Seriously, What Day Is It?

February 24, 2021 whimsicalstitch

Happy Wunday! It’s a good old regular Wednesday stitch with a sweet small Sunday stitch thrown in for good measure.

I haven’t had a lot of time to stitch of late and definitely feel those pangs of jealousy when there isn’t anything for me in the wonderful packages from the finishers. At times like this, I turn to small projects such as ornaments so I can have my own stuff in the next box from the finisher. The current project is a sweet little circus ornament from Plum Design.

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 is the background from the ornament and is nothing more than a single strand of white Floche on 18M. When I was foraging for a stitch, I kept returning to this one but knew it was too big. So I simply resized it and could not be happier.

I’m looking forward to using this on a medium-size window with Petite Silk Lame. I think it will also make a pretty rooftop with Rainbow Linen.

The second stitch is yet another variation of how to play with Cross Stitches in small spaces. I used three plies of Soie d’Alger on 18M.

My go-to stitch for small columns is horizontal straight stitches over the width of a column. But it wasn’t doing it for me, mostly because of the roof (visit here to see full piece). I love the tiny stripes that emerged from the Cross Stitches. (Before anyone asks, the white stripes are stitched in Encroaching Gobelin with two plies of the same Floche from the sky.)

I’m looking forward to using this stitch on small pieces of clothing with wools. I think alternating between a wool and a metallic in the vertical columns will be a cute twist.

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

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IIf you like what you see on this blog, there's more: Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 1 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; Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 2 features chapters on Balanced, Beading, Diagonal, Layered, Oblique, Small, and Straight stitches.

Also, you can download The Essentials, a free guide covering basic needlepoint stitches and stitch compensation techniques along with new top-line information on needlepoint materials and tools, how to handle threads, and other helpful needlepoint resources.

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! 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!

Swooning

September 23, 2020 whimsicalstitch

I’m swooning over the colors in today’s stitch and, yes, the stitch is kinda cute as well. I love the simplicity of today’s stitch and how it still adds a bit of interest to an area.

The stitched sample is the sky from my Ruff Life in the Wine Country Stitch Concept. It uses a single strand of Floche (gray lines) and Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) (yellow lines).

This is a sweet all-purpose open stitch, suitable for any medium-sized area you want to add a little something-something to. (That’s a whole lotta hyphens in one sentence.) It will make a great tree with overdyed silk floss (gray lines) and a subtle metallic, such as Silk Lame, or even a solid silk floss in a related color for a subtle contrast (yellow lines). Consider it for most architectural areas, such as a fireplace or a chimney. I would love to see a chimney in a brick colored wool (gray lines) with Rainbow Linen accents (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.

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.

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!

I Have a Crush

October 30, 2019 whimsicalstitch

I’ve had a massive crush on today’s stitch and thread combos for a while and am excited to share them with you! (Also, look at those snowflakes!)

The stitch and stitched sample come from our friend, Ruth Schmuff. It’s from the gorgeous Winter Sleep, a gorgeous winter piece from Brenda Stofft.

The stitched sample uses Kreinik Very Fine Braid (#4) for the black lines. The aqua lines are a combination of Floche (white in the stitched sample), Petite Silk Lame (lavender in the stitched sample), and Soie Cristale (blue in the stitched sample). The snowflakes are a wonderful assortment of Swarovski flatbacks and other clear seed beads.

Clearly, this is a new go-to stitch for snow (as illustrated). I would love to see it as water with any combination of lightweight metallics, such as Kreinik, Petite Silk Lame, ThreadWorx, etc. It will make a great now-snowy hillside with a single strand of Impressions (black lines) covered with Gloriana Silk Floss or Rainbow Linen (aqua lines). It will also serve you very well as a roof with matte threads, such as Vineyard Silk (black lines) covered with another Vineyard Silk in a similar color (aqua lines). Don’t forget to flip the diagram 180° for the opposite side of the roof. If you’d like to add more visible canvas, consider making the pairs of diagonal stitches trios of diagonal 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.

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!

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.

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! 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!

Cousins are Great

January 16, 2019 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch comes from my friends at Aristeia in Santa Monica. I spotted this stitch and thought it was this stitch. It’s a very close cousin and, honestly, I wish I had thought of this variation myself.

The stitched sample used two plies of DMC Floche (black lines) and a Kreinik metallic on 18-mesh. It was a sky on a cute little Vicky Sawyer piece. I think it would make a wonderful solid background on any number of florals. My favorite thread combo for backgrounds is a single strand silk perle, such as Elegance or Grandeur, for the black lines and an appropriate metallic for the aqua lines. If I want the metallic to pop, I go with a Kreinik. For a more subtle accent, consider Rainbow Gallery Flair or Silk Lame.

Consider flipping it 90° for beautiful columns for wallpaper or a floor. I would use a Soie D’Alger for the black lines and Neon Rays for the aqua lines. It will also make a fantastic ground cover, especially for beautifully shaded snow. For the snow, use white Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) for the black lines and white Flair for the aqua lines. The shading will show through both of those threads and it’s a beautiful effect.

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, 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!

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.

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!

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!

Sometimes Simple is Best

March 8, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Yes, I know. Technically, this is not a full coverage stitch, as in "full" full coverage stitch. The spirit is full coverage, so I included it this month. I really like this stitch as it is a great horizontal alternative to a Cashmere stitch. It's simple yet there is still little snap to it.

I recommend adding the X's first (the black lines), followed by the aqua lines. (Here's a refresher on Continental, should you want it.) The stitched sample on Instagram is stitched with Floche (2-ply) on 13-mesh.

X's with Continental Stitch with DMC Floche (on 13-mesh) on this morning's #whimsicalwednesday blog post (www.whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays/2017/03/08/sometimes-simple-is-best). #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #needlepointstitchdiagrams #dmcfloche #home #love #hopefullynocathair

1 Likes, 1 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "X's with Continental Stitch with DMC Floche (on 13-mesh) on this morning's #whimsicalwednesday blog..."

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, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 31 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

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