I have a confession. I use #whimsicalwednesday to audition stitches for class projects and some personal projects. Today’s stitch is the elusive background stitch I’ve been looking for!

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The stitched sample is the background on a Kirk & Bradley hot air balloon. Even though the stitch is very open, it uses only four plies of Splendor to ensure the stitch isn’t too heavy. An earlier candidate is this stitch, which I always knew was too small for the area. I liked it, but I knew it was too small.

This stitch is most suited for a large open area, such as a background, tabletop, or sky. I would use 2-3 plies of silk floss on 18M and no more than four plies on 13M. If you need metallic, I encourage you to use a lightweight single-strand metallic, such as size 8 Kreinik or Flair for 13M or Petite Silk Lame for 18M. You may also want to consider just stitching the group of stitches on the diagram in a random pattern on a background. (Don’t connect them like I did on the stitched sample.) I know the thought of random makes some hearts run cold, but I promise it will be really pretty. To dress up the stitch a little bit, consider adding a bead over two rows in the center of each flower.

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

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.

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.

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, Instagram, and Twitter.

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.

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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!

Hydrangeas! Pink! Spring has sprung on this morning’s #whimsicalwednesday.

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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 is a variation I have admired over the years and was thrilled that Patty from Stitch-Stash shared her stitched sample with us. It’s a far more glamorous version of the Crown Stitch and makes me smile. The stitched sample is Vineyard Silk (black lines), Flair (yellow lines), and 2mm pearls (aqua circles). As you can see, it’s a fabulous background stitch for a colorful bag of hydrangeas by Laura Megroz. (Also, hydrangeas are a favorite flower, so this piece gives me all the smiles.)

A quick note on the pearls. They are not obvious on the stitched sample because I wanted to show as much background as possible for the full effect. I promise pearls are on the stitched sample and I promise they are adorable. In addition, there is not a line (representing beading thread) through the circles representing the pearls on the diagram. I recommend bringing the beading thread up and down through the same hole (a technique I’ve yet to replicate on a blog diagram). This works well with pearls because, unlike seed beads, they are perfectly round. Consider using a single strand (not doubled) of your beading thread with the pearls and securing them twice with the thread. I’ve learned the hard way that attaching single beads (or pearls) twice provides extra protection from getting snagged or loosening over time, especially if you are planning on fabricating your project into a pillow.

Clearly, this is a great stitch for a large area such as a background. I think Patty did a great job of balancing this glamorous background with simple elegant stitches for the remainder of the piece. That said, there are some rather large canvases that this stitch could be part of a menagerie of decorative stitches. Kathryn Molineux has some simply stunning large pieces where this stitch would work in many of the areas. (The website doesn’t have unique pages for projects but it does have a search function that helps illustrate this point. Along the top banner, it has a pulldown menu for Project Size. Select “Even Larger”.) This stitch would be a beautiful addition to one of the tall borders with two shades of a lightweight metallic (such as Petite Silk Lame). This stitch would be a fantastic coat stitch for one of Amanda Lawford’s large Santas (30” tall). (Scroll down to see the largest Santas.) I would love to use Very Velvet and a Kreinik Metallic for one of those coats. I would use appropriately sized sequin with a contrasting bead in lieu of the pearls.

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.

If 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 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!

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