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March 22, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Yes, today’s #stitchingsunday is another angel. I promise it uses a different stitch than the last angel on the most recent #stitchingsunday. :)

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 Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Today’s stitched sample is a skirt from a sweet Melissa Shirley star angel. It uses Petite Silk Lame and Sundance Beads (size 14/15) (on 18-mesh). Click here for the original blog post that includes a couple variations. In addition, this stitch can be found on pages 164 and 165 in my book. (I renamed the stitch to Oblique Diamonds to be consistent with similar stitches in my repertoire.)

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 has a book for you! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a contemporary how-to collection of more than 250 stitches for stitchers regardless of skill level. The book includes updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, all-new stitches, and a chapter on the basics of needlepoint. For more information, visit here.

whimsicalstitch.com also 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! 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!

Blue Skies Ahead

March 18, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s choice of a blue sky was a complete coincidence. Yet, it’s so appropriate as we need to look forward to the blue skies beyond today’s unknown times. As we all know, needlepoint is a lovely way to keep busy and, quite honestly, distracted from the news.

This stitch is large yet not in charge because it is such a perfect background stitch. The stitched sample is a beautiful blue sky from Charley Harper’s Puffin. It uses two plies of Soie D’Alger (black lines) with accents using a lightweight Kreinik Metallic. (The accents are not included on the diagram the diagram would be too small if I included enough to illustrate the accent pattern.)

It is also elegant because it is so pretty, yet knows its place is in the background. You could also add a few empty rows between the repeating elements (on the horizontal axis) to create vertical columns.

My small contribution to your new indoor reality is a starter list of stitch resources. They include the whimsicalwednesday Pinterest page, a library of ALL diagrams from this blog. (It’s really great on a smart phone as each diagram fills the screen.) Sheena’s Sweet Stitches also offers a wide variety of great stitch diagrams. Chandail Needlework in Houston has an extensive library in their Stitch of the Month. Meredith Willet recently launched a Stitch of the Day specifically for the quarantine! And, last but never least, needlepoint.com has a page dedicated to learning needlepoint, a wonderful resource for beginners! Designers are sharing their new designs on Facebook and Instagram. Reach out to your favorite needlepoint retailer to order your newest favorite project (as many are enhancing their online and mail order services to help us get through this).

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!

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!

Take That, Gray Skies

March 11, 2020 whimsicalstitch

So. California is drenched and Spring seems so close, yet so far away. I am savoring the bright colors in today’s stitched sample as an anecdote.

The stitched sample is a pillow from Whimsy Stork and uses three plies of Soie D'Alger (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines). As with all eyelet stitches, to avoid I recommend to stitch from the outer edges to the shared center hole.

This is a great all-purpose and scalable stitch. To illustrate its versatility, a student recently used it on a small dog’s body with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and Silk Lame (yellow lines). (Clearly, it will make a great human coat as well. See what I did there?) Consider leaving out the Cross Stitches for a water stitch with a lightweight 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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Greet Your Day with Color!

March 4, 2020 whimsicalstitch

There is nothing quite like waking up to a blog post with two fun and bright colors. Oh, and a brand new stitch.

The stitched sample is a curtain from my new Stitch Concept for Whimsy Stork (from Colors of Praise). It uses two plies of Needlepoint Inc. Silk (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (turquoise lines).

I selected this stitch for a curtain due to its overt diagonal direction for a curtain. It will make a wonderful body of water with a lightweight Sparkle Braid (black lines) and an overdyed Kreinik Metallic (turquoise lines). I’m looking forward to seeing it as a large tree trunk with Rainbow Linen and Gloriana’s Lorikeet. You may want to consider adding another row or two in between the diagonal trios for a more open look.

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!

The Original 2 Sisters

February 23, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s #stitchingsunday comes from one of my favorite pairs of sisters. They’ve been stitching and making me (and a lot of other people at Aristeia) smile and laugh for a very long time and I adore both of them.

Today’s stitched sample is a background on an adorable Rebecca Woods angel ornament. The sisters flipped the stitch 90° (to the right) and used Petite Silk Lame (on 18-mesh). Click here for the original blog post where, coincidentally, the stitched sample uses the same color thread as today’s much better stitched sample.

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!

Is it Spring Yet?

February 19, 2020 whimsicalstitch

It’s pink! It’s a flower! It must be Spring!

Thank you to my friends at Aristeia Needlepoint for today’s stitch inspiration and stitched sample. It’s from a glorious Melissa Shirley needlepoint purse that Wendy Harwood stitched. It uses Crystal Braid and a size 6 bead on 13-mesh. The oversized bead and the openness of the stitch make this area stand out.

This stitch clearly draws attention to an area, regardless of bead size. With a smaller bead and Petite Silk Lame, I think this stitch would make a fascinating cloud or water, say on a Purple Palm beach project. I’m looking forward to using this on a dress with Soie Cristale and a seed bead. Also consider using a Hex or cube bead for something truly different.

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!

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, the 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!

Seek and Ye Shall Find

February 12, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch comes from my stash of unfinished needlepoint. I love this stitch and I love this piece and…I have no clue if and when I’m going to finish it. While that’s not a perfect trifecta, I am thrilled I have this stitch to share with you.

The stitch is vertical columns of diamonds with DMC Perle Cotton #8 (black lines) and Flair (gray lines) covered with size 8 Kreinik Metallic (yellow lines) on 18-mesh. I used it for a background on a grid of a variety of fruit. I love integrating splashes of color into solid colored backgrounds. It is such an easy way to tie an entire piece together.

This stitch will make great clothing. Imagine it as a cute skirt with Soie D’Alger (black lines) and Entice (gray lines) covered with Flair (yellow lines). Alternatively, use it for pants with a Petite Very Velvet (black lines) and Fyre Werks (gray lines) covered with Silk Lame (yellow lines). It would also be perfect for a tall narrow vase with Petite Silk Lame (black lines) and Elegance (gray lines) covered with a lightweight Kreinik Metallic (yellow 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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Less is More

February 9, 2020 whimsicalstitch

There were a couple false starts on the checked background of a personal piece I’m working on. I have a library full of 4X4 square stitches, so this should have been easy, right? Nope. Simply because I didn’t need a fancy stitch because the background needed to be in the…wait for it…background.

The stitched sample uses two strands of Floche (black lines) and Neon Rays+ (turquoise lines) on 18-mesh. Since the checked pattern is two different colors, I am not filling the emerging and empty 2X2 intersections.

This is another universal stitch for both large and small areas alike…and they don’t always have to be painted squares. I’m looking forward to using this on a grassy plain (without beads) or mountainside, mixing an overdyed silk floss with a single strand silk, such as Pepper Pot or Vineyard Silk, for kicks. It will make great wallpaper with Soie D’Alger and Petite Silk Lame. Consider using a single thread, such as a lightweight Kreinik for both directions of the stitch, for a small to medium size window. If I was using this stitch on a solid colored area, I would use threads with two different finishes and then fill that intersection with a single bead over two holes on the vertical.

This stitch is infinitely scalable. Consider it for checked patterns of various sizes. Or simply use one direction of this for one color in a checked pattern and a more full coverage stitch for the second square.

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!

Right in Front of Me the Entire Time

February 5, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is from FOWS (friend of whimsicalstitch.com) Ruth Schmuff. When I first saw this stitch, it was a literal head slap moment (aka a swear word). I have to confess to the swear word because there was a witness. Possibly witnesses…I’ll never say.

The straight lines are a darning stitch. A darning stitch is stitched as a running stitch resulting in smooth edges between stitches (instead of crisp wrapped edges). A stitched sample of a generic darning stitch is here.

The stitched sample for today’s uses Petite Silk Lame (black lines) and one ply of Needlepoint Inc Silk (aqua lines). Since the Needlepoint Inc Silk is such a light touch, I zoomed in on today’s stitched sample to help illustrate this. For a photo with more context, visit here. (And, for the full kit, visit here.)

My head slap moment was the Cross Stitch covering the darning stitch. It’s such a cute touch on top of an already interesting stitch. By using a lightweight thread, the darning stitch is still obvious to me. Truth be told, you could stitch the pairs of straight stitches as traditional wrapped pairs. But I do love how the smooth edges of the darning pairs flow into the Oblique Cross Stitches.

It is highly likely* upcoming Stitch Concepts will include this stitch on floors or roofs (with Elegance for the black lines and Petite Silk Lame for the aqua lines). Vineyard Silk (black lines) coupled with Fyre Werks (aqua lines) will make great clothing. As I stare at the stitched sample, I want to play with this for water with Petite Silk Lame and 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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

* Highly likely? Hah! Try a certainty.

Let's Fly!

January 29, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is just what we all need to get through the winter doldrums, whether they be snow, rain, wind, or just plain cold. It’s bright green and it includes beads! Works for me!

Today’s stitch just might be a student’s work in progress from Walking in the Rain, the latest addition to my Stitch Guide Library. The stitched sample uses Rachelette (black lines), Gloriana Silk Floss (aqua lines), and Sundance Beads (yellow circle with black lines).

I would love to see this as a fruit tree with an overdyed wool (black lines), solid silk floss (aqua lines), and a bead the color of the fruit on said tree. I might play with it very soon for a small-ish body of choppy water with lightweight metallics, such as Petite Silk Lame, Bijoux, and an appropriately colored bead. I think this would be an adorable tiled roof by eliminating the bead and moving the stitches up one row (so the top center of a repeated element shares a hold with the bottom center of the repeated element immediately above). For the tile, I would use two related shades of silk floss or silk floss (black lines) with a Petite Silk Lame (aqua 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.

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, the 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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog