Stitching Friends are the Best Friends...

September 25, 2019 whimsicalstitch

…largely because they know what will make you squeal with joy. Case in point is today’s stitch, shared with me by a stitching friend (naturally).

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 two shades of blue perle cotton for an elegant and subtle background. Truth be told, I would have used a matte and a metallic for this stitch in this background, but was pleasantly surprised at how charming it is without a metallic. So, said stitching friend also provided me (and us) good food for thought. I love how the two shades of blue mesh so well together and provide an intriguing background.

I colored the diagram lines to match the stitched sample but feel free to consider using 2-3 colors with this stitch. This would make a glamorous coat or toy bag on a large Santa stand-up. Consider a deep red matte for the larger black lines, a medium weight silver or gold metallic for the turquoise lines, and a wide green metallic for the center diamond. This would make a fantastic and funky pumpkin with orange metallic for the larger black lines, black matte for the turquoise lines, and your favorite Halloween accent color (think lime green or purple) or white for the center diamond. You could also fill the center diamond with Brick Beading for a truly over the top accent.

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.

IIf 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 Penny MacLeod, 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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

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!

All the Single Stitches

September 22, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Why do the single stitches always have to be in between stitches over two rows? I say pshaw!

The stitched sample is a small area of sky in Soie Perlee and Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) on 18-mesh. The inspiration for this stitch is the repeated pattern from my Ginabean stitch, technically a Reverse Mosaic. Something about that single stitch in the middle of stitches over two has been gnawing at me. Today’s stitch is one example of freeing the single stitches.

This stitch will make fabulous water with any lightweight metallic, such as Treasure Braid, Petite Silk Lame, Kreinik Fine or Very Fine Braids, Bijoux, etc. It will also serve any small roof or floor well with silk or cotton perle or wools. Consider using it for a mountainside or green field with overdyed silk floss. If you want to dress it up a little, add a single bead in between the pairs of stitches over two rows, or add another single stitch in a contrasting color.

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, Purple Palm, Maggie, and Penny MacLeod, 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! 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!

Chirp, Chirp!

September 18, 2019 whimsicalstitch

This was my summer of bird…stitches. My bird stitch repertoire was being stretched thin between the Twelvetide club and multiple Vicki Sawyer projects in private lessons. It was a fun challenge to build the bird stitch library as I wanted to replicate stitches across these projects as little as possible.

Today’s stitch was inspired by a diagram named the Cup Stitch on pinterest.com. I made it vertical (versus diagonal) and added some beads to the center. I hope you like it as much as I do!

The stitched sample uses four plies of Gloriana Silk Floss (gray lines) and Sundance beads (aqua and yellow circles) on 13-mesh.

I think single cups would make adorable standalone ornaments sprinkled on a larger Christmas tree with your favorite metallic and beads. I recommend a slightly lighter weight or flat metallic due to the layering of the stitch. Another idea is sconces along the upper edge of a wall with silk perle and beads. My last idea (for now) is to use this combo as a flower bush or fruit tree. You could have a lot of fun with the beads with those two ideas.

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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Spring in Autumn!

September 11, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is the promised alternate to the Layered Oblique Stitch from a few weeks ago. Truth be told, today’s stitch is what I included in the Stitch Concept until the very charming student went off the reservation. And, for the record, I love this stitch and I love the student’s interpretation of it.

The stitched sample is me playing with threads on hand on 18-mesh canvas. I used Petite Very Velvet (light gray lines), yellow Trebizond Silk (aqua lines), pink Trebizond Silk (black lines), and purple…wait for it…purple Trebizond Silk (dark gray lines).

Consider this stitch for a dramatic coat, bag, or blanket with a Kreinik 1/16” ribbon for the gray lines, Vineyard Silk or silk floss for the black lines, and a contrasting metallic in a smaller size (like a Petite Silk Lame or size 8 Kreinik) for the aqua lines. Cover the Vineyard Silk or silk floss (black lines) with a Kreinik braid (#8 or #12) (dark gray lines) and you are good to go.

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 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 Penny MacLeod, 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!

Connections

September 4, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Simply put, today’s stitch makes me smile. It’s wide open, sparkly, and stitched in this week’s favorite color, blue.

The stitched sample is a background for a bolster pillow. It uses Soie D’Alger (black lines) and Kreinik Fine Braid (#8) (gray lines) on 13-mesh. With open stitches such as these, I recommend stitching the octagons in halves, using a modified back stitch. Stitch the top half and then return across the canvas adding the bottom half. Add the pairs of straight stitches following the diagonal axis, weaving your thread through the stitching in the back to navigate around a wide open area to get to the next axis.

This stitch would serve you very well for clothing, such as a dress or a jacket, especially if it includes beautiful shading. I would love to see this with Petite Very Velvet with Silk Lame for a jacket. Consider using two lightweight metallics, such as Petite Silk Lame and Sparkle Rays, for water or a night sky. If you want to really bling it up, consider stringing 2-3 beads across the straight stitches.

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, 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!

Hello Handsome

September 1, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is an illustration of how moving a stitch just one teeny tiny row changes everything!

The stitched sample is a shirt with Pepper Pot Silk and Silk Lame on 18-mesh. Technically, it is a small space stitch in a large space but I wanted the attention to go to the green coat stitch (which was unstitched at the time). The stitch is a close cousin to (what I call) the Diagonal T. As you can see, the second stitch doesn’t slide under the row above. It is one row over and it makes an intriguing difference.

Oh, the ideas! Rooftops with Tweedy, greenery with two shades of green Pepper Pot Silk, dirt path with overdyed ThreadWorx wool, floors with Silk Perle, windows with Petite Silk Lame or a lightweight Kreinik, shoes with a heavy Kreinik. I think you get the idea.

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! 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!

Just Right

August 28, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Sometimes I am my own worst enemy, especially when I’m under a deadline. I needed multiple 3X3 square stitches…and I had a bunch of available diagrams to choose from…but not a single one moved me. I’m so glad I kept searching because the final stitch was just right.

The stitched sample is a blanket on an adorable reindeer. It uses Splendor (turquoise and light gray lines) and Entice (black and dark gray lines). The sequence is to add the corners and center of a 3X3 square with the red Splendor, add a diagonal stitch over three rows in the opposite direction with the Entice, and then cover the Entice with the “missing” diagonal stitches over two rows with the same Splendor. I love the layering and additional interest it adds to a simple area.

This stitch would make an adorable border. I’m itching to use it on a floor with Silk ‘N Colors overdyed silk floss for the square and a solid silk floss for the contrasting diagonal stitch. This would make a Santa bag complete with Very Velvet and a Kreinik 1/16” ribbon. Last, but certainly not least, consider it for a bedspread or blanket with Gloriana’s Pashmina and a lightweight metallic, such as Petite Silk Lame.

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, 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!

Hello Again

August 20, 2019 whimsicalstitch

The Milanese stitch was one of the first decorative stitches I learned and I thought it was magical. I used it a lot (okay, too much) and burned out on it. Seeing it again with cute accents makes me feel like we are meeting for the first time again.

The stitched sample uses all kinds of metallics, including Fyre Werks (black lines), Flair (turquoise lines), and Kreinik Metallics (size 8) on 13-mesh. It was stitched by my first needlepoint muse, the late Wendy Harwood of Aristeia. It’s a wacky flower on a Melissa Shirley purse.

This would be great for clothing with Vineyard Silk (black lines), Silk Lame (turquoise lines), and a Kreinik Metallic (yellow lines). It could make a very interesting tree as the overt diagonal stitches are offset by the straight lines. I recommend an overdyed Silk for the black lines, a lightweight metallic for the yellow lines, and maybe a French Knot in a solid silk floss for the turquoise lines. I would love to see the turquoise lines be a seed bead! That would be very fun.

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!

Two is Better than One

August 18, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today's #smallspacesunday is a simple pattern stitch. Using two different threads makes an interesting and important difference in the final look.

As a refresher, Pattern Stitching is the use of what I call Plain Needlepoint to create unique patterns. Other examples are here, here, and here. The stitched sample is from my Stitch Concept for Frank’s Rug (by Frank Beilec distributed through Maggie & Co). It uses Splendor and Kreinik Tapestry Braid (size 12) on 13-mesh.

Back to my opening comment about two threads. I was drawn to this stitch because the two different threads add gentle direction to an otherwise simple stitch. The difference between the threads can be color, finish, or both.

The stitch is used as a background in the stitched sample. It will also be lovely for water, ground cover, or sky. For water, I suggest two colors of a lightweight Kreinik Metallic or Petite Silk Lame. I would love to see the ground cover stitched in an overdyed silk floss, such as Silk ‘N Colors, matched with a solid silk Floss, such as Soie D’Alger or Planet Earth Silk Floss. The sky will be pretty with a matte and metallic combination like the stitched sample. It will make a cute floor with Impressions and Silk Lame. I think you might get the idea.

This stitch is scalable. Consider increasing the number of stitches in each block for a wider area. Also consider using the same thread for two sequential rows and a different thread for the next 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.

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!

More Layers

August 14, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a slightly larger version of the layering technique I discussed a few weeks ago. This version creates what I’m calling an oblique diamond. Another highly technical term for it is smooshed diamond. Feel free to use whatever vernacular makes you happiest.

The stitched sample is me playing with blue Petite Silk Lame (gray lines) and a size 12 Kreinik Metallic (on 18-mesh). Just a friendly reminder from the last post about this layering, do not forget to slide the last stitch of (of the gray lines) UNDER the pre-existing stitch in the sequence.

Frankly, the first thing I thought of as I stitched it was how this stitch would make a fantastic cathedral window, or any large window that demands attention. I’m thinking the picture windows from Sandra Gilmore’s room canvases. I would use two metallics with the Upright Crosses in a slightly darker hue. It will make an interesting fence with two matte threads, such as Impressions or Elegance.

Considering I stitched this with whatever threads happened to be next to me, my accent choices were limited. In a perfect world, this would be stitched with a larger bead or pearl added over two rows in the center of the open diamond. I would love to see this as a young girl’s dress with pink Silk Lame and a beautiful white pearl. It would also make a great Halloween pumpkin with orange ThreadWorx metallic, and a sequin/bead combo in the open diamond. Yum.

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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog