“-ish” is a Technical Term

April 2, 2025 whimsicalstitch

I wanted something smooth and round-ish. Took me way longer than I anticipated, but I love where I landed.

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This stitch was inspired by Marci’s Scallops from 2023. I sat at my computer and moved blocks of scallop stitches around until something worked. It took longer than I hoped, but I’m very happy with where I landed. The pink coral portion of the stitched sample uses two plies of Soie d’Alger (yellow lines) and Kreinik Fine Braid (size 8) on 18M. The yellow are also uses two plies of Soie D'Alger and Petite Entice.

I can not wait to use this stitch on clothing. I would love to see it on a cute dress or shirt in two contrasting colors, such as blue and green silk floss, for fun polka dots. It will also make a beautiful vase with two related hues in a lightweight metallic, such as Radiance.

I hope you have a spot for this stitch. Enjoy!

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.

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!

Stash is a Four Letter Word

March 31, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch comes from a long-forgotten WIP that I stumbled across last weekend as I was rearranging my shipping room…because that’s where all stitches come from, right?

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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.

The stitched sample is size 12 Perle Cotton (black lines) and a size 8 Kreinik (gray lines) on 18M. It’s the background for an adorable Melissa Shirley stand-up Christmas Tree.

My best advice for this stitch is to stitch each square one at a time, beginning and ending a thread within each square. That is the best way to eliminate the possibility of visible threads. An alternative is to do the groups of five tent stitches first and then slide your thread under the back of the tent stitches as you travel between 5X5 squares. The 3X3’s should still be stitched independently.

I am looking forward to finishing this project in my lifetime. I am also looking forward to including this stitch in a stitch plan for wallpaper with Silk Floss (for the 5X5 squares and the groups of five tent stitches) and Petite Silk Lame for the 3X3 squares. I can’t lie. As I stare at it, I can’t help but want to try it in a large window, say from one of Sandra Gilmore’s exquisite room pieces. I suspect I would use a single lightweight metallic in that scenario. Now I need to find one of the rooms to play with.

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!

Meet the Neighbors!

March 24, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch comes from last week’s project. It’s another cute full coverage stitch that will work almost anywhere.

The stitch is from a neighboring square at the bottom of the stocking from last week. The stitched sample is two strands of Impressions (black lines) and Shimmer Ribbon (yellow lines) on 13M. As I mentioned last week, I don’t have a clear recollection of where I stumbled across the stitches. However, I’m confident I selected this stitch because it fit the 12X12 square perfectly. And, yes, the upper right-hand corner is wonky and I have no idea what I did with that corner.

It’s another great all-purpose stitch. I will use it again for a riff on a checkerboard floor with black and white silk floss. It will make a pretty jacket with Elegance (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines). Consider lightening it up with two strands of silk floss (black lines) and a size 4 Kreinik Metallic (yellow lines) for a tabletop (on 18M).

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