with creating columns of snowflakes. Because, columns. Duh.

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 integrating 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!

My Third Needlepoint Love

January 21, 2026 whimsicalstitch

My view is that virtually any stitch can be transformed into columns, especially for backgrounds. Today’s stitch takes brick blocks and, voila!, we have a simple and fun background to accompany an adorable snake. (Adorable snake. Not a phrase I ever expected to write in my lifetime.)

The snake is a darling pillow that a customer is making for her grandson. And I love the colors. She picked her favorite color from the snake for the accent stitch. The black lines use size 8 DMC perle cotton and the aqua lines are green Radiance 18. If you have more white space, I encourage you to add more space between the columns for an even cleaner look. For example, you could use two shades of a thread for a background on a still life or even a monogram.

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 integrating 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