Sweet Surprise

One reason I am drawn to seasonal needlepoint is it gets put away, forgotten about, and brought out a year later. It’s an early Christmas for me every year because there is always (at least) one pillow I completely forgot I had. Today’s stitch comes from this year’s version of just that pillow. Merry Christmas to me!

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 stitched sample uses Splendor (gray lines) and Shimmer Ribbon (black and aqua lines). I recommend stitching the 2X4 rectangles first, as they are all connected so it will be easy to navigate. Follow up with the center square and finish with the Smyrna Crosses in the 2X2 squares. To dress it up, consider replacing the Smyrna Crosses with beads or a single larger bead, such as a 3-4mm pearl.

This is an elegant, full-coverage stitch that will work well for clothing and bags. If you want to dress up the clothing, consider replacing the Smyrna Crosses with four beads or a single larger bead, such as a 3-4 mm pearl. It would work well for many architectural elements, such as a roof, wallpaper, or flooring. To add richness to any architectural element, consider adding a third thread in a darker color for the Smyrna Crosses.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

So Chill

Every year around this time, I pull out the holiday pillow with today’s stitch. I love this really simple stitch and the color combo always calms me. It’s really quite lovely. I hope you enjoy it!

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 stitched sample uses Pepper Pot Silk and Kreinik Metallics Medium Braid (#16) on 18-mesh on a the equivalent of a sampler pillow. It was really fun to simply stitch color blocks versus objects.

It’s a great all-purpose full coverage stitch. It would make great clothing, especially pants or boots. Consider using a lighter weight thread for the gray lines, such as a size 8 (or lighter) silk Perle or 2-3 plies of Soie D’Alger so more of the metallic shines through on either of those combinations. This is also a great stitch for oh so many architectural applications. Consider it for a roof with two shades of Vineyard Silk. Try it for a wall with a size 8 Perle Cotton for the aqua lines and Petite Silk Lame for the gray lines.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

I Hope You Like Red

Today’s stitch is a wonderful and bright explosion of red, one of the most traditional holiday colors. Red also happens to be overly represented in my shoe and purse collection. So, I’m not exactly impartial when it comes to this color.

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.

Today's stitch comes from a Raymond Crawford holiday pillow. The blocks of color drew me to the pillows as they lent themselves to fun stitches. The red block in the stitched sample uses Elegance and Flair (on 18-mesh). I used two colors to illustrate the alternating Byzantine patterns to help you navigate the stitch. I’m not going to lie; it was a challenge to catch a groove on this stitch. That said, I love the end result and the swearing and pulling out was completely worth it.

I would love to see this stitch on a floor or roof with Elegance (for the black and gray lines) and an overdyed something for the yellow 3X3 squares. It really doesn’t matter if it’s wool, silk floss, or metallic overdyed. I love the combo of matte and overdyed.

It works well in almost any area you want to draw attention to, especially clothing or a holiday bag. Play with it. It could be almost subtle with a silk floss and Entice. You could really draw attention to it with Petite Very Velvet for the black and gray lines partnered with an overdyed ThreadWorx metallic for the yellow lines. Consider beading the 3X3 squares to really go over the top.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

Flashbacks to Geometry

There are many things to love about today’s stitch. What I love the most is how fast this complicated looking stitch goes!

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.

I named it Triangle Squares because a square emerges from four triangles coming together in the center. Each side (triangle) is an identical sequence, which is what made this so very easy. To minimize confusion, I stitched a square in one color, changed the thread to the second color and stitched the adjacent square so to not get mucked up with the counting. It made life much easier.

[Update (11/29): Stitch each triangle from the outer edge to the center. This will reduce wear and tear on the thread in the shared holes.]

The stitched sample is from the vase on my Lemons Stitch Guide and uses two shades of Pepper Pot silk with a brown accent (Silk Lame).

Clearly, this stitch is for larger spaces. This would be a very interesting background stitch with lightweight threads such as Silk or Cotton Perle, such as Elegance and DMC Perle #8, with a smaller metallic, such as size 8 Kreinik or Petite Silk Lame. It also lends itself to architectural areas, such as a tile floor or roof. It would make beautiful and dramatic clothing, especially with Soie D’Alger and your favorite metallic. If you are going to go down the floss path for this stitch, be sure to use a laying tool to keep the strands smooth and straight. Also, consider upping the ply count 1-2 strands to ensure full coverage.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

MF17YO

Today’s stitch comes from a pillow I stitched for one of my favorite people, MF17YO (my favorite 17-year old). She’s adorable, just like this sweet and straightforward 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 Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

The stitched sample uses Elegance (aqua lines) and Fyre Werks (turquoise lines) for a panel on an & more sayings canvas.

Its symmetry makes it an ideal architectural stitch, such as a floor, wall, tabletop, or roof. Consider using a solid matte thread, such as Elegance, silk floss, or wool for the aqua lines and add a second overdyed thread (floss or wool) in a slightly darker color for a bit of contrast. Alternatively, it would make a very handsome coat with Very Velvet and a Kreinik metallic.

If you want to really dress it up, consider replacing the turquoise lines with beads.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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! And please have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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!

Lovely Layers

I love everything about today’s stitch…the four threads, the perfect balance, and the final elegance. It also happens to fill a beautiful space on a beautiful canvas.

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.

Today's stitch comes from my Stitch Guide for Melissa Shirley’s Lemons canvas. Sequence is critical. Begin with the black lines, followed by the aqua, light gray, and end with the dark gray Upright Crosses. The stitched sample uses Petite Very Velvet (black lines), Fyre Werks Soft Sheen (aqua lines), Elegance (light gray lines), and Silk Lame (dark gray lines).

This stitch is perfect for a medium to large area you want to draw attention to, such as clothing, large pieces of fruit, bowls, baskets. I hope you get the idea. If you want to add even more bling, consider filling the open spaces with straight stitches over two rows (essentially extending the Upright Tied Cross in the center). Or fill those spaces with a single seed bead over two rows.

The thread possibilities are endless. I prefer more durable, single strand threads for the base thread (black lines). It helps define the shapes and adds a bit of texture. I recommend a perle cotton, Very Velvet, or a size 16 Kreinik Metallic for that role. Once you’ve established the base thread, have a blast. You could go wild with all metallics in contrasting colors, say purples, oranges, and (lime) greens for Halloween fun, or mix threads from the same color family for a sampler.

In all honesty, I would love to see this as a pumpkin with Vineyard Silk (black lines), Kreinik Metallic 1/16” Ribbon (aqua lines), Elegance (light gray lines), and ThreadWorx Metallic (gray lines). If you want a slightly less pronounced version, consider using a strand-able silk, such as Splendor or Soie D’Alger, for the base thread. Use a laying tool to keep to smooth and flat. Add the remaining layers. This will bring more attention to the centers of the diamonds for another pretty perspective.

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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

Pairs of Squares

Today’s stitch has been in the background of many stitched samples on my Instagram feed. It’s time for its closeup!

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.

Today's stitch comes from one of my very first (and very favorite) Zecca pieces, Sprung. It’s light, sparkly, and simple. The stitched sample uses DMC Perle #8 and Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) (on 18-mesh).

The stitch was used for the sky. I stitched it in a backstitch of sorts. Starting at the top, I stitched pairs of stitches in vertical columns. I added the horizontal columns after that. I used two colors of blue Kreinik for the accents. Feel free to use one color for all the accents.

This would make a great stitch for a large open field, especially one with beautiful shading. I would use a single strand silk or wool, such as Planet Earth Silk, Vineyard Classic Silk, or Merino Wool for the gray lines and an overdyed matte thread, such as Rainbow Gallery’s Overture or Rainbow Tweed, for the accents. I often interchange sky and background, so it’s easy for me to see this as a background for one of many beautiful florals with a solid background. I love silk perle for stitches like this. My go to 13-mesh is Rainbow Gallery’s Elegance for stitches like this. Dinky Dyes Silk Perle 1000 is another great choice for this. I would use size 12 Perle (similar to Dinky Dyes Perle 600) for 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, Sandra Gilmore, and Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

Canvas Stash. Thread Stash. Pillow Stash.

Today’s stitch comes from my Christmas pillow stash (which is, um, extensive). I hope you like the stitch as much as I do!

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 stitched sample uses Elegance on 18-mesh on whimsicalstitch.com’s most popular Stitch Guide, Snowman Pillow, by Mary Lake Thompson (via Melissa Shirley Designs). It is a blast to stitch and it never fails to make me smile when I pull it out from the pillow closet. (And, yes, I have a closet dedicated to needlepoint pillows. There will be NO judging.)

This perfectly symmetrical stitch is a wonderful open stitch that works for many types of areas. Consider it for a background for a dramatic floral. It makes a great sky (as illustrated). I’ve seen it as a tabletop, floor, wall, and pumpkin! It’s a wonderful universal stitch.

You could fill the center with straight stitches with a contrasting fiber. As you well know, I love contrasting finishes. That said, consider mixing colors for a really fun interpretation of this 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, Patience Brewster, 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!

Programming Note
I am taking next week off! #whimsicalwednesday will return on November 7! Have a most wonderful Halloween! And don’t forget to vote!

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!

Playing with Color

I am very grateful for my stitching friends and students who share their stitched samples with me and, ultimately, us. And it’s always fun when I learn a new stitch. This week’s stitch is even more special because, honestly, I probably would have never stitched it had I not seen the stitched sample.

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.

Today's stitched sample uses Burmilana (black lines), silk floss (aqua lines), and a Kreinik Metallic (yellow lines). The stitcher used French Knots instead of single stitches for the yellow lines.

As you may recall, I favor open stitches so, at first pass, this stitch diagram came across as oh so heavy to me. But I really love the use of three colors and how the single stitches are a great accent that really livens this stitch up.

Clothing, roof, floor, bags, water. This stitch could cover all of them well. For me, the point of this stitch is color. Have fun with the color combos. Consider purple, green, and orange for Halloween. Consider, red, orange, and lavender for a fun dress. Clearly, you could have fun with the more well known combo of red, white, and blue or red, white, and green. Consider gray, yellow, and turquoise. Play with colors!

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, Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!

Oh So Blue

Today’s stitch is a fun tramme with a wide blue base and two kinds of blue sparkle. A trifecta of blue, if you will! Win win (win)!

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.

Today's stitch comes from Royal Peeps, a Zecca workshop I put together a couple summers ago. It uses Vineyard Silk, Silk Lame, and Fyre Werks on 18 mesh.

I used it for a tail on Royal Peeps. It would make great ground cover or a roof with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and a couple interesting matte threads, such as Lorikeet (aqua lines) and a perle cotton (turquoise lines). A more dramatic version, including Very Velvet, Kreinik Metallics, and Neon Rays would make great clothing. Consider flipping it 90 degrees and using it for wallpaper with lighter weight threads such as DMC Perle #8 (black lines), Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) (aqua lines), and a silk floss (turquoise lines).

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, Patience Brewster, 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!  

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!