…said a millennial to me earlier this week. I might have deserved it. (I didn’t.) But, that’s the first thing that popped in my head when I created today’s stitch diagram. Its backup name is The Brady Bunch.

Today’s stitched sample is me playing with two plies of Soie D'Alger (yellow lines) and Petite Silk Lame (aqua lines) on 18M.

I have a few ornaments in my stash that I need to get done this year and this will be the perfect background for both. I’m thinking Vineyard Silk for the aqua lines and a Fyre Werks or Kreinik 1/16” ribbon for the yellow lines.

Quick note about thread weight for the yellow lines. I recommend a thread that lays flat to minimize bulk, keeping focus on both elements of the stitch instead of diverting attention to the more obvious thread. That is one reason I like silk and cotton floss so much…I have more control over the weight by simply changing the number of plies. My general guidance for floss for 18M is 3-4 plies. If I am doing a straight stitch, I tend to add 1-2 additional plies based on how much coverage I want. Straight stitches never fully cover the actual canvas threads that follow the direction of the stitch, so I have to compensate for that, as needed.

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

Click on image to see the **whimsicalstitch.com Stitch Library** on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

As you are auditioning stitches (from any stitch source), count the number of canvas threads on the diagram that match your mesh size. And there you have what an inch of the stitch will look like. Evaluate that against the area where you plan to use the stitch and make your final decision. If you start integrating this step into your stitch selection process, you may be surprised at how many stitches you think are large are much smaller than you realize.

By (sometimes) including this step in my own process, I find I am now integrating much longer stitches than I ever thought I would. I used to think a stitch six rows long was super big. I have very much changed my tune, which has helped me expand my creativity, especially for large-space stitches.

Today’s 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, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of four books offering contemporary how-to collections of more than 200 stitches (in each volume) for all stitchers, regardless of skill level. All books include updated and sequenced diagrams from this blog, plus a collection of all-new stitches from private lessons and other class projects. Visit here to find a needlepoint retailer that carries my books.

New to needlepoint or looking for a refresher? Please download a handy how-to 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.

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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 integrating 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