Hello October

Today’s stitch is a very, very close cousin of a stitch I discussed in July. It’s a good example of how the direction and heavier threads make a substantial difference in very similar stitches.

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 from the very burly chest of one of the Beach Boys, a recently added Stitch Concept. It uses all white threads, specifically Kreinik Medium Braid (#16) (gray lines), Petite Sparkle Rays (aqua lines), and Flair (black lines) on 18-mesh. I really enjoy Flair’s unique ability to absorb whatever color is painted underneath it, so the beautiful shading shows through. The larger Kreinik braid provides puffiness to each of the beetles on top of it.

Flip this stitch 90° for a choppy water, using a Kreinik Tapestry Braid (#12), Flair, and Petite Silk Lame. It will make beautiful clothing with a rich Petite Very Velvet (gray lines), Silk Lame (aqua lines), and a Kreinik Braid (#12 or #16) (black lines). For a smoother look on clothing, use a Kreinik 1/16” ribbon (gray lines) with a silk floss (such as Soie D’Alger, Planet Earth Silk, or Splendor) for the aqua lines and Flair (black lines). And, for goodness sake, don’t forget to have fun with colors. Consider using a different color for the gray to add a little surprise.

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! 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!The

Blackwork...in Blue & Gold

Today's stitch is another adventure down my favorite rabbit hole of pattern stitching (aka blackwork).  This is a beautiful embroidery pattern I discovered on Pinterest and translated for needlepoint.

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 Gloriana Duchess Silk and Kreinik Metallics Medium Braid (#16).  Let's talk about the sequence for a moment.  Speaking from my vast experience stitching this stitch (okay...the stitched sample), I strongly recommend adding the pinwheels first (black lines on the diagram/blue lines on the stitched sample).  Since the pinwheels fit into each other and are offset, there's no easy way to do this.  I strongly recommend starting near the center and stitching outwards. 

With the diagram nearby, use a simple backstitch to create the pinwheels.  Drag the thread as needed to begin or connect new pinwheels.  The stitch sequence will vary with each pinwheel, so be patient and pay close attention to the diagram.  Try to stay one step ahead of a pinwheel, meaning always look for the pinwheel shape to guide your stitching.  (I hope that will make sense as you stitch it.)  Adding the large X's in the center will be so easy when you're done! 

This stitch would be wonderful for so many areas.  The first thing that pops into my head is what a wonderful floor it would make, using a silk or cotton perle in two different colors.  It would make a wonderful coat with Very Velvet, Pepper Pot Silk, or Gloriana Duchess Silk and a rich Kreinik Metallic. Have fun with it.  It's a really special 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.  61 guides are currently available, with 13 new Stitch Concepts just added! 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!

Confession Time

Today is a blog in two parts.  First, I'm offering up a fun Scallop Stitch with four(!) different and fun options for filling.  The second part spends a little extra time on one of the fillings.  

The stitch is a scallop stitch over three rows.  The topmost points of the scallops in subsequent rows are centered along the lowest point of the row above, creating small shell-shaped spaces in between the horizontal columns of scallops. 

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.

There are four ideas to fill the empty space (from top to bottom):  Eyelet Stitch (turquoise lines on diagram, purple thread in diagram), Traditional Leaf Stitch (light gray lines on diagram, blue thread in diagram), Shell Stitch (yellow lines on diagram, white thread in diagram), Oblique Tied Stitch (aqua lines on diagram, purple thread in diagram).  Feel free to mix and match the scallops and filling stitch to your heart's desire.  The stitched sample uses Gloriana Florimell (yellow thread), Kreinik 1/16" ribbon, Kreinik Medium Braid (#16) (purple thread), and Gloriana Princess Perle (white thread). 

Personally, I like the idea of the Eyelet or Oblique Tied Stitch as a single filling.  Each offers a smidge of open work and lightness to the overall stitch.  Conversely, I like the combination of the Traditional Leaf and Shell Stitch on alternating horizontal rows.  They are very similar in shape (but not exactly the same!) and I like the alternating directions the two fillings offer.  This is all a matter of personal taste!  Mix and match to your delight.

Now it's time for my confession.  This is the first time I've included an eyelet stitch on my blog.  My confession is they make me nervous.  Today, this changes.

Eyelet stitches are adorable and I appreciate what they can add to a piece, as the added element of a larger hole draws the eye in a unique way.  And therein lies my fear...that the larger holes I create will not be identical sizes and chaos reigns.  (I have enough chaos with my new kitten.)

Here's how I navigated this for the eyelet stitch above.  A tapered laying tool is critical, as it provides more control over the size of the final hole.

Use a tapered laying tool as a guide for consistent eyelet hole sizes.  Final knotted ribbon on laying tool.  Just make sure it's tight!

Insert the laying tool in the hole from the front of the canvas and gently push it down until the hole is the desired size.  Don't remove the laying tool yet.  Tie a wide piece of a stash thread (e.g., silk ribbon) where the laying tool meets the canvas on the front, creating a guide for future holes.   

Tie the thread tight, pull the laying tool out of the hole, and complete the knot by tying it again, making sure is tight.  Move across the canvas, creating holes as needed.  Revisit any outlier holes and repeat the process if required to make the hole larger. (I recommend silk ribbon because it is not a slippery thread and will, if tied tightly, stay still on the laying tool.) 

Sometimes, you might make a hole a little too large (compared to other eyelet holes).  To make that hole smaller, use the eye end of a size 22 needle to push the canvas threads back into place.  Put the needle in the immediately adjacent hole, and gently push the needle against the canvas thread, helping nudge the thread back into place.  You may need to do this on all four sides of the hole.  It may take a couple pushes, so be patient.  You can push them back and start over again or just push in a bit to get it to the desired size.  Use your judgment.

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.  60 guides are currently available, with 12 new Stitch Concepts just added! 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!