New Year...New Source

Happy New Year!  I hope your new year brings you everything you wish for.  And I certainly hope you continue to wish for needlepoint stitches because that is what I'm here for (other than keeping the cats housed, warm, and fed).

The month of January will be dedicated to stitches and techniques I discovered on Pinterest.  This does not mean these stitches don't exist elsewhere; it's simply I discovered them (and their corresponding source website or blog) on Pinterest.  And, for that, thank you to all who knowingly or unknowingly contributed to my library.

I must acknowledge the complicating factors with Pinterest, specifically permissions.  I make every effort to repost all things needlepoint from websites or blogs, meaning they can be linked to the original source.  I prefer to post items with the responsible party (or site) clearly marked in the photo.  This allows me to give credit where credit is due, whether that is Sheena's Sweet Stitches, Robin King, or the Needle Works (three of the most common diagram sources I stumble across in Pinterest-land).

I will not pin photos of pages from stitch diagram books, as that is an outright copyright violation.  (So, stop it!)  I can't figure out where photos of hand-drawn stitch diagrams fall on this spectrum, so I try to avoid pinning them altogether.  I re-pin photographs of stitched objects because, technically, they are in the public domain once anyone posts a photograph of their work in progress on a social media site.  I view them as stitched samples in stores...great inspirations and sometimes mysterious because they don't come with a detailed diagram.  The bottom line?  I try to learn as much as I can while respecting the original teachers.  With all of these caveats aside, let's get back to Pinterest inspiration.  

Embroidery on Pinterest has been a huge inspiration for me.  It aligns with my fondness for stumpwork and helps me broaden my own style.  

Stumpwork is an embroidery style where elements are raised from the surface of the canvas to form a 3-dimensional effect.   I knew I wanted the leaves to pop with a small accent on Sprung, but also wanted to make it easy for students of all skill levels.  Here's the original pin that provided the inspiration.  The black leaf was the catalyst for the leaves on Sprung. Here is how it worked (from the actual whimsicalstitch.com stitch guide).

And here is a close up of the end result.

Sprung is now one of my personal favorites...for several reasons.  It challenged me to stretch my style, it makes me smile when I look at it, and it's adorable.

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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

Quadfecta

I've been a little obsessed with Star Octagon lately.  Today's post is a perfect example of why and it's a quadfecta of a post. What a great way to close out #whimsicalwednesday for the year.

Let's start with the base stitch.  I expanded Star Octagon by a couple of rows all the way around.  What makes this stitch so infinitely fascinating to me is a. its neutral direction and b. the countless ways to fill the centers. 

Frankly, this stitch is perfect on its own.  It mimics diamonds yet adds a little extra jazz to them.  This would make a great floor, sky, coat...you get the idea.

Once you start filling the centers, it changes everything.  You can go elegant with a contrasting accent and a bead.

You could also fill that 2X2 center space with a Smyrna Cross, a 2X2 Mosaic stitch, French Knots, or four beads.  I like the idea of the single bead (as illustrated) with an oversized bead, say a size 8 or size 6 bead on 13-mesh, or a size 11 on 18-mesh.  A Tila bead could be a truly unique approach.

The next idea integrates tied crosses.

The tied crosses add a slight elevation.  This would be great for a cushion, clothing, or even a cloud.  If you wanted to go really nuts, add a bead over the tied crosses over two rows on the vertical, crossing over the center intersection.  

The last idea offers a unique twist for a completely filled center.  I just used this stitch for a background of a Melissa Shirley Poinsettia Cat.  

I'm hoping you will overlook the lack of stitched samples with the offer of four stitch diagrams this week!  

Speaking of stitch diagrams, 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.

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch!  Enjoy and happy new year!

A Sweet and Simple #smallspacesunday

And a very sincere Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Holidays to one and all.  To get over the hangover of the holidays, here's a sweet and easy small space stitch that adds a little somethin' somethin' to what may be a boring space.

While this is an absolute riff on the Alternating Plain Needlepoint post I did a few weeks ago, there is something about the texture of the French Knots that make this stand out.  On the stitched sample below, you can see I had nothing but small spaces.  The French Knot texture, along with the thread color, helped further differentiate the area.

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.

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.  I'm hoping to have some definitive news to share about projects in the pipeline very soon!

Okay, back to whatever you are doing!  I hope it is not cleaning up as that is what children and grandchildren are for.  Hope you have/had a wonderful holiday.   Only nine months until next year's holiday finishing deadline!  Hurry!

Magical Milanese

I've never chatted about Milanese before, so why not start with a large, dramatic Milanese stitch?

Milanese stitches are diagonal stitches, typically in groups of four with each stitch one row wider than the previous.  The resulting element looks like a triangle or an arrowhead.  Today's stitch idea blows this up into a group of six stitches for each triangle.

Let's start with the diagram.

The triangles are in diagonal columns.  Every row of an individual triangle aligns with a specific row in the triangle on either side (going in the opposite direction).  I use the "total" to determine which stitch (of the triangle) is in the next diagonal column of triangles.  In the above example, the total is seven (7).  The sixes match to the ones; the fives match to the twos; the fours match to the threes.  The "total" counting method helps me easily add subsequent columns and is a real help when adding compensation stitches.  Honestly, it keeps me sane.  I recommend stitching the triangles first and return to add the accent stitches (the aqua lines).

The stitched sample on Instagram takes this concept one step further by alternating finishes for the diagonal columns of triangles.

The diagram below is the exact same as above, but I changed the color of alternating columns to align it with the stitched sample for clarity.

 

Since Milanese is a dramatic stitch that stands out, I think it calls for substantial, full coverage threads.  The stitched sample uses Very Velvet and Frosty Rays.  Both of those threads add a certain puff to the stitched sample.  Confetti or Rachelette would be a fun alternative for the Frosty Rays.  Right now, I am pondering how fun it could be to use Gloriana's Chenille for the triangles (on 13-mesh). 

Other substantial threads, albeit with less puff, are Silk & Ivory, Planet Earth Wool, Planet Earth Silk, or Kreinik Metallics (size 12 or 16).  Fyre Werks and Flair are great metallic threads to consider as well.  While they may appear lighter weight, they are great threads as they lie flat and wide.  They make great accent threads.

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.

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

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

Ride the Wave

Today's stitch is made for combining colors and finishes.  It's also an example of what skipping a row (or rows) does to expand the opportunities of a stitch.

I named the stitch Diagonal Waves.

The stitched samples on Instagram illustrates my point.

The stitched sample uses Very Velvet (gray lines), Kreinik Metallics Medium Braid (#16) (aqua lines), and Fyre Werks (black lines).  I love the green accents in the middle of all the pink...and in the middle of a diagonal sequence.  To me, this is what makes this stitch so special.

This stitch is best for an area you want to draw attention to.  Thread choices for an attention grabbing stitch include any full coverage threads and, more importantly, contrasting colors.  I'm intentionally broad here because virtually any thread can be full coverage depending on ply count (for floss) and mesh count.

This stitch could be more subtle with lighter weight threads and elimination of a contrasting color.  Change the aqua lines to gray lines and it would make a fabulous water stitch because of the waves.  It could also be a beautiful sky.  

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.  I'm hoping to have some definitive news to share about projects in the pipeline very soon!

Enjoy!

Sassy Small Stitch

The stitch itself isn't sassy.  I think it's kinda cute.  My name for it is a little sassy.  It's a riff on the recent Star Octagon theme.  I present Collapsed Star Octagon.

The stitch has the same core element as the Star Octagon, specifically an element over 1-2-1-2-1 rows.  As with the Star Octagon, it alternates directions but from a different point.

I added a bead to the emerging intersection, though that is just one idea.  Alternately, you could leave it empty.

Or add a Cross Stitch for a small quilted look.

The stitched sample on Instagram illustrates the middle diagram (without an accent).  It uses Pepper Pot Silk on 13-mesh.

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.

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

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

You're a Square!

I choose to take that alleged insult as a compliment, thank you very much.

Today's post is really about utilizing complementary stitches in shared spaces.  My case study is a dress on an ice skater.  The shared space is the dress and I used two different square stitches for the bodice and the skirt.  I made that choice because of the tiny waist, blouse, and arms.  I also wanted something to stand out.  Once I landed on a standout stitch for the skirt, I selected a similar stitch on a smaller scale for the blouse.

The blouse is stitched in a simple Mosaic stitch and the skirt is a fun 5X5 layered square.

The stitched sample used Neon Rays on 13-mesh.  What I like about Neon Rays for this application is how smooth and flat it is.  It lays perfectly (with a little help from a laying tool).  

Layered Squares with Neon Rays (on 13-mesh) on this morning's http://whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays blog post. #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #rainbowgallery #neonrays #home #love #excusethecathair

50 Likes, 0 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "Layered Squares with Neon Rays (on 13-mesh) on this morning's..."

If you want a more pronounced lift with a metallic thread, use a more defined and substantial thread such as Kreinik Metallic (size 8 on 18-mesh and size 12 on 13-mesh).  For a flatter matte finish, use a stranded floss (silk or cotton) with a laying tool.   

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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

A Yellow TBT

Today's TBT is the Knit Stitch. 

12.01.2016 TBT.jpg

The diagram for this stitch, along with 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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

In
Comment

Diagonal Straight Lines

Yes, it's another tramme, but all I see are the diagonal (straight) lines.  

So, a little background (no pun intended).  My primary source of stitch ideas come from stitched pieces that cross my path.  Some are from stitching friend's pieces, some are from students, and most are from my own pieces.  When I am convinced I don't have an idea to share, I literally walk through my house and try to find something A. I forgot about and B. I think you will like.

This stitch is a perfect example of "A."  Today's stitch is from a holiday pillow.  (And, yes, I put out my Christmas pillows before Thanksgiving.  And, yes, I judge Costco harshly for doing the same.)

You will see why I call it Diagonal Straight lines.

The stitched sample uses DMC Pearl Cotton #8 (gray lines) and Crystal Braid (aqua lines) 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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

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

Dot Dot Dot

Yes, the title is dot, dot, dot.  As in Dotted Swiss.

As you know, I am a huge advocate of Plain Needlepoint in every piece.  It provides balance and a place for the eye to rest.  The stitched sample for this stitch is a perfect example of this philosophy.  It's Melissa Shirley's Vintage Pears with a stitch guide by Beverly Churchfield.  The pears are gorgeous.  If you want to do an exquisite version of that canvas, I strongly encourage you to get Bev's stitch guide.

The background is a Dotted Swiss variation to allow the pears to shine as they are truly extraordinary.  That said, I did add a little sparkle to the background as well.

I used DMC Floss and Crystal Braid with similar color values.  And I love it. 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 and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

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