Sometimes Being Right Isn't Everything

January 7, 2018 whimsicalstitch

And that's because today's stitch comes from another mistake! The diagram below was my first attempt at diagramming this adorable window stitch, it wasn't quite right. It wasn't right because it didn't match the stitched sample, but it's still a cute stitch on its own merits. So meet the Patterned Cross Stitch's cousin, the Patterned Cross Stitch!

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.

My counsel for this version is the same as the cousin. Use it to help an area recede, such as a sky or a horizon behind a beautiful landscape, or to let how the canvas is painted standout. The pink area of this canvas was so cute that I didn't want to overdo it. It's also a foolproof way to highlight shading in a small area. A stitch like this is always top of mind for water or windows. I recommend using lightweight threads with a stitch this gentle. For example, the stitched sample uses Trebizond Silk on 18-mesh. Depending on what you are stitching, consider Petite Silk Lame, Silk Straw, 2-3 strands of your favorite silk floss or wool.

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. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

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

Go Greek

December 10, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I'm not trying to make your neck snap. And, yes, this stitch is about as small as last Wednesday's post was large.

I shared this stitch as a candidate for a border stitch over one row. And then I forgot about it. Seriously. I stumbled back across the border stitch while looking for a small space stitch for the tiniest of houses that just so happened had vertical stripes in alternating colors. Voila.

I stitched the sample with two dramatically different colors of Trebizond Silk to reinforce that point. It would be very cool with two colors or two finishes, or both. As I write this, I ask myself why not make it three colors or finishes? And I say to myself, "Why not?" (Cue everyone on the plane looking at me as if I'm crazy.)

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! Enjoy!

Itty Bitty Oblique

October 15, 2017 whimsicalstitch

This stitch is another wonderful stitch that adds a tiny little oomph to a small area.

The stitched sample uses six plies of Gloriana Silk Floss on 13-mesh. This stitch is a great universal stitch; it would make a great chimney, small grass, tiny bag or basket, a tall narrow leaf, or even glass. Do not forget to make it fit the space by using rotating it to fit the space.

If you want to dress it up a little, use a contrasting thread for the single stitch. It could be really cute!

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! Enjoy!

I Can't Help Myself

October 1, 2017 whimsicalstitch

You're either going to love me or hate me for this one. My oblique obsession continues into this week's #smallspacesunday. I continued playing after stitching the sample for the last #smallspacesunday and ended up with a teeny tiny Alternating Oblique Cross stitch!

The stitched sample uses four plies of Soie D'Alger and a Sundance bead for the accent (on 18-mesh). The alternating oblique crosses filled the space just fine on their own, so there is a case to be made for not including the bead accent. That is illustrated on the second (bonus!) stitched sample on Instagram.

I can't wait to use this for a tiny coat, dress, or ornament on a stocking. It would serve well as greenery, with the accent being in a contrasting color. I also see it as a perfect stitch for a small bird or even a leaf. There are really countless applications for this stitch. I hope you love it as much as I do!

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! Enjoy!

Oblique Obsession

September 17, 2017 whimsicalstitch

It is clear my current obsession is oblique stitches. Today's stitch combines two small space stitches to create a great small and, not shockingly, oblique small stitch.

The stitched sample uses two shades of Pepper Pot Silk on 13 mesh, illustrating what an aodrable stitch this could be for small greenery. It would make a lovely addition to furniture, such as a blanket, pillow, or rug. I love the idea of it as a coat on a small coat, using a matte thread for the over four stitch and a metallic for the over two stitch.

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. 47 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

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

More Knitting

September 3, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I hate stitching ruts. And I am very guilty of falling into them. One of my go-to small space stitches is the Knit Stitch. Its first cousin is what is commonly known as the Kalem Stitch.

I need to remember to use the Kalem Stitch more often. I love the subtle directional element the Knit Stitch is unable to offer. The Kalem Stitch offers more definition to the knit look due to the over-two-row stitch. The stitched sample is Glisten on 13 mesh for an adorable scarf. (Side note: I can't wait for the new Glisten colors.) This stitch lends itself best to clothing, but consider using it for baskets, small greenery, and perhaps a small animal or two.

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. 47 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

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

Sigh

August 20, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Sometimes you are so accustomed to doing a stitch that the most obvious variations evade you. Today's stitch is an example. One of my go-to small space stitches is the Extended Cross stitch. So when I was gently reminded of this oh-so-obvious variation, I felt like I found an all-new stitch*.

The stitched sample is just that...a sample of what it looks like. I used three plies of Lorikeet on 18-mesh to give all of us an idea of the final result. This "tall" version is perfect for a tall, narrow space such as a chimney or fireplace legs. Flip it on to its side and it's an adorable basket. It's a sweet stitch that adds a little something something to an area without overpowering it. Everyone wins.

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. 47 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

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

Going in Circles

August 6, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Circles are the most difficult pattern (for me) to replicate. Most traditional circle stitches are never perfect circles. The yet to be named stitch remains a current favorite. Today's stitch is a very close second.

The stitched sample is a sky stitched with Rainbow Gallery's Glisten from a Scott Church Christmas piece. It's sweet, simple, and allows other elements of the piece to stand out. A variation I would like to try (but have not yet) is to add a single bead in the center of the small diamond in between the circles.

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. 47 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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

Sweetie!

July 23, 2017 whimsicalstitch

It's a baby orange! Three threads. One bead. One small space.

Today's #smallspacesunday is another composite stitch. Part of the magic comes from filling in the open (and not open) spaces with unique threads.

The stitched sample includes City Needlework Silk, Very Velvet, Fyre Werks, and a Sundance Bead. An Upright Cross is added to the intersection where the threads meet. The diamond shaped open space is filled with a single bead and the square shaped open space is filled with another Upright Cross. A trifecta of orange goodness.

Composite stitches offer so many opportunities! Using the same primary design (from the aqua lines), here are just two more possibilities to fill the open areas.

Any one of these stitches work in both large and small spaces. Suggestions include pants, a hat, or a bag. They would make a wonderful architectural element, water, or greenery. It would also be great for a bird body, as you can add multiple colors to bring the feathers to life. It's just such an adorable stitch.

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!

Which Way is Up?

July 9, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's #smallspacesunday combines of a wide variety of cashmere stitches...horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. It's quite interesting but you have to pay attention as the alternating directions are not the same pattern. One includes a full cashmere and the other is a diagonal cashmere..

The stitched sample uses four plies of DMC Floss on 18 mesh for a roof on a Melissa Shirley Halloween building. It would work really well as a floor, greenery, grass, or tabletop. Consider stitching one of the Cashmere columns in a second contrasting thread, whether that is color or finish. If I had to do this roof over again, I would add a complementary metallic thread.

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. 44 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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

#whimsicalwednesday blog