Sweet Small Sky

Today's stitch comes from a piece Laura Taylor is working on with a student.  And it's absolutely charming.  It's almost nothing but it's also almost perfect.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

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.

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 diagram includes two versions of the stitch and illustrates the stitch's scalability.  The diagram on the left includes stitches over three rows and one row.  The other version includes stitches over four and two rows.  The stitched sample on the right reflects the first diagram (over three and one row).  It's sweet and simple and I love it.

The stitched sample is from a sky.  It would make wonderful water with two different blue metallics, or even two metallics of different sizes.  It would also serve well as a sky or mountain stitch.  The key is to use a lightweight thread.  For example, consider using Elegance on 13-mesh or Petite Silk Lame on 18-mesh. .  

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  43 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy!  (And, thank you again, Laura, for letting me "steal" this from you!)

Surprisingly Small

Truth be told, I don't consider today's stitch a true small space stitch*.  However, as I was examining my needlepoint pieces for #smallspacesunday inspiration, I found this stitch in a small space on one of my (ahem, many) fruit pillows.  And, much to my surprise, I haven't covered this exact stitch yet (variations of, yes...this stitch, no).  So, win win!

I give you Upright Tied Crosses in its purest form.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account.  Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account.  Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

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.

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 a raspberry from a retired Melissa Shirley fruit pillow.  It used DMC Perle Cotton with Frosty Rays as the X on top.  The use of two threads was a perfect way to make this stitch pop in a small space.

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 41 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

* I acknowledge this is not what I consider a pattern stitch.  I consider #smallspacesunday a theme unto itself.  :)

Still Not Too Early

 

It's still not too early for holiday stuff and today's stitch is a wonderful stitch for that most wonderful time of the year.  Technically, today's stitch is a small stitch but it works well on most sized spaces.  

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

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

This stitch is so deceptive.  It can do so much more than your typical small stitch.  The stitched sample is from an ornament on a larger Christmas composition and is absolutely perfect. 

Yet, this stitch can do so much more than make a sweater, coat, bag, vase, or even a window look good.  I can't wait to use it for greenery with the black lines as a green wool, most likely Lorikeet, and the aqua lines as something especially Spring-y such as a pink or yellow Kreinik or Silk Lame.  

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 Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  35 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy!

Tiny with a Powerful Punch

In case you were wondering, yes, you can get three different fibers into a small decorative stitch.  

On most days, I choose a stitch pattern to fill a space, rarely the other way around.  Today's stitch is an exception as this stitch came to be as a result of how a canvas was specifically painted.  As I mapped it it out, I realized it had many applications and decided to share it with you.  An offset 2X3 rectangle is the heart of this stitch.  Three different accents are provided on the diagram.  Select one (or more) that fits your mood! 

This stitch is a great way to draw attention to a small area.  The needlepoint world has done a great job in creating ornaments for every season.  This stitch would make a great coat or bag for Santa on a Christmas ornament, a great basket for a Spring ornament, or even water on a Summer ornament.  As I mapped out the diagram, I could not stop thinking about using this in a 4th of July piece, so I stitched a tiny sample to demonstrate the color combination possibilities.

This stitch is a great way to draw attention to a small area.  The needlepoint world has done a great job in creating ornaments for every season.  This stitch would make a great coat or bag for Santa on a Christmas ornament, a great basket for a Spring ornament, or even water on a Summer ornament.  As I mapped out the diagram, I could not stop thinking about using this in a 4th of July piece, so I stitched a tiny sample to demonstrate the color combination possibilities.

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 sells stitch guides and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  34 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy!

Spring into April

Happy April!  This month will be a hodgepodge of stitch stuff with no overarching theme other than my stitching stream of consciousness.

And, as things would have it, we begin the month with a #smallspacesunday.  Today's stitch is a variation on a recent #smallspacesunday.  To illustrate how you can always make similar stitches look vastly different, today's version includes a bead.

The bead brings a certain gravitas to this small stitch.  It would also be great way to make areas on small canvases pop, such as clothing or wrapping paper on small ornaments.  The stitch is also especially appropriate for a small waterway or a waterway in the distance.   Have fun with it!

The diagram includes a slightly different beading technique.  Today's technique is called Vertical Cross Stitch Beading.  You attach the bead twice, from opposite directions, over the same intersection to keep the bead centered and straight.  The net result is the bead's center hole will be parallel to the vertical row versus a 45-degree angle.  It's a subtle difference, but a nice touch.

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  32 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy!

Sail #2

With multiples of the same item on a canvas, I find I number them from left to right and simply name the stitch with that fancy name plus its corresponding number.  Hence, we have "Sail #2."  I did a little research and determined it's really a Reverse Hungarian, though it will always be Sail #2 or 3-2-3 to me.

3-2-3.jpg

I admit to overuse of Woven Hungarian, so this is a great alternative for a small space where you want to add some contrasting finishes or colors.  The stitched sample on Instagram is the aforementioned Sail #2 in all of its sailing glory and uses Fyre Werks and DMC Floss (on 13-mesh).  

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  32 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy!

Cousins

This month's first #smallspacesunday is a cousin of one of my go-to small stitches.  It's the exact same concept, simply over five rows (instead of three) and on the horizontal (instead of vertical).

Horizontal Elongated Crosses.jpg

There's nothing overly complicated about this stitch.  I recommend adding the aqua lines first, followed by the gray lines.  The beauty of this stitch, whether it is on the horizontal or vertical axis, is it works well on any narrow space.  It would make a fantastic door or panel in wallpaper.  It would also make a great ground cover, especially with contrasting colors or finishes.  

The stitched sample on Instagram is from my stitch guide for Emma Williams' Rooftops.  It uses DMC Floss and Neon Rays on 13-mesh.

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  30 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy!

Oops

Technically, today's stitch is a mistake.  What my eyes saw in the stitch book and what my hands wrote on the graph paper were two different things.  So it goes.  My best needlepoint girlfriend assured me that she liked my version better.

As much as I would like to name this the Mistake Stitch, technically it is an Alicia's Lace Variation.

I used this stitch for the pink and turquoise hills in Emma Williams' "The Cottage," distributed by Melissa Shirley.  I wanted an understated stitch because the mountains were in the deep background, but I also wanted to bring attention to them singularly because of their gorgeous color.  So, between this stitch and Lorikeet, I'm hoping it all comes together!

The diagram is in two colors for clarity.  That said, it would be great to use two threads with different finishes to make it pop a little more.  It would be fun in two threads for a small coat, flower, Santa bag, or hat.  Even a small fruit.  (Yes, I can always bring a stitch back to fruit.)  This stitch would also be great with a lightweight Kreinik Metallic on windows or water.

The stitched sample on Instagram is me playing with this stitch on a stitch guide in progress for an event this summer.  

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  31 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Short & Wide

I can be overly focused on the traditional view of perfectly diagonal stitches (45 degrees) in needlepoint.  It's also clear I'm overly comfortable with straight stitches, as illustrated here, here, and here.  So, yes, I can get bored with myself, I mean my stitches.

This is when oblique stitches save the day.  The beauty of oblique stitches is they are often the perfect stitch for that odd-shaped space.  Today's stitch is a chevron stitch with oblique stitches and a skipped row.

Oblique Chevron.jpg

This stitch would be just perfect for receding landscape (mountain or greenery in the background), water, or sky.  Those are just some thought-starters.  The skipped row is essential here as it lightens the stitch and helps with the shading.  The subtlety here is beautiful.  Despite being minimalist, it makes you look twice.

The stitched sample on Instagram is me playing with threads for a background of a floral piece from Melissa Shirley.  I used Elegance and Crystal Braid on 18-mesh.

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster.  30 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch.  Enjoy!

Triplets

Today's #smallspacesunday is a hybrid stitch inspired by two separate posts in my Pinterest feed.  The first is a stitch diagram and the second is a photo of a different stitch.  Needless to say, I couldn't find the photo again so I started playing to recreate what I thought I found.

The end result is what I am calling the Triplet stitch.  It's a riff on the Horizontal Pairs I shared earlier this month, but with groups of three stitches (instead of two).  

Triplets.jpg

This is really a perfect multi-purpose stitch.  It's ideal for tall narrow spaces.  I like it for a floor, chimney, sweater, small toy bag, water, greenery.  Really, almost anything.

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster (Kate Dickerson Designs).  30 guides are currently available, including two new additions for Patience Brewster (visit them here and here), and more are (still!) in the pipeline. 

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch.  Enjoy!