Baby, It's Cold Outside

And Santa needs a coat.

Today's stitch is a pared down version of a layered stitch I came across in a book.  As you will see on the stitched sample on Instagram, there is nothing special about the canvas that shows through, but the open area is a great way to add lightness to a stitched area.

I named the stitch "Tied Squares."  It's a combo of Scotch Squares in alternating directions and Oblong Upright Crosses connecting the squares.

I suggest adding the squares first, followed by the Oblong Upright Crosses.  The diagram below is my personal preference for the stitch sequence for the crosses.

If you choose to do a different sequence on the crosses, I strongly recommend you do the exact same sequence on all crosses.  It will maintain the stitch symmetry and pattern.

So, a little insight on layered stitches.  They are a wonderful way to add color and pattern to a canvas and there are times layered stitches are perfect.  However, don't forget to look at the cumulative total of the steps.  Sometimes you only need to do a portion of them.  The original diagram for this stitch included another set of oblong crosses in the open area.  And that's a great idea, especially if you want to add another color, but I loved the simplicity of the first two steps.

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!

Scrumptious Scallops

Scallop stitches are wonderful additions to many canvases.  The most obvious use for a scallop stitch is water.  It replicates waves...literally.  Think beyond that and you will find a highly versatile stitch that is appropriate for backgrounds, clothing, or roofs, just as thought starters.  The perfect symmetry lends itself to many applications.

The above stitch has perfectly matched rows of over three on the vertical with one empty row in between.  Skipping a row is purely optional...I just so happen to like the way the skipped row helps the stitch become understated.  This stitch was used as a sky on a Melissa Shirley birdhouse, as shown on Instagram.

The next example also skips a row and adds varied scallop widths.  This is fun application for clothing.

Scallop stitches are wonderful with multiple thread finishes.  You can alternate rows of matte and metallic or even add a row of beads (on the vertical) for an "over two row" possibility.  Consider alternating rows of different colors in the same thread.  (The stitched sample on Instagram illustrates that look.)  

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

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

Tiniest Changes

The tiniest changes make a huge difference.  For example, take the Satin Stitch.  The generally accepted form is over two or more rows on the diagonal, going from lower left intersection to upper right intersection.  If you want to go a little wild, try alternating directions in the columns.  It's the perfect stitch standard for so many areas, especially leaves, furniture, walls, backgrounds, or clothing, to name just a few.  

Yet, you can take this wonderfully straightforward stitch and make it something that really pops by doing one thing.  Add a contrasting row.

The gray lines in the diagram are a high contrast color or thread finish.  A color example is City Needlework Silk red for the aqua lines with a blue silk for the gray lines.  A thread finish example is using a lighter weight thread for the green lines and a heavier Very Velvet, in the same color values, adding interesting texture to an area.  You can also combine contrasting color and finish.

You can also play with it by adding more rows in between the gray rows, or fewer rows.  It's up to your imagination and what the space requires.

The first stitched sample on Instagram is a leaf on a Melissa Shirley bird houses canvas and is a highly contrasting color version of the stitch and has two rows in between the contrasting row.  The second sample on Instagram is an example of using contrasting finishes (stranded silk and shiny Fyre Werks).

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!

Pumpkin Pie

Today's stitch was chosen because, well, it's from a pumpkin I stitched more than a few years ago...and it's Thanksgiving Eve.  And a very happy Thanksgiving to all!  I'm very grateful for your support and input as I got this little labor of stitching love off the ground this year.

The stitch is called Bargello Circles.  It's a great large space stitch for an area you want to draw attention to.  It is a complex stitch yet, once you identify patterns, it becomes manageable.

Seeing this stitch in context is very helpful and the stitched sample is on Instagram.  Let's break down the stitch into sections to help it make sense.  Each circle is made up of four separate crescents.  

What makes the crescents so easy is all of the stitches, whether horizontal (the gray lines in the first diagram) or vertical (yellow lines), are over four rows.  Each "section" of the individual crescents making up a circle is five rows wide, with a shared row on either side of the middle section.  

I find it best to have two needles threaded at the same time.  Create one circle at a time, adding each of the four crescents in the order most comfortable for you.

The center of each circle is where the fun begins.  As I mentioned earlier, this stitch commands attention.  You can moderate that attention through whatever you do in the centers.  The diagram below offers five different scenarios.

Starting in the upper left corner,

1. Use long stitches to create a spiral

2. Add beads in the Brick Beading style (one bead over two rows on the vertical)

3. Brick stitch on the vertical (center diagram; also on the Instagram stitched sample)

4. A tied Cross Stitch in the center, with a small amount of exposed canvas to allow shading to show through (lower right)

5. Upright Crosses (lower left)

I do not recommend any sort of diagonal stitch, such as Plain Needlepoint, for the centers.  The crescents and resulting circles are horizontal or vertical straight stitches and I believe the direction they established should be maintained.

I tend to use matte threads with similar color values for the crescents and a metallic in the center.  Think Silk & Ivory, Pepper Pot Silk, or Vineyard Silk for the crescents and a Rainbow Galleries metallic, such as Frosty Rays, for the centers.

If you want to really make this stand out, use two contrasting colors for the crescents, such as red and purple or black and white, with a gold, silver, or white metallic in the center.  Be warned...that will be a very dramatic stitch.  And, for some pieces, absolutely perfect!

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

Enjoy!  And I hope you have a very, very happy Thanksgiving!

More Darlingness

The basis for this stitch is called "Main Network of Four-Way Enlarged Hot Wheels."  I prefer "More Darlingness."  (Thank you to Ann Strite-Kurz for the stitch inspiration and apologies for the name change.)

The dark gray lines define the stitch concept.  The heart of the stitch exists in the large diamond center.  The yellow tied cross in the center is just a thought starter.  Consider Smryna Crosses, more diamonds, or leave it blank.  

In my stitched sample, I used a matte thread for the gray lines, a metallic for the yellow lines, and a single bead in the intersection to keep it clean and simple.  There are many alternatives for the intersection spot, including more beads, as illustrated at the bottom of the diagram.  Truly, the only limit is your imagination.  (The stitched sample can be found on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account.)

I discovered this stitch years ago and used it once for a solid colored background on a JP piece.  You really need a large space to pull it off.   The pillow still sits on my front window seat...I have yet to tire of it.  That's always a good thing.

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

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

The Darling Stitch

"I call everyone 'Darling' because I can't remember their name."  - Zsa Zsa Gabor

I call this the Darling Stitch because, despite an hour of book and online research, I could not find a name for this stitch.  Never mind the fact I named the files used to create the stitch diagram for this stitch "Anonymous."

I favor this stitch for an area I want to keep understated but still want to show a little spark with a small color accent.  Think backgrounds for small pieces such as Christmas or Halloween ornaments. 

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.

The black lines drive the primary pattern.  I like to do the Plain Needlepoint (the light gray lines) in a different color to add a little personality.  Think a very light pink Flair with white Vineyard Silk...or a pewter Kreinik Metallic with a black DMC Floss.  I hope you get the idea.  

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

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

Tramme Time

Tramme is a great stitch for contemporary canvases and has a fascinating history (at least to me).

First, today's use.  Tramme is a fantastic symmetrical stitch that is clean and simple, yet provides texture and color.  It is also incredibly, and stupidly, easy as it is a version of couching.

The easiest part is adding the base thread.  It can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.  The stitch diagram shows a vertical tramme.  For this example, add the base thread in vertical rows, skipping a row in between threads (numbered steps on the diagram).  When you reach the bottom or top of a row, simply go across two rows from where you are and insert the needle and return in the opposite direction.  Add the accent rows (lettered steps) on top of the base thread.  

The only trick is how to finish off the base thread.  If you have a stitched area nearby, insert and tie off the base thread there.  If not, while it is still on the needle, take the base thread and pull it up through the canvas in an unused area just out of the way.  Once you tie down the rows with the accent thread, there will be plenty of space for you to tie off the base thread in the accent thread on the back.

It's a great stitch for large or small spaces.  My favorite base threads are velour, a larger cotton pearl (#3 or #5), or a single ply silk (Silk & Ivory, Pepper Pot Silk, Vineyard Silk).  I cover those with a complementary metallic in the same or contrasting color.  The stitched sample here illustrates that combo. A fun background is a single strand light sheen metallic (Fyre Werks Soft Sheen, Flair, Neon Rays+) with a lightweight matte accent thread (Elegance, smaller cotton pearl).  The trick here is to ensure the metallic thread lies flat and wide.

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.

Now, a very brief history.  Tramme is also a type of needlepoint canvas.  On a tramme canvas, a professional stitches the design (not painted nor transferred), using long horizontal stitches of various lengths and colors of wool.  The stitcher purchases the tramme kit with this canvas and the wools required to complete it.  The stitcher stitches over the horizontal wool threads with continental stitches (or cross stitches) of the same color wool, using the horizontal stitch as the guide for color and number of stitches required.  Shading is easier in a tramme needlepoint because there is there is no question what color thread to use as the stitcher is covering the horizontal lines with the exact same color thread and a wider range of colors are available in the wool fibers used. Many of the finest tramme tapestries are stitched on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

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. My favorite needlepoint retailers that carry 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! 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!

More Woven Whimsy

It's always fun to pull out old pieces and see what stitches I may have forgotten.  I started a new stitch guide yesterday with one of my favorite Melissa Shirley Halloween pieces.  (More about that in a future blog.)

I found a perfect example of a stitch I enjoy but never remember to use.  For some reason, I remember Woven Hungarian as a great small space stitch.  This stitch is similar and just as versatile.

I call it Diagonal Woven Ribbon.  It's a great way to integrate multiple colors or multiple thread finishes (e.g., matte and metallic) into a small space.  Typically, I use a matte thread for the gray lines and metallics for the colored lines in between.  That said, there are many ways this stitch will fit your stitching needs.

You can use threads of the same color for the entire section, or integrate multiple colors (as shown below).

You can alternate colors by row.  In this example, each row is defined by the direction the stitches are facing.  Even here, I would use a matte thread for the thin lines and a metallic for the wider line in between. 

You can leave the middle stitch out all together for a nice open stitch where the shading of the canvas shows through.

Enjoy!  Let us know how you use it!

Woven Whimsy

There is something to be said for the tried and true stitches.  And when they can serve in multiple roles, all the better.  

Allow me to introduce you to (what I call) the Woven Ribbon stitch.  There are far too many things I like about it.  It is a clean, symmetrical design.  It serves well in large spaces without overpowering the piece.  The 2X2 row of stitches in between the larger squares can be glammed up with beads or a Smyrna Cross or dressed down with simple single stitches.

My favorite thing about it is that it does the job for a variety of larger spaces.  I've used it as a sky, a coat, a basket, a table top, wallpaper.

Enjoy the stitch!  Help inspire us by letting us know how you use it!

PS  I admit I might be more excited I figured out how to insert the image in the original blog post.  That said, I'm still posting all #whimsicalwednesday stitches on Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/whimsicalstitch).  Enjoy!

A Small #whimsicalwednesday

Small spaces are often the most challenging spaces to be creative.  I have a variety of go-to stitches for small spaces and get overly excited when I can add to that library.

I discovered this stitch last night as I thumbing through books for a new piece I'm working on.  The beauty of this stitch is that it works as an open stitch with a lighter thread and a skipped row (as diagrammed) or as a full coverage stitch with a heavier thread and no skipped row.

I'm using it for a sky but it would work really well as ground covering (grass, dirt, or even snow).  

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/340725528036129728/

Enjoy!