Baby Bling

As you may have noticed, I use very fancy, technical terms for stitch concepts.  Darling (for sweet stitches), Bling (fun dressy stitches with at least one metallic thread or bead), Trifecta (classy stitch with an element of three of some kind).  Today's #smallspacesunday features a Baby Bling stitch.  It's the clever combo of an upright cross stitch and a bead.

This stitch is great for any small space requiring more than a splash of excitement.  The beads are a nice surprise in this stitch, adding elegance and glamour.  What I also really like about this stitch is its inherent openness, allowing shading to show through.

Since this is a bling stitch, I wholeheartedly encourage using a metallic for the Upright Cross.  If you want the beads to pop more, do the Upright Cross in a matte thread.  I've seen this stitch used as a flower petal, a lemon (as seen on the stitched sample on Instagram), and a roof.  It's truly versatile...yet the common denominator is a small space.

Speaking of the stitched sample, it uses a Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) and a #11 Sundance Bead.  It is a very light application of this stitch.  Consider a heavier metallic and larger bead if you would like the area to pop even more.  

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  18 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

A Girl's Best Friend

The Diamond Stitch may not be the first stitch you think of for a small space, but it's a fun and versatile solution.

More often than not, the simplest of Diamond Stitches is the best for a small space.

Don't freak out at the openness of the diagram.  Imagine the gray lines as a Frosty Rays, Fyre Werks, or Vineyard Silk.  The coverage is far better than the diagram illustrates.  With a lighter thread, such as Soy Lustre, Elegance, or Kreinik Metallics Very Fine Braid (#4), it works as a fantastic open stitch that highlights shading.

If you are using the Diamond Stitch as a small space stitch, filling the center of the diamond requires discretion.  You don't want to make it too busy and overpower the area.  Two quick ideas are an Upright Cross or a single bead.

As a small space stitch, I like to mix matte and metallic threads (my favorite combo) with similar color values.  I've also used two different colors...one as the diamond and one as the Upright Cross...to add color to an area or to relate the area to another section of the canvas. 

If you choose to add a single bead, remember the size of the bead will define the stitch.  A larger bead will draw attention to the area.  

These stitch diagrams, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  17 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Kneedlepoint

The Knit Stitch is, quite possibly, the most obvious, underused, and appropriate small space stitch for almost any situation.

It's Plain Needlepoint with columns alternating directions.  As its name suggests, it mimics knitting and is one of the cleanest ways to dress up Plain Needlepoint in a small space.

The most obvious use is for scarves, mittens, sweaters, and other articles of clothing.  There are so many wonderful wool threads available now that allow you to shade to your heart's delight, add fuzzy texture with a Bunca Brush, or stay with a traditional flat knitted look.  Some of my favorite wools include Amy's Burmilana, &more's Baby Alpaca, or Fleur de Paris' Bella Lusso Merino Wools.

The Knit Stitch also works well for small nature objects such as tree trunks, ground cover, or bushes.  It's fun to use two different colors to make more of a statement, say on a small Christmas tree ornament or a pair of socks.

Use your imagination and have fun with it.  It may be a small stitch, but it is a mighty stitch. 

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Seventeen guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect space for this stitch and enjoy!

Cross My Heart

Today's #smallspacesunday shares the Extended Cross Stitch.  It's a versatile stitch suiting many stitch needs, including small spaces (duh), shading enhancement, and texture.  

The concept is very simple.  For a vertical cross, it's over one row and up three rows.  For a horizontal cross, it's over three rows and up one row.  It's always important to have the second stitch is the cross going from the lower left to the upper right.  (It's one of the "Purist Principles" I follow in needlepoint.)

For shading to show through, leave the intersection between the crosses empty.  You can fill that space with a French Knot, bead, or traditional cross stitch to add glamour or texture.

The cross stitch over one row condenses the stitch and adds a small level of bulk.  If you do not want that added texture, your thread choice should be lighter than you normally use for the specific canvas size.  As an example, I like to use DMC Pearl #5 or Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) or Tapestry Braid (#12) on 13 mesh.  Elegance or 4-ply floss is a good choice for 18 mesh.  

Truth be told, just last night, I used this stitch with a 4-ply floss on 13 mesh because 6-ply floss added way too much bulk for the stitched area.  It was a great reminder that there are guidelines in needlepoint, but you need to let your eye tell you what the right thing to do is.

These stitch diagrams, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Ten guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect space for this stitch and enjoy!

It's a Brick...House!

Today's #smallspacesunday features the Brick Stitch.  It is, quite possibly, the easiest stitch ever.  It can be done on the vertical or horizontal. 

It is also scalable.  The only caveat is to go over an even number of rows (to keep the bricks centered on each other).  The above example is over two rows; it is over four rows in the example below.  I wouldn't necessarily consider an over-4 brick stitch a small stitch, but wanted to demonstrate the adaptability of the stitch.

You can also skip rows if you would like to show the shading on the canvas or to make the stitching a little less dense.

The last example is the trifecta!  It doubles up on the bricks, skips rows, and adds a small accent.

As for use, this is a great stitch for bushes (especially in the background), ground cover, small area clothing, small area backgrounds, buildings.  

I am a big fan of plied cotton and silks.  I like using 4-ply on 18-mesh and 6-ply on 13-mesh for this stitch, along with my trusted laying tool.  There is something about the softness of the plies that make the final finish soft and gentle.  It also works well with stranded silks, such as Vineyard Silk or Pepper Pot Silk. 

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Nine guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Be creative and enjoy!

Small Space Sunday

I always smile when stitch books and blogs preach there are no rules in needlepoint.  Technically, they are correct.  I appreciated the guideposts provided by teachers and other resources over the years, especially as I relearned the craft in the 1990's as decorative stitches and fiber choices exploded.    

One of those guiding principles is plain needlepoint belongs in every piece.  It brings balance, helps define the focal area, enhances shading, and is a nod to tradition.  I always use plain needlepoint for human faces, hands, eyes, most animal faces, and most lettering.  If there is a beautifully shaded leaf in my project, I often use plain needlepoint to enhance that leaf, despite the fact there are fantastic leaf stitches out there.  Often, plain needlepoint is the first solution stitchers consider for small spaces.

The good news is plain needlepoint is not the only answer for small spaces as there are interesting small space stitches available.  Combine them with today's array of fibers and you have a wide palette to choose from for your smallest spaces.

I am thrilled to introduce #smallspacesunday where I will share my go-to small space stitches as well as new small space discoveries.  I can't promise it will be every Sunday.  But I promise they will be good.

My first #smallspacesunday stitch is Encroaching Gobelin.  This extremely simple stitch is virtually identical to plain needlepoint but you as you go across one row but up two rows.  

Compensation is also very easy as you don't compensate when you reach the top or bottom.  It is also one of the few stitches I don't cringe when doing in the opposite direction, especially on birds, as the alternating direction adds to the dimension this stitch provides.  (Personally, I am a stickler for needlepoint going from lower left corner to upper right corner in an intersection...but that's just me.)

In smaller spaces, this stitch is fantastic for Santa bags, birds, grass, clothing (such as sleeves or shoes), leaves, tree bark, hats.  The possibilities are endless.  Unlike other small space stitches, Encroaching Gobelin works well in larger areas such as grass, ground cover, and/or animal bodies (especially birds, dogs, and cats).  It helps balance a piece, aids in defining the focal point, and adds to the diversity of stitches in an understated way.  Generally speaking, I don't recommend using this stitch on a focal point as the stitch is too subtle.

This stitch is uniquely suited to overdyed threads, especially on grass and ground cover as the various hues work well together to give the space dimension while not overpowering it with a complicated decorative stitch.  Shading is enhanced with Encroaching Gobelin as the subsequent rows are embedded in rows above,  which translates to a subtle transition between colors.  

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and future #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesdays.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you enjoy the first #smallspacesunday.  Thank you for stopping by!