Technical Difficulties

October 11, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I really, really like this stitch. I am confident of this because this has been one of those posts that had multiple "technical difficulties" during every step (diagraming, stitching, and writing). Every. Single. Step. (Please ignore the fact those difficulties were of my own doing.) But, I was so excited by this stitch that I kept going. I give you the Triple Diamond.

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.

This stitch pops up in my Pinterest feed on a regular basis and I am always happy to see it. I'm not sure the original teacher nor the original source, so all I have to offer is a broad "thank you!" The diagram and stitch sample replicate the really clever color plan with three shades of a single hue plus a metallic. (The original post was blue and silver.)

As I was creating the stitched sample, I reached a point where I wasn't "done-done" but I still really liked it. So, here's a variation with a slightly lighter touch.

I can't wait to use this stitch for a larger (and/or wider) area where I want to draw the eye. It would make a great Santa coat or bag, large trees, even ground covering, or a large flower. The second diagram provides a version where some of the shading can show through.

Have fun with the thread combinations. A dramatic stitch calls for dramatic threads. Ideas include two hues of Very Velvet (diamonds) with Kreinik 1/16" ribbon surrounding the diamonds, Painters threads (diamonds) with wool or single strand silk for the surround, Lorikeet (diamonds) with Rainbow Linen or Grandeur for the surround.

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 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!

Ouch

October 4, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch comes from our stitching friend, Ruth Schmuff, of Bedecked and Beadazzled. I adore everything about this stitch from the offset diamonds on top of diamonds along with the perfect weight of the gold thread. (Oh, and I adore Ruth.)

I say "ouch" because creating this stitch diagram made my head hurt. I relied on the stitched sample more than most diagramming projects.

There were two keys that helped me navigate this stitch. First, I stitched the stitch in two distinct steps. Add the diamonds first (aqua lines), followed by the herringbone accent (gray lines). Understanding it is a herringbone stitch will help you navigate the crisscrossing threads.

The stitched sample is from a beautiful geisha project from Ruth. This stitch would be beautiful almost anywhere. The area will help you determine the thread weight required. That said, one thing that drew me to this stitch was the lightweight metallic.

The stitched sample establishes it works well for clothing with Soie D'Alger and Kreinik Japan Thread #1. For a heavier look for clothing (or a bag), consider Very Velvet with Petite Silk Lame. Another heavier look includes Planet Earth Silk with Rainbow Gallery Neon Rays or Caron Collection Rachele or Rachelette as the accent. I would love to see it as a floor with an overdyed floss or silk with a solid matte accent such as Rainbow Gallery Subtlety or even a single strand of Impressions.

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!

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!

Open, Open, Open

September 27, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I love today's stitch for many reasons. Yes, it's an open stitch and my fondness for open stitches is well documented. What drew me to it is the fact it challenged me, in a good way, on how open an open stitch can be.

The shape of this stitch is very simple and will not define the area it is used in. I recommend it for an area that is a good size, where you are comfortable with the canvas and/or shading overshadowing the actual stitch, and an area that is not the main focus.

I was introduced to it on an elegant martini glass. This stitch on the glass was a charming surprise as my eye went to the olives and other objects near the glass.

The stitched sample above is me playing with it for a sky with one ply of Floche and size 8 Kreinik Metallic on 18-mesh. I would absolutely use this stitch for glass (say a martini glass), larger windows (say behind a Christmas tree), or a basket with beautiful shading. It's a sweet and surprising 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.

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

Double Trouble

September 20, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Don't let the pink in the stitched sample fool you. Today's stitch is a dramatic choice for an area you want to stand out.

The stitched sample above is me playing with Pepper Pot Silk (base threads) and Entice (accent threads). I added numbers to a pair of X's in the diagram to illustrate how I envision one laying on top of the other.

I purposely left an empty row in between the base threads to add more open space, especially if I choose to use this stitch on a beautifully shaded area. I considered and discarded the idea of adding a bead in the oblique diamond area between the columns. However, that would add more coverage and an extra dose of glamour.

You could also center both vertical stitches in the column, as illustrated on the right. It's simply a matter of personal taste.

This stitch is clearly for a large space and one that will stand out. I recommend it for clothing, bags, large trees, even ground covering (on the right canvas). Thread weights will play a large (no pun intended) role in where to use this stitch. For example, lighter weight threads would make this stitch work for water, or even a 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.

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!

Start Small

September 13, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I'm not going to lie...composite stitches used to intimidate me greatly. I have a few great books on the subject and would read them with wonder. "How did they think of this? How did they see this?"

I can't speak for those teachers but I realized at a recent teaching event to "start small." I knew what I wanted for a Santa hat, but a. didn't have those books nearby and b. would have been mortified pulling out a book. So I punted.

I started with a group of one of my favorite stitches. And then I proceeded to stare at the sheet for a minute, knowing I wanted space. So I added an accent. And then I was off to the races by simply repeating this pattern, creating this framework.

Personally, I loved the initial framework but wanted more. So more was added including beads and a metallic accent with the final stitch for the Santa hat below. It combines so many wonderful things that are perfect for the holidays.

This stitch would work well for most areas where you want to draw attention. It would make great clothing, large flower, even water. It would also make very interesting greenery, with or without the bead. It really depends on how much attention an area deserves. Thread choices would be dictated by area. You could combine some wonderful metallics, such as ThreadWorx Kreinik with 1-2 solid colored metallics for a wonderful water. Greenery could include Lorikeet, Very Velvet, and/or Silk Straw. Have fun with 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 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!

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away

September 6, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I shared this stitch with a student at a recent embellishment class. It's an extension of my love of tramme but it added key elements to the student's piece, specifically rain. It was a perfect solution.

Your eyes are not deceiving you. The stitched sample uses two plies of Floche for every single turquoise line on the stitch diagram, resulting in a slightly more full coverage stitch.

I would love to use this stitch for a sky with a single strand of Subtlety and Petite Silk Lame. Flip the diagram 90 degrees and you have a great stitch for water or grassy plains. For the water, I would consider a lightweight Kreinik (size 8) in two different blues (one for the base thread and one for the accent thread). The grassy plains could be brought to life with a solid colored single strand silk, such as Pepper Pot, for the base threads covered with Lorikeet for the accent threads. I'm playing with thread choices for this stitch for a beach chair. I'll be playing with combinations including Rainbow Linen or other tweedy threads for that one. The alternating directions of the accent threads (gray lines) give this stitch a great texture for clothing, baskets, even tree trunks. I hope these are good thoughtstarters for you.

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!

I Wish I Was Tall (Still)

August 30, 2017 whimsicalstitch

This stitch is so exquisitely elegant. So tall and elegant. I love the simplicity of what looks like twisted diamonds.

I placed four rows in between the columns as an example. If you would like less open space, consider fewer rows in between. You would also fill the space inside the diamonds with another diamond in a thread with a contrasting finish for a smoother look.

The most obvious use for this stitch is a background. I saw it many years ago as the background for a gorgeous John Johanssen floral from Melissa Shirley. It would be a really sweet background for any number of holiday pieces, as it adds to the whimsical spirit of Christmas pieces yet draws more attention to the main portion of the pieces.

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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog