Still Stuck in the 90's

December 13, 2022 whimsicalstitch

Well, my Melissa Shirley Santas are the gifts that keep on giving. Musical Santa is gifting us with today’s stitch.

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

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Technically, this stitch was hiding behind the madness of my Santa collection that debuted earlier this month. Visit Instagram to see a sample of my needlepoint Christmas decorations this year.

The stitched sample is from the drum on the b-side of my musical Santa. (I crack myself up sometimes.) I used somewhere between six and eight plies of Splendor on 13M. (Reminder, this piece is from the 90’s. No judging on ply count.)

This is a vexing stitch yet worth your time. I included the repeated element on its own to help your journey. I strongly recommend stitching a complete element before you move on. It will make your life easier, I promise.

The repeated element is 12 rows wide and 12 rows tall, so it requires a good-sized space to get the pattern going. I’ve used it on a large-ish pumpkin back in the day with silk floss and an added X (four rows wide)over the center of the cross. It’s great for clothing, such as a jacket or sweater with Vineyard Silk, Pepper Pot Silk, or beautiful wool thread.

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

Just a reminder about how to evaluate stitches for size on 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 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. (Or, in today’s case, the stitch is much larger than it looks.)

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.

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!

Taking Direction

September 21, 2022 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a fun way to add direction to an area. The fact it is a quick stitch is a bonus!

The stitched sample is me playing with two strands of Burmilana (black lines) and split Straw Silk (yellow lines) for a tree trunk on 18M.

Yes, you can split Straw Silk! Before you begin, find the center of the strand and gently pull it apart to create two intact strands. If it doesn’t easily split, using the tip of a needle will help get the split started. Of course, a full strand would have worked here but I like the lighter touch of the split strand on 18M. I love a full strand for random stitches on 18M and 13M. And, despite my love of laying tools, I love to integrate the natural twist of Straw Silk in random stitches.

Back to the stitch! This is a great stitch for nature, such as a nearby mountain with two hues of single-strand silk. I would love to use it for bird wings with silk floss and overdyed ThreadWorx metallic. (I would use the mirror image of this stitch for the opposite wing.) It will make beautiful water with two related hues of Petite Silk Lame or size 8 Kreinik (on 13M) or size 4 Kreinik (on 18M).

Consider filling the empty spaces with two tent stitches in a contrasting fiber OR making the yellow lines five rows wide for a full coverage stitch. You can also make each group of stitches larger than two stitches. You can add more height to this stitch by increasing the groups to four plus stitches.

Just a reminder about how to evaluate stitches for size on your project.

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

So Many Ways to Play

September 14, 2022 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a lovely reminder of how easy it is to create variations from the core repeat pattern of virtually any stitch.

I love playing with variations. Flipping a horizontal diagram into a vertical design is a quick and easy switch. Creating a mirror image of a diagonal pattern adds lovely symmetry to opposite sides of a flower or a sail. Taking a pattern and adding a skipped row can create, well, magic.

Today I cobbled together a grid by inserting horizontal rows into vertical columns and I love the results. I hope you recognize the stitch that inspired today’s stitch. (If not, no worries, here’s the link.) The stitched sample is a background on a sweet Madeline Elizabeth piece I picked up recently. I used two plies of Splendor (black lines) and 2mm S&J Designs pearls (yellow circles).

Grids are great stitches for architectural elements such as floors, walls, or fences. For 18M, I would use silk floss or a lightweight metallic such as Petite Silk Lame or Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) for any of those and change the pearl to an Upright Cross or an X (with each diagonal stitch over two rows). I’m looking forward to using this for clothing with a heavier touch. This stitch would make a great Santa coat or a fun shirt with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and tiny buttons for the yellow circles.

Just a reminder about how to evaluate stitches for size on your project.

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

Swoopy Scallops

July 13, 2022 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch was a fun little diversion from my plan for an area…and I love it.

The stitched sample is the burly chest on a turkey from a soon-to-be-announced Stitch Concept. It uses four plies of Belle Soie silk (black lines) and two strands of Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines) on 13M.

I love using scallop stitches for water, backgrounds, and household objects such as vases. I prefer metallic threads (Kreinik, Treasure Braid, or Petite Silk Lame) for water AND to skip a row between the blocks of stitches. The openness that emerges from the skipped rows adds a lightness to the water and metallic threads are simply an obvious choice.

Scallops can also mimic fish…or mermaid…scales. If I’m working on a glamorous fish or mermaid, I like to add beads as one of the stitch blocks. For example, I would replace the aqua lines in the diagram above with a single bead over two rows on the vertical. (And, yes, there is such a thing as a glamorous fish…this is needlepoint, after all.)

Just a reminder about how to evaluate stitches for size on your project. As you are auditioning stitches (from my blog, books, or any other stitch source), count out 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 are planning 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 and this 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 three books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 250 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. All three books include chapters on Balanced, Diagonal, Layered, Oblique, Small, and Straight stitches. Volume 1 also includes a chapter on Borders. Volume 2 includes a chapter on Beading, and Volume 3 includes a chapter on Tent Pattern Stitches. Any or all are a great enhancement to your stitch library. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.

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.

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!

Hello Gorgeous

June 28, 2022 whimsicalstitch

There is something to be said for dramatic colors against a white background. I’m having a little fun test driving some background stitches for a Santa standup. Truth be told, I’m not sure if I like the stitch or the color combo better.

I’m playing with two plies of Splendor (black lines) and a size 8 Kreinik (yellow lines) on 18M for today’s stitched sample. I navigated around the white space by stitching the blocks of diamonds across the horizontal. I added the groups of three stitches making sure I always started at the bottom of a group of stitches to keep the center(s) clear of dragged threads. I added the gold stitches in vertical columns, weaving the gold Kreinik around the red Splendor on the back, dutifully avoiding the open space.

As I mentioned, I’m test driving background stitches. You may be surprised to learn this stitch is too small for the piece I’m working on. (I was certainly surprised.) But this is a great opportunity to share a way I could have determined that before I stitched the sample.

As you are evaluating stitches (from my blog, books, or any other stitch source), count out 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 are planning 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 and this has helped me expand my creativity, especially for large space stitches.

And now back to today’s actual stitch.

Today’s stitch will make a beautiful background on a 18M round ornament with a simple design, like a cute saying. Consider using a size 8 Kreinik (black lines) with 2-3 plies of silk thread (yellow lines) for an extra pop of sparkle. I suspect it will make a very pretty roof with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and a more mild metallic like Silk Lame (yellow lines). I’m also looking forward to using it for some beautifully shaded clothing, such as a Santa’s coat. What a perfect way to draw attention to the coat all the while showing off the beautiful artistry of needlepoint designers.

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.

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!

Hip to be Square

June 22, 2022 whimsicalstitch

Last week’s Layered Diamonds was a hit! Naturally, this means I must play with more shapes.

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

Squares are the obvious next target. The stitched sample is me playing with three plies of Splendor (aqua lines) and size 12 Kreinik (black lines) on the background of a Kirk and Bradley hot air balloon. I know I made a point of calling out leaving an empty row between the diamond layers from last week but I really liked the look of no skipped row between square layers. I can’t verbalize the why of that. I simply preferred it.

This will make a fantastic all-purpose architectural stitch. For example, use two shades of lightweight Kreinik (size 4 for 18M and size 8 for 13M) for a large picture window. Assemble a roof with brown straw silk (black lines) and brown Vineyard Silk (aqua lines) for an interesting matte look. It will also make a beautiful field with an overdyed silk floss (black lines) covered with a solid silk floss (aqua lines). I’m looking forward to using this for a large vase or a tabletop with the same threads illustrated in the stitched sample.

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