Dealers Choice

March 4, 2026 whimsicalstitch

This is going to be quick. (It’s been one of those weeks.) Today’s stitch is a wonderfully simple background stitch, with a medley of accent options.

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The stitched sample is me playing with two strands of white Floche (black lines) and Silk Lame 18 (yellow lines). The plan was columns with horizontal stitches over three rows, with a darning stitch between (far-right yellow lines). Then I went rogue and started playing with other ideas in place of the darning stitch and here we are.

The stitch on the left is what I call Woven Hungarian. I included the compensation stitches on the diagram because they can give stitchers fits. The middle stitch is a diagonal skip tent. And the stitch on the far right is a darning stitch over three rows. (All three of those stitches, with numbered sequences are in volume 1 of Mary’s Whimsical Stitches.)

I like this as a background stitch and you can adjust the size of the columns to align with your background size. I also like the idea of the columns with the center choice for the exterior of a house. The Woven Hungarian option could make a cute bedspread.

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, and Instagram.

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.

More from whimsicalstitch.com
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.

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!

Waste Knots and All

February 18, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch was inspired by a fun stitch from Bedecked and Beadazzled I shared a few years ago. It’s also a work in progress, but a great opportunity to see how I work to minimize visible threads.

First, the stitch. I used blue Pepper Pot Silk (black lines) and size 12 Kreinik braid (yellow lines). The original plan was to stitch just the horizontal yellow lines, similar to the inspiration stitch. But something was missing, so I added the vertical lines on top of the horizontal lines and was happy with where I landed. Well, honestly, I may change the Kreinik to a lighter-weight metallic to make it recede a little bit.

I like this as a background stitch and you can add more or less space between the columns to achieve the coverage you want. I’m looking forward to using this on a basket with an overdyed wool for the black lines with a solid color silk floss for the yellow lines and NO skipped rows between the columns.

There are two examples of how I navigate open stitches on the stitched sample. The first, a small running stitch, is in the lower right-hand corner. When I completed the column on the far right, I needed to return to start the column under the S. The running stitch 1-2 rows away from the design area will be swallowed by the fabrication of the ornament. Magic! There is a waste knot (aka away knot) underneath the long vertical stitches on the upper right of the canvas. I added that knot in the direct path of the long vertical stitch and it will stay there until I add the Kreinik on top of those three stitches.

This is Not Last Week

February 11, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a fun little experiment for a background and, unlike last week, super easy.

The stitched sample is a background for the Twelve Drummers Drumming of the Plum Stitchery Twelvetide set. I used white Elegance for the aqua lines and a light blue Petite Silk Lame for the black lines. I like the simplicity of the stitch, combined with the little pop of color with the blue accents.

It would be so easy and cute to replace the tent stitches with seed beads, or even a bugle bead. I want to play with this a little to create a grid of sorts, so I have that fun to look forward to. Naturally, you can make the oblique crosses taller for larger areas. There’s a lot to come from this stitch. I hope you have the perfect spot for it.

Please Learn From My Mistake

February 4, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is gorgeous (IMO). Today’s stitch is a challenge to stitch. Please don’t stitch it in the sequence I did. Meaning, please keep reading.

A lovely alternative stitch if you don’t want to pull your hair out like I did.

A stitching friend sent me today’s stitch. It was love at first sight for me. I seem to be on a background stitch of late, so I thought this would be a great addition. The stitched sample uses two plies of white Mandarin Floss (black lines) and green Kreinik Very Fine Braid (size 4) on 18M. I absolutely love everything about this stitch…except stitching it for the first time. Last night. After I got back from a long weekend in wine country.

Created the diagram and did what I always do…I stitched the primary threads (black lines) first. Gah! What a mistake. Stared at the stitching, stared at the diagram, and realized I should have stitched the easiest to follow pattern first. Ripped it all out and added the yellow lines first. What a difference. Took me about half the time as the first pass.

The second pass also revealed a lovely alternative (photo on far right). It’s only the yellow lines, and it’s way more open, but there is always a place where an understated open stitch will work. I hope you have the perfect spot for either of these background stitches. More importantly, I hope you have an easier time with your first pass than I did. I am glad I persevered because I really do love both versions.

Be a Star

January 28, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a happy stitch with a gentle reminder (from one of my favorite stitchers) to always be a star.

The stitch draws inspiration from an embroidery stitch I found on Instagram. I love the initial shape…basically four M’s creating a fun star (or snowflake). The stitched sample is me working with three plies of Soie D'Alger on 13M. This stitch is made for a background or a sky. Imagine a light blue or gray winter sky with a matching metallic for a snowy sky. Perfection.

You can also add individual stars randomly. (I also understand the majority of the needlepoint community may have just groaned at that.) I also experimented with stitching the stars immediately adjacent to each other and wasn’t thrilled with the end result. I do want to play with creating columns of snowflakes. Because, columns. Duh.

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

My Third Needlepoint Love

January 21, 2026 whimsicalstitch

My view is that virtually any stitch can be transformed into columns, especially for backgrounds. Today’s stitch takes brick blocks and, voila!, we have a simple and fun background to accompany an adorable snake. (Adorable snake. Not a phrase I ever expected to write in my lifetime.)

The snake is a darling pillow that a customer is making for her grandson. And I love the colors. She picked her favorite color from the snake for the accent stitch. The black lines use size 8 DMC perle cotton and the aqua lines are green Radiance 18. If you have more white space, I encourage you to add more space between the columns for an even cleaner look. For example, you could use two shades of a thread for a background on a still life or even a monogram.

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

My Second Needlepoint Love

January 14, 2026 whimsicalstitch

After more than a few years of stitching Christmas decor, I walked into Aristeia (in Brentwood, CA at the time) and saw a huge red apple on the wall. It was love at first sight and I went down the fruit pillow path for yeeeeeeaars. A common quote upon entering my house is, “Oh, there are all the fruit pillows!” Today’s stitch comes from one of those pillows.

The fruit pillow is a vintage Melissa Shirley piece. Each strawberry is stitched in a different decorative stitch. Today’s is from the upper right-hand corner. It uses Petite Very Velvet (black lines), Flair (yellow and aqua lines), and a Kreinik metallic (gray lines) on 13M. No doubt about it…this stitch is a lot. But, there are times where that is appropriate. I emphasized the three strawberries and stitched the remaining areas in fairly straightforward stitches with lighter-weight threads.

This is a great stitch for good-sized fruit. Obvs. Looking at it with the bolder threads, this would work well with clothing you want to draw attention to. You could add subtlety to it with lighter-weight threads, such as silk perle for the black lines, and Silk Lame for the Smyrna Crosses. You could leave the remaining areas open or fill them with basketweave or reverse basketweave for a toned-down version. You could even replace the Smyrna Crosses with beads, which would be so much fun for wrapping paper!

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

My First Needlepoint Love

January 7, 2026 whimsicalstitch

I adore seasonal stitching. My first seasonal stitching love is Christmas. Stockings, ornaments, Santa stand-ups, and pillows. I have them all and will continue to add them to my collection.

Today’s stitched sample is from one of my favorite holiday pillows. Cream, green, and red…perfect for the holidays. I used Pepper Pot Silk (black lines) and Fyre Werks (yellow lines) on 18M. I love the smooth look of straight stitches, which is why I often use them for backgrounds. Speaking of smooth, I love the idea of using this stitch on an appropriately sized whale with Neon Rays and silk floss. Flip is 90° and use it for a pair of pants with two shades of Vineyard Silk. If you want to dress it up a little, replace the diamonds with brick beading. (Okay, that would be dressing it up a lot.)

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

I'll Get Back to You

December 17, 2025 whimsicalstitch

I love the simple, tidy look of Chevron stitches. They add a small graphic pop to a stitched piece. (I consider rows of diagonal stitches in alternating directions a classic Chevron stitch.) For today, I started with the idea of offset rows of chevrons. (Um, I’ll get back to you on that.) I ended with layered alternating chevrons. Happy to report that I am intrigued.

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.

As I stitched the first sample with Vineyard Silk (black lines) and Au Ver a Soie Metallic (size 8) (yellow lines), I was convinced that two colors were the only way to go for this stitch. I liked how it reinforced the layering and enhanced the graphic pop of the chevrons. I love the idea of using this stitch for rough water, especially on 18M, with two shades of blue metallic, such as Petite Entice or even ThreadWorx Metallic.

But, despite the fact I was stitching this last night AND had other things to do (sorry, electric bill), I wanted to confirm my hypothesis. I was wrong. I really liked the solid version as well. You still see the layering, but it’s a little more mysterious. I think the solid version will make a wonderful roof with Rainbow Linen or Straw Silk. I also want to play with it for a doll dress with silk floss or Petite Silk Lame.

Important sequencing note. Regardless of how many threads you are using, complete an entire row before you proceed to the next one. Taking this one step further, if you are using more than one thread, you can’t add all of one color first, as each row builds on the previous row. If you are using more than one thread, alternate between the threads as you stitch. You can thread two needles and alternate between them for each row, or you can park threads (away from the stitching area) at the end of a row and pick them up again when you finish a row in the second thread.

This stitch is so much more than the diagram and stitched sample presented here. You can make the diagonal lines longer for a more open space. You can play with adding a small embellishment in the open space between rows.

One last thing. I don’t consider this a diamond stitch, mainly because my focus was on some variation on the Chevron stitch. I bring this up because it was much easier for me to see the stitching paths as chevrons than to create diamonds.

I hope you like it and have fun with it! I have to go pay my electric bill!

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.

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.

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!

Leftovers are Very Merry

September 24, 2025 whimsicalstitch

I recently spent an evening with one of my favorite shop owners in her closed shop while we ate leftovers, stitched, and solved all of the world’s problems. It was perfect.

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

The stitched sample is the background for a darling Christmas ornament. I used four plies of Soie D'Alger (black lines) with a red Silk Lame 18 (yellow lines) and a gold Radiance 18 (aqua lines). The best part? I got to audition threads in real time. And, yes, I ended up with several new threads for my stash. (The letters are stitched in basketweave/continental with a white Entice.)

It’s a great all-purpose stitch. It is perfect for backgrounds, clothing, walls, wrapping paper, architectural elements, or blankets! To jazz it up, consider replacing the aqua lines with seed beads. To make it pop more, consider changing the yellow lines to a contrasting color. (Metallic, of course.)

There’s a lot of fun to be had here. I hope you have the perfect place for this stitch. Enjoy!

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

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