Lucky Me!

July 24, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I always enjoy visiting and teaching at Bedecked and Beadazzled. The customers are a blast, Ruth is a great hostess, Johnny, and I always come home with new stitches (and stitched samples) to share with you! 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 is from Ruth’s gorgeous guide* for Patio Table by Annie O’Brien Gonzales (distributed through Melissa Shirley Designs). It uses Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines) and Princess Perle (black lines). (* I say gorgeous because I saw the student’s exquisite work in progress.)

This stitch will work with so many thread combos. More often than not, I use strong single strand threads such as Kreinik Metallics, Vineyard Silk, or Elegance as the base thread (aqua lines). I use these because they are heavy enough to be visible in the areas between two beetles. And, similar to Ruth’s version, I cover it with another single strand thread, often a metallic.

Ruth used this stitch for a tabletop and I love how it complements the original canvas design in that area. Extending the tabletop idea, it would also make a gorgeous tile floor with silk perle, such as Elegance, and Straw Silk (!) on top for a rough-ish looking floor or even a silk floss for a smoother floor. I would love to see it as a coat with a heavy Kreinik (such as size 16 or even the 1/8” ribbon) for the base thread and Very Velvet for the beetles. Consider alternating the top threads by color or finish in every other column for the coat as well.

This stitch diagram, along with all other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on a Pinterest board here.

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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, Purple Palm, Maggie, 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!

Stitching Sunday

July 21, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Okay, you caught me. Technically, this was a #stitchingsaturday. I worked on a cute little Plum Stitchery floral piece last night while re-binging Legally Blond (the original, not any of the less than sequels).

I flipped the diagram 90° to create vertical columns and added a contrasting color for the vertical columns over two rows. Today’s stitched sample uses a single strand of Floche (black lines), pink Petite Silk Lame for the alternating vertical columns, and a size 8 Kreinik (for the other vertical columns and the trios of stitches over two rows). Technically, this is a full coverage stitch and adds interesting detail. However, I purposefully chose lighter threads so it did not overwhelm the flowers. (Canvas is Plum Stitchery Wildflowers 15AA.)

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! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Goldilocks

July 16, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a two-fer of sorts. The first round was cute. The second round is cuter-est.

The black lines represent the first stitch. It was good but needed a little something else, so the second set of diamonds (turquoise lines) was added. Perfection.

The stitched sample uses two shades of Petite Silk Lame on 18-mesh. (The photo doesn’t do a great job of representing that. My bad.) The stitch is from the mask on one of my newest Stitch Concepts, Tribal Mask Giraffe by T. Chapman. I would love to see this with contrasting threads, both in color and finish. For example, use a Vineyard Silk or Very Velvet for the black lines with a bright metallic such as Frosty Rays or Kreinik for the turquoise lines for a coat or bag. It would make beautiful wallpaper or background with a single strand silk, such as Elegance or Petite Princess Perle (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (turquoise lines). You could replace the tiny diamonds between the larger diamonds with a bead over two rows or an Upright Cross.

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! Please enjoy!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

July 10, 2019 whimsicalstitch

This morning’s stitch comes from a frantic search on my phone for a stitched sample. Not the most reliable nor advisable way to find a stitch for a blog post but, wow, I think it turned out better than all right.

I am, literally, leaving on a jet plane in a few hours so this is going to be quick. The stitched sample uses a single strand of Burmilana (black lines), Petite Silk Lame (gray lines), and a Sundance bead on Herondipity (by Charlie Harper), a project I’m working on with a local student.

This large space stitch would be great on a tall tree with beautiful shading, such as a pine tree or a solid Christmas tree with a variegated Silk Floss (Silk ‘N Colors, Gloriana, or ThreadWorx) or a variegated wool (Lorikeet or ThreadWorx). Depending on how the tree was painted, you could add contrasting accents (say silver and red beads for ornaments) or matching accents to accentuate the leafiness. (If leafiness isn’t a real word, I say pshaw. It’s a great word.)

Clearly, this makes a wonderful stitch for bird wings. I would ratchet up the accents for the wings with brighter metallics or larger beads, such as Swarovski round crystals or bi-cones. This stitch is scalable and I will be using a slightly smaller version of this on the Partridge of the Twelvetide Series. It’s going to be 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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy!

Waiting for my Close Up

July 3, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is itching to get into a Stitch Concept. It came to me as a result of writing procrastination with a trip down the pinterest.com rabbit hole.

The stitched sample is me playing with four plies of Simply Shaker cotton floss on 18-mesh.

This stitch will get its close up and soon. There are many ways this stitch can play. My first thought is a wall and/or background on a still life with a single strand silk such as Elegance or Soie Perlee. Another idea that popped into my head is using this as a glass stitch with a lightweight Kreinik, Bijoux, or Petite Silk Lame on a (very) large glass vase or window. It will work on clothing where you want to accentuate the height and any glorious painted shading, such as pants or a long coat, with a single strand silk such as Vineyard Silk or Pepper Pot Silk.

I will also strongly consider alternating columns with two threads, whether they are different finishes or colors will completely depend on the piece. And, before you ask, the columns can be either horizontal or vertical.

Today’s stitch is also unique as I included sequence numbers to give you an idea of how I navigated the open canvas. I started in an upper corner and used a modified backstitch to create the rectangles and connectors, always backtracking over immediately prior stitches (except when turning a corner). You can follow this path on the horizontal OR vertical axis.

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! Happy #smallspacesunday!

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!

Work in Progress

June 30, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I always try to integrate at least one or two new (to me) stitches in any new Stitch Guides and Stitch Concepts. This keeps my repeat students on their toes and keeps this blog pumping. Today’s stitch comes from Snowy, a new Stitch Concept I’m working on. (It will be ready in mid-July.)

The stitched sample is me playing with blue Gloriana Silk Floss and green Flair. I used two colors because I wanted to illustrate the contrast between the pairs of stitches in opposite directions. It also packs a lot of interest into a small area. I love it when that happens with small stitches!

This will be one of many leaf stitches on Snowy. (And many is an understatement.) For Snowy, I will be using a lighter weight thread (in a single color) so the beautiful shading will show through. The candidates are Silk Perlee, 2 plies of Silk Floss, Silk Lame, or possibly Elegance. So many wonderful choices! The reality is whichever of those threads falls in the right color family will end up in the piece.

I’m so glad I stitched this with two colors. Just as last Wednesday, more ideas popped in my head as I stitched it. I would love to see this as a sweater with two contrasting Merino wools, or a wool and a metallic. Tweedy or Rainbow Linen would make a cute roof, say on a Debbie Mumm stocking. I would love to see it as a tree stitch with one of the gorgeous Silk ‘N Colors greens.

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! Happy #smallspacesunday!

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!

Pretty in Pink

June 26, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I’ve admired this full coverage stitch from afar for a while. And, while I was pulling together the stitched sample, I discovered that leaving out half of it is just as fun!

The stitched sample is me playing with 6 plies of Splendor (black lines) and Neon Rays (gray lines) on 13-mesh. Most of the other stitched samples I’ve seen for this stitch used the same thread for both lines. I used two colors to add interest and more distinct and unique direction to the stitch. It’s a great stitch whether you use one or two threads.

It will make a great jacket or pants with a strandable Merino wool or single strand silk. Flip it 90°, thread up with some overdyed silk floss and, voila!, you have a beautiful grass field. Consider stitching the single stitches (that are going in the opposite direction) in a contrasting thread, whether that be finish or color. That could make a very interesting floor or roof.

The second photograph is the stitch in progress before I added the Neon Rays. As I was stitching this step, I kept thinking what a pretty glass stitch this would make. I would love to use it on one of the large windows from a Sandra Gilmore room. It would be gorgeous with a lightweight Kreinik Metallic, Petite Silk Lame, or Bijoux.

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! Please enjoy!

Oops

June 19, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch reigns in my laundry room. I’m not a fan of laundry so this piece is the only thing that makes me smile when I go in there.

The stitched sample is a large red flower from a retired Linda Carter Holman piece (through Melissa Shirley Designs) with Fyre Werks (black lines) and Neon Rays (gray lines). It’s a great case study in the “rules” of needlepoint.

Generally speaking, I don’t believe in hard and fast rules of needlepoint nor do I appreciate the “needlepoint police.” That said, I have very strong POV’s on select things. For example, I believe plain needlepoint (umbrella term for basketweave, continental, tent stitches) belongs in every piece. It provides balance to what I truly love, which are beautiful decorative stitches. If someone disagrees with that POV, great! No harm, no foul. All of us are stitching projects for ourselves or ones we adore. It is up to the individual stitcher to stitch what she/he wants and how they want to stitch it.

That’s a really long preamble to my point. I’ve wanted to share this stitch with you for a long time but I held back because the stitched sample is technically not correct. I remember being explicitly told to slide the last stitch (of the gray lines) UNDER the pre-existing stitch. And that is what the diagram shows. (That is also sequenced for clarity.) The stitched sample? Not so much. Big oops and a big “oh, well.” It’s still pretty. And, even though it’s what I see whenever I stare at the piece (while avoiding said laundry), I still love the stitch. (In fact, I just put it in a new Stitch Concept I’ll be sharing with you in August).

This stitch will grab attention due to its size. I would love to see this as a Santa coat with Very Velvet (black lines) and Fyre Werks (gray lines). Consider it for a sampler with Soie D’Alger and Silk Lame. An overdyed silk floss and Petite Silk Lame make a dramatic and different approach for a large bird. It would make a great dollhouse roof with Silk Perle and a Kreinik Metallic.

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! Please enjoy!

A Small Stitching Sunday

June 16, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s #stitchingsunday is the tiniest of variations on one of my current favorite small space stitches. Removing the bead makes it into a delicate and understated open stitch.

Today’s stitched sample uses three plies of Soie D’Alger on 18-mesh. This stitch would also make a great field, walls of a house, clothing, or a tiny roof.

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! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Not Available Right Now

June 12, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch came from a recent foray into the internet rabbit hole. For once, I reappeared from said rabbit hole a. after a reasonable amount of time, b. with a darling new stitch idea, and c. no new and unusable knowledge about contemporary pop culture. Take that, internet rabbit hole!

The stitched sample is me playing on 18-mesh with a size 12 red Kreinik and a green Fyre Werks. (More on that below.)

These squares are really rounded squares as the corners are over two rows (on the diagonal). I put an empty row between the squares because the sides don’t line up perfectly and I was afraid you would lose the distinct pattern of each square.

In all honesty, the first thing I thought of when I pulled this stitch together was how cute these would be in a random placement. Yes, I know random anything gives some stitchers hives, but hear me out. The size of these begs for random placement. They would be wonderful sprinkled on a solid background, like one of the new tall Zecca birds or a Mary Lake Thompson still life white background. Or, put them in columns, alternating color or finishes or both between columns. You may add as much open space between columns as you need.

These would make a great addition to a sampler. I like the idea of alternating them with another 10X10 square stitch, creating a checkerboard. As I mentioned earlier, I think they would make a wonderful background stitch. Using a Mary Lake Thompson still life as an example, I would stitch these in columns, leaving 3-4 empty rows between columns with a lightweight silk perle. Returning to the stitched sample for a moment, you see the distinct difference the Kreinik makes in defining the individual stitches. That is important since the empty rows between the stitches is an important part of the design.

BUT! Consider filling those empty rows in between the metallic stitches with a contrasting color for some real drama. That could make a fantastic Santa Coat on a tall stand up Santa, such as Amanda Lawford’s line. You could also add a single Upright Cross in the center of each square or a single bead over two rows on the vertical.

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! Please enjoy!

#whimsicalwednesday blog