Today’s stitch is a really fun variation of an octagon stitch, courtesy of our friends at Aristeia Needlepoint. Full disclosure: I’m confident I would not have thought of this on my own, which makes me love it all the more.

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The stitched sample the tabletop for a Melissa Shirley basket. Amanda stitched all the lines in the diagram with white DMC perle cotton. I illustrated the diagram with two threads to distinguish the two steps of a complete pie as well as offer a little inspiration for thread ideas. Whether or not you use one or two threads, I strongly recommend stitching the black lines first, and ending with the aqua lines.

This stitch is also a great illustration of the second way you can stitch octagons. Most of my octagon stitches share diagonal edges. Today’s octagons share straight edges for a slightly different look.

Amanda’s use of this for a tabletop is always a good choice. I think it will also make a beautiful bedspread with silk floss (black lines) and a Kreinik metallic in a contrasting color (aqua lines). This also reminds me a great deal of kitchen tile, so why not use it for a backsplash or floor with two contrasting metallic threads, such as Petite Silk Lame or Twinkle.

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.

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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!

I get a lot of pleasure out of stitching backgrounds. So much space to play! Yet, creating an environment for the background of single-subject canvases is equally fun.

The stitched sample is a glimpse of a background from a simple ornament with nothing more than a vase with flowers. (This ornament is a gift, so I can’t show everything.) The straight black lines are the tabletop underneath and behind the vase. The columns of diagonal rows of skipping tent stitch are the wall behind the vase. All black lines use Elegance; the yellow lines use Petite Silk Lame on 18M.

The diagram is simply a jumping-off point. In the stitched sample, I positioned the tabletop an appropriate bit above the bottom of the vase, started the stitch at the top edge of the imaginary tabletop, and continued it to the bottom edge. If the tent stitches don’t float your boat, I suggest finding a stitch that fits the width of a repeated element in the tabletop for the columns. My go-to suggestions include diamond stitches or more horizontal straight stitches. The wider your repeated element is, the more fun you can have with the columns.

This would be a darling floor and wall for a holiday ornament with a single Christmas tree. I typically use the same color as the canvas is painted for the floor (or tabletop). I would select a secondary color from the tree, say the ornaments, and add that to the contrasting column.

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

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