One Last Stitch…

December 25, 2022 whimsicalstitch

…before my beloved Melissa Shirley Santas take a vacation until next year. Today’s #stitchingsunday is a small gem from a very large toy bag and a surprising lesson in scale.

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

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

The stitch is a variation of the Step Stitch from my first book (page 216). Every third row uses a contrasting color to add interest to this subdued stitch. The stitched sample is a rather large and exuberant green toy bag from the attention-seeking musical Santa. My best guess is I used a green and gold size 12 Kreinik to give this bag a subtle kick. (It’s on 13M.)

There is a method to this madness. This is, without question, a small stitch. But this small stitch is perfect for this large area because it steps back and lets the fun toys and drum shine. I am confident my first thought was to use a large stitch, but I am so happy I re-evaluated. The addition of the second color makes this small stitch all the more interesting.

The moral of today’s post. Small Stitches. Not just for small spaces anymore. (IYKYK.)

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.

If you like what you see on this blog, want to learn some very creative decorative stitches, and how to put them all together, whimsicalstitch.com has a book for you! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches 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. For more information, visit here. Retailers carrying the book can be found here.

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! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Keeping Santa Warm & Dry

December 19, 2021 whimsicalstitch

As promised, today’s #stitchingsunday introduces you to the very smartly dressed Santa from my tree. Today’s stitch is from a forever ago blog post and is also included on page 203 of my first book.

Today’s stitched sample is a Santa roll-up from my early days of decorative stitching. The stitched sample uses Neon Rays (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines). The original blog post presents this same stitch on the horizontal, so it’s kinda fun to see the different looks. It’s a fantastic small space stitch. I talk a little about how to navigate the extra bulk this stitch can add, which can be a great feature for certain stitch areas.

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! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Moo!

December 15, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Today’s ornament is from the way back machine, aka my early days of decorative stitching. It’s always a good feeling when ornaments from that time still make me smile. And who doesn’t smile at a cow with a red ribbon and a bell around her neck?

My best guess on the threads is Neon Rays (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines) on 18M. (UPDATE: The canvas is from the Susan Roberts Collection. It is not listed on the Susan Roberts website, so my guess is it has been discontinued. For those who want to see if they can find it through private resale, it is called Holstein Black and White Cow Roll up by Liz.)

I’ve shared some Byzantine stitches with you before. Today’s example is very close to one from the earliest days of my blog. The black lines are over two rows in the earlier version. The black lines in today’s version are over three rows, putting more emphasis on that thread and downplaying the yellow lines. And that may be something you want to do for a cute coat, Christmas tree, or animal you are stitching.

As an example, I would use a lightweight matte, such as 2-3 plies of Soie D’Alger, on 18M with a size 8 Kreinik for the yellow lines for clothing. For a Christmas tree, overdyed silk or cotton floss is a great choice for the black lines and a Kreinik Metalic (yellow lines) will add a lovely sparkle. Burmilana or Bella Lusso wool (black lines) are great standards for animals. (Well, except for Christmas cows.) I recommend a mild matte for the yellow lines, such as Petite Silk Lame, or a second color of Burmilana or Bella Lusso (in a slightly darker hue).

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.

IIf 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 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!

Let There Be Light

December 8, 2021 whimsicalstitch

It took my glasses, the iPhone magnifier feature, a window, and turning up the lights in my office to decipher this stitch from my earliest days of decorative stitches. I can tell this is from long ago because it is about as full coverage as a full coverage stitch can be.

My best guess on the threads is Splendor (black lines), Neon Rays (yellow lines), and a size 8 Kreinik (aqua lines) on 18M. The column of tent stitches down the center, underneath the beard, indicate where two edges of the front of the coat meet. As you can see, I used a slightly darker color to make it stand out and compensated the stitch so it matched on both sides.

As much as I love open stitches, I’m kinda thrilled I stumbled across this stitch and am looking forward to using it in an upcoming project. It will make beautiful clothing, as illustrated above. It will also make a beautiful tree that you would like to draw attention to. I would use a solid wool thread such as Bella Lusso for the black lines. Ideas for the two accent threads include Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines) and an overdyed wool for the yellow lines. If you want to simplify it a little, consider changing the yellow diagonal lines over three rows to match the black lines. In addition, consider using a single metallic thread for the Upright Tied Crosses in the open areas.

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

It's an Ornamental Time of Year

December 1, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Happy ornament season! While many of us hang ornaments year round, there’s something special about winter holiday ornaments. My plan for December is to share some new and old ornaments hanging on my office Christmas tree*. None of the new stitches are especially glamorous but they are great for small projects and, dare I say, ornaments in particular? And, yes, we are starting with a frog.

* By office tree, I mean my 4.5’ faux tree that Hank has already tried to climb. (And for those who don’t follow me on Instagram, Hank is my cat who also serves as the Office Manager…who doesn’t do much Office Manager-ing.)

The stitched sample is, well, a Christmas Frog. Duh. It uses two strands of Floche (black lines) and size 12 Kreinik (yellow lines) on 18M. (Full disclosure: those threads are my best guesses as this ornament is what one might call vintage stitching.)

I’ve seen this stitch pop up a lot recently in my needlepoint feeds on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, so I was thrilled to unpack this gem recently. It’s the perfect balance of thread combos and is a great universal stitch for clothing, architectural stitches, or flower petals (as thought starters). I look forward to using a Bella Lusso wool (black lines) and a Silk Lame (yellow lines) for a fall sweater. It would make a pretty chimney with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and a second color of Vineyard Silk (yellow lines) for a chimney. I would go to the other end of the finish spectrum for flower petals with a delicate overdyed metallic for the black lines and a solid contrasting metallic (yellow lines) for a flower petal.

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

Max

November 17, 2021 whimsicalstitch

When one gets THE call that finishing is in and that finishing is Christmas ornaments, it does not matter that Thanksgiving hasn’t arrived yet. You whip out the faux tree and fill it with Christmas ornaments. What makes it even better is one of the ornaments had a great background I could share with you!

Click image and keep swiping to see the needlepoint version of the king and then Sir Max of Legallet himself.

Today’s stitched sample (center photo) is a cute little cat ornament honoring my never-ending love for orange cats. It’s from so long ago I don’t even remember stitching it, so I’m going to give you my best guesses on the threads. The background is stitched with two plies of Impressions (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines). This is clearly from my “no naked canvas” years, so I’m guessing the late 90’s. (The cat is stitched with a single strand wool of the day, probably Appleton.) The current orange king of the household is Max, so here we are honoring Sir Max of Legallet (one of my vet’s many nicknames for him).

I’m thrilled to discover this overtly diagonal stitch because they are not my go-to stitches. As you can see, it makes a great background. It will also work well for a rug or bedspread with a single strand silk such as Pepper Pot Silk or Vineyard Silk (black lines) and a mild metallic such as Silk Lame (yellow lines). It will also be a very pretty coat or skirt with a silk floss and a size 8 Kreinik. It will also work well for slightly rough water with two shades of metallics, such as Petite Silk Lame or Kreiniks.

I’m going to play with it for a future project by leaving a single empty row between the yellow and black blocks to see what that adds to the equation. I suspect that could make a pretty hillside or field. And, if it doesn’t work, I will fill those empty rows with tent stitches for an even more elegant version of today’s stitch.

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.

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

HHHello!

November 10, 2021 whimsicalstitch

I stumbled across today’s stitch last night and was shocked I hadn’t shared it with you before. It checks all the boxes for me…an appropriate amount of openness, lots of metallic and, frankly, pink and silver. Pink and silver (or gold) always make me happy. Always.

Today’s stitched sample (center photo) is me playing with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and Kreinik size 8 (yellow lines) on 13M. I purposefully selected Kreinik as the metallic because it retains its shape, allowing the accent stitches (yellow lines) to remain distinct and not “melt” into a solid horizontal line. I’m also a huge fan of Vineyard Silk (or Pepper Pot Silk) on 13M. I like the less than full coverage it provides for straight stitches but also LOVE the excellent coverage it offers for other diagonal stitches, especially basketweave (far right image).

I’m looking forward to using this stitch for jacket or pants with a single strand silk or wool (black lines) and a second single strand silk or wool in a related color (yellow lines). What I’m really looking forward to is using this for a fence. It could work as a chain link fence with two colors of lighter weight Kreinik’s. For example, use a silver for the black lines and a darker silver (essentially gray) for the yellow lines. Or a black metallic with a gray metallic. It will also work well for other architectural items, especially roofs. I plan on using silk floss (black lines) and a Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines) for the roof.

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

This Stitch Gets Around

November 3, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch has been making the rounds on several projects in my stash, so there are two stitched samples! It’s a cute and almost full coverage stitch that adds a little something-something to a project it graces.

You’ve seen the first stitched sample twice before. (The sky and the white walls were previous blog posts). Today’s stitch is used on the roof with three plies of Soie D’Alger (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines) on 18M. The sample on the far right is on a soon-to-be-announced Stitch Concept. It uses four plies of Splendor (black lines) and a size 12 Kreinik Metallic (yellow lines) on 13M. In both samples, the metallic accent adds the perfect little something to this stitch that makes it stand out.

Outdoor spaces…architectural elements. Clearly, there’s a lot that can be done with this stitch. I’m looking forward to using it on a jacket with an overdyed wool and Silk Lame (for 18M). I like what I call the chunkiness of the larger Silk Lames with wools or single strand silks.

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

Whew!

October 27, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch comes to us via…my living room. The stitch itself is the result of one of those journeys where you are confident it’s going to be one thing and you end up with something very different. Naturally.

The stitched sample is from one of my favorite stitch guides, Walking in the Rain. It uses Vineyard Silk (black lines) and Petite Very Velvet (yellow lines).

I love how the longer (relatively speaking) oblique stitches enhance the monkey’s long body. The stitched sample illustrates the deceptiveness of the stitch. Due to the layering of the threads, the yellow threads appear to look like smaller tent stitches in the final appearance.

I’m looking forward to using this for outdoor landscapes. Flip it 90° for a hillside or green space with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and an overdyed single strand silk or overdyed silk floss (yellow lines). I love tiny accents of overdyed threads as they add interest without overwhelming an area. It will also work well for household objects such as a blanket or upholstered chair. For either of those, I would use silk or cotton floss (black lines) and add a metallic accent (yellow lines).

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

Oh So Sweet

October 20, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is oh so sweet to me as it includes everything I love about a stitch. It’s an open stitch with groups of stitches in opposite directions giving it perfect balance and set off with a combo of matte and metallic threads. It simply makes me smile.

The stitched sample is me playing with two plies of lavender Soie d’Alger (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines) on 18M.

I’m looking forward to using this for clothing, especially a winter coat and hat with Petite Very Velvet (black lines) and a Kreinik metallic (yellow lines). It will make a beautiful woven basket or blanket with an overdyed silk floss or Straw Silk. I want to play with it for a larger window to see if that pans out. And, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m thinking about a fun multi-color version of it that I will share in a #stitchingsunday soon.

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

#whimsicalwednesday blog