Guilt Works

The original plan for today's post was Reverse Basketweave, a great glass stitch.  After all, It is the month of glass.  However, I felt guilty I already shared Reverse Basketweave in a post last year. So, here's where guilt works...and you benefit.  Here's a link to the original post about Reverse Basketweave.  Summary:  it's great for glass.  Please use it.

And here is how I compensated for my original plan...a bonus glass stitch.  I named it the Square Stitch.  It should be obvious why I did so.

The coverage is more substantial than it appears.  It works best in a medium sized window.  The next two diagrams are variations of this stitch.  Each offers an increasingly open perspective.

This variation includes boxes that do not share any sides.  It's good for a medium to large glass areas, such as a jar full of candy.  

The last example skips a full row between squares.

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

Enjoy!

Step Into It

This week's glass stitch is a very welcome find for me.  It's a variation of a more open stitch I found in a book last Fall while I was working on Melissa's new Emma Williams Rooftops piece.  

It's clean and simple, though the compensation gave me a tiny headache.  (I can't lie to you.)  Once I got through it, I was thrilled I hung in there.

An appropriate colored Kreinik Metallic is a great thread for any glass.  For some windows, especially on canvases with historical or vintage themes, consider one of their vintage metallics (connoted by a V in the thread color) for a slightly matte metallic.  It's a great look.

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

Enjoy!

PS Due to technical difficulties, the Instagram photo for this stitch can't be posted today. It will be posted no later than Friday morning. Thanks! 

Darn it!

The darning stitch is a fantastic glass stitch*.  I love how you can play with the width of the stitches based on the size of your window.  I'm sharing three variations today, offering ideas for different sized windows. 

Today's stitched sample on Instagram illustrates the first stitch.  It is a wider darning stitch I used for a very large window in a Sandra Gilmore piece.    

For a medium to small window, consider a darning stitch over two rows.  

I did this stitch in pairs as I like the way they look.  However, if you prefer your open space to be in smaller bits, feel free to use the over two pattern in single rows with the same offset pattern for every other row, instead of every two rows.

I suspect you have figured out where we will end for this stitch.  Yup...over one row. I was completely doubtful and uncertain the first time I did this stitch.  And I absolutely loved how it so delicately showed the shading, yet was still a stitch.  It's perfect for a tiny window.

I hope you have the perfect windows for these stitches!

*  Yes, I know I wrote about the darning stitch way back when.  I briefly mentioned I used it for glass but didn't elaborate.  Today, I elaborated.  :)

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

Enjoy!

Glittery Glass

March posts focus on stitches for glass.  My glass stitches are variations of a single theme, specifically using lightweight metallic threads in an open stitch.  My go-to metallic is Kreinik Metallics Braids.  

The key to my glass stitches is a lighter weight thread than the canvas size typically calls for.  As an example, I use Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) on 13-mesh and Very Fine Braid (#4) on 18-mesh. 

For those of you who aren't comfortable with open stitches, a few of this month's stitches provide mostly full coverage, including today's example.  

We begin with Alicia's Lace.  It's a very straightforward stitch that alternates directions of simple tent stitches.  

I find it easiest to do this stitch going horizontally across a row, alternating directions for each stitch.  In addition, as you will see on the stitched sample on Instagram, this is a an especially great stitch for the smallest of windows.

Speaking of small stitches, we have whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays first PROGRAMMING ALERT:  Due to the small nature of these stitches, there will be no #smallspacesundays during the month of March.  #smallspacesundays will return to their regularly scheduled time on April 3.

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

Enjoy!

Connections Part 1

I am a huge fan of open stitches, especially for backgrounds.  Open stitches are a way to integrate wonderful stitches without completely obscuring truly beautiful painting, especially skies, by our favorite needlepoint artists.  It also is a tactic to draw the eye to a desired area by downplaying the area the open stitch is covering.  The most understandable example for the second reason are backgrounds.  

Today's stitch is one of my favorite backgrounds.  It's an easy pattern to pick up, fills up an area quickly due to its deceivingly large size, and is evenly spaced.  It's also very easy to determine if you missed a stitch within the the pattern.  I call it Diamond Connections.  

It's also a very appealing combination of vertical and diagonal stitches, which adds a nice texture to the area.  Consider rotating the diagram 90 degrees and having horizontal connectors instead of vertical!  There are no rules here.  The stitched sample on Instagram is from one of Melissa Shirley's recent holiday baskets.

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

Enjoy!

What are Names?

As you may have noticed by now, I am not a strict follower of stitch names.  There are a handful I know stand for only one stitch.  The Mosaic Stitch, a Cashmere Stitch, and Woven Hungarian are three examples.

There are stitches I can find no names for as well as stitches with two or more names.  Some of my favorite stitches come from books with stitch names Rug 1, Rug 2, and Rug 3.  I threw up my hands a long time ago and let the diagrams do the talking.

Today's stitch is a perfect example.  It was one of the many rug stitches I mentioned earlier.  I used it for a ground covered in snow, as illustrated in the stitched sample on Instagram.  It would also make a great stitch for a table, or a large window.  I've seen it in several books but no name has been provided.

I named it Open Step Diamond, to reflect the stitches crossing and the emerging diamond halves.  It's a fun stitch though it requires compensation in the beginning and must always start from the same side.

Let's start with the sequence.

This stitch is best started at the far end of the area to be stitched.  In the diagram, it starts on the far left.  As you can see, each subsequent stitch lays over the previous stitch.  Knowing this, add the compensation stitch (the "A-B" step) in the beginning so the remainder of the stitch lays properly.

You repeat this sequence on subsequent rows.

I added examples of the compensation stitches at the top and bottom of the area (the single stitches in opposite directions).  Honestly, for this stitch, I consider those compensation stitches completely optional.  The first set of compensation stitches (the "A-B" steps) from first diagram are not optional.  That is my opinion  Do what you think is best for the stitched area.  Thread weight will play a role in the need for compensation stitches.

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

Enjoy!

Supposedly Columns

I discovered today's stitch last summer while working on a paneled saying by &more.  I needed something with personality but subtle enough to not overpower the writing.

This stitch came from a book on layered stitches.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, layered stitches are among the most adaptable stitches because you do not have to do every layer or every stitch.

Originally designed as a border four rows wide, I simply filled the rectangular space with multiple columns, skipping a row in between to add definition to the rectangles.

The sequence of the threads is important.  

Begin with the vertical aqua lines (numbered steps), followed by the horizontal aqua lines (lettered steps).  Add the yellow lines on top of the aqua lines and conclude with the accent threads (gray lines).

As with most whimsicalstitch.com diagrams, the colors are used for clarity.  The stitched sample on Instagram uses different fibers with similar color values.  In addition, the single stitches surrounding the center (the gray lines) alternate colors by columns. 

Whether you use multiple colors or similar color values, there is a great deal you can do with this stitch.  It can be a 4-row wide border, as originally designed, a background (today's example), a wallpaper, chair or couch, ground cover, or an elegant coat.  Have fun with it!

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

Enjoy!

The True Inspiration

The true inspiration for a month of squares is this stitch from Carol H. Lake's "Desert Island Stitches."  

I discovered this stitch last Fall while working on a club series and was absolutely charmed.  It was the perfect proportion for the space, I could add contrasting color, and it was such a unique interpretation of a square.

The stitched sample on Instagram uses contrasting colors.  I also used it on the body of a boat (with a solid color and a white accent for the cross stitch).  I love both as they play the stitch completely differently.

If you are interested in the book, you can find more information here.  More information about the club series, hosted by What's the Point! in Dublin, Ohio, can be found here.  (Scroll down a little bit for information on The Petite Bouquet Club.)

The next 5X5 square is a modified Rice Stitch.  The traditional Rice Stitch contains an X over the square space (gray lines below) with each leg tacked down by a single stitch, typically in the outer corners (yellow lines).  (There are versions where the legs are tacked down by a stitch over two rows, but I digress.)   

The stitch sequence is numbers, followed by small letters, followed by capital letters.  The only step to be mindful of is the last step of the diamond (small letters).  Take a look at the "g-h" step.  You slide the final thread ("g-h") under the pre-existing thread ("a-b") to complete the stitch.

Expanding this into a pattern illustrates what a pretty stitch it is.  It's perfect for a floor, tablecloth, or clothing. 

The single stitches in the corner are optional as you may want more of the underlying X to be exposed for whatever effect you seek.  Another idea for the intersection where the yellow stitches are is to add an upright cross over two rows in each direction. 

The combination of thread weights and finishes is important for this stitch.  You need a balance of lightweight and heavy threads, with an emphasis on lightweight.  An example for 13-mesh canvas is a heavier thread, such as Rainbow Galleries Very Velvet, for the X, and follow with a lighter weight metallic such as Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) for the aqua diamond and a stranded silk or floss in a contrasting color for the yellow corners.

The last 5X5 idea for you today is the Covered Scotch.  This is another scalable stitch and is a great way to add color and texture to a space.

This stitch works equally well with threads with similar color values or contrasting colors.  My favorite combination is a flat metallic thread (such as Neon Rays, Fyre Werks, or Shimmer Ribbon) for the bottom thread and Very Velvet for the corners, with both threads in similar color values.  The eye gravitates towards the corners, so put the finish or color you want the attention to go to in the corner.

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

Enjoy!

Silly Squares

A very happy New Year to you and yours!  

I'm trying something a little different for you this month. #whimsicalwednesdays and #smallspacesunday posts for January will focus on variations of a common stitch, specifically square stitches.

The collection of diagrams for this month were curated from my personal favorite stitches, stitched pieces that inspire me (from my circle of needlepoint friends), and my go-to books.  Each post focuses on a specific size square and includes a small sampling of the stitch possibilities for that size square. These are just thought starters and I hope they help you create something magical!

The month begins with 4X4 squares.  A simple and elegant way to dress up 4X4's is to alternate the directions of the squares AND add contrasting threads, in the opposite direction, on top of the square.

The stitched sample on Instagram illustrates a tone on tone with a bright accent with similarly weighted threads.  However, don't let that or the width of the gray line in the diagram restrict you.  This is a great stitch when you add a light thread across the top.  Think Vineyard Silk on 13-mesh with an overlay of Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid #8.  

By alternating the squares and setting the corner stitches apart with a contrasting thread (color or finish), you begin to see whole new patterns that don't even look like squares, but are squares.

I call it the Corner Stitch because the eye is drawn to the unique corners.  You can take this one step further and add open space and more pronounced accents.

This version removes the single stitch corners, creating two open spaces.  One is shaped like a square and one is shaped like a triangle.   You can fill one or both with the same or contrasting stitches.  Personally, I like to fill only one as it creates a smoother design pattern, but it is a matter of personal taste and what the space requires.  Alternate filling stitches include Plain Needlepoint, Smyrna Cross, Beads, or French Knots (select list).  Mix and match to your heart's delight.

The next diagram splits the widest stitch in half.  This is a personal favorite as I like the subtle texture it adds.  It is a technique that works better with lighter colored threads, so the split stitch is more clearly visible.

The next diagram provides an open alternative.  It is an exact square but looks much softer than other square alternatives.

The above diagram is scalable as well and works especially well with even numbered squares, allowing the gray Upright Cross to be in the exact center of the stitch.

The last two diagrams are related.  I call them "Forgetful" Squares.  By "forgetting" to add the single stitch in each corner, a world of possibilities opens up.

When you start expanding the color palette, as you do in the larger version of Forgetful Squares, it can be downright clever and beautiful.  

The color inspiration for the pattern in the larger diagram is drawn from the stitched photo in the lower right hand corner of this collage on flickr.  I absolutely love the colors in the sample.  

I hope these diagrams prompt a lot of creative ideas for your next square stitch!

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

Enjoy!

The Wrapped Diamond

I'm wrapping up 2015 with a classic diamond stitch.  I call it the "Wrapped Diamond" because of the border surrounding it.  (No pun intended.  Really.) 

This diamond is slightly different from other diamonds on this site.  Specifically, the pattern is based on an odd number of rows.  

The diamond pattern is over 3 rows, 5 rows, 7 rows, 7 rows, 5 rows, and ends with over 3 rows. The two that are over seven rows establish a larger open space at the top and bottom of the diamond, allowing a more pronounced accent.

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.

To make this stitch easier to manage, add the diamonds first (aqua lines), followed by the borders surrounding the diamonds (gray lines) and ending with the french knot accents (black circles).

This diagram is a smidge deceiving as this stitch provides rather full coverage.  The lines are thinner to illustrate the individual stitches.  So, don't be concerned about the small gap between the outer rows of the diamond and the adjacent French Knot.  That should not happen in your stitched version.

The stitched sample on Instagram is from a pumpkin sampler I did many moons ago.  The threads are the same color values and provide a great choice for an an area where you want to be elegant yet still have a little pizazz.  Combining colors and thread finishes and/or weights will make a great coat, rooftop, floor, or background.  Using lighter weight threads in similar color values would lend themselves very well to a sky or pasture.  Use your imagination!

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.  20 guides are available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!