This Stitch is Why I Love Open Stitches

September 9, 2026 whimsicalstitch

But it’s a doozy. So please know that free aspirin is available for the likely headache.

Click on the image to see it on Pinterest. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.
**A Note about Diagrams**: I use colored lines to make diagrams as clear as possible. The primary function is to illustrate a stitch sequence. For example, the layering of colors demonstrates that you add them in that order. They also represent ideas for integrating additional threads (one line per color). Or, you can use the same thread for all color lines. That's where I encourage you to use your imagination for your project.

Click the image to see #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday **Stitched Sample Gallery** on Instagram

Today’s stitch was provided by one of my favorite stitchers. I believe the source of inspiration for this stitch is the one and only Meredith Willet. (If that is incorrect, please let me know.) The stitched sample uses size 12 Prescencia Perle Cotton and Radiance Mini for an extraordinary interpretation of a background.

To help keep the headache at bay, the yellow lines in the diagram represent what I call the repeated element. The repeated element includes suggested sequencing. Very simply put, flip the element in the appropriate direction to create the octagon and, generally speaking, utilize the suggested sequencing to navigate each side of the octagon.

And this stitch on this background is a perfect example of why I adore open stitches. You truly get the best of both worlds. The beautiful painting is enhanced, and tiny bits of shading are not at the mercy of the thread gods. (Fact: With canvases that include shading, it’s extremely unlikely there will be a thread that matches every single hue on the canvas.) An open stitch in one color enhances the painted beauty and lets it shine.

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

Evaluating Stitches for Your Project
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 it against the area where you plan to use the stitch, then 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.

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.

Happy #whimsicalwednesday!

A Note about Stitch Names
I am absolutely loving the rising popularity of needlepoint, and if you are new to the blog, I want to take a second to chat about stitch names (again). TLDR: Don’t overthink them.

Many stitch names in my blog and books are made up out of whole cloth. When I launched my blog in 2015, I searched high and low for proper stitch names and found stitches with no names or identical stitches with two or more names from different sources. I quickly learned to focus on the diagrams, which I think are prettier (and more important) than any name. A stitch by any other name is still just as interesting!

Speaking of backgrounds, my latest book is in stores now! (And, no, this stitch is not in it.) Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

Packed with over 150 stitches, Volume 5 offers you the widest variety of backgrounds. There are large backgrounds, small backgrounds, and everything in between. And more than 75% of the stitches will have a QR code taking your customers to a stitched sample.

More from whimsicalstitch.com
If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of five books offering contemporary how-to collections of stitches for stitchers of all skill levels. 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.

Google Search History

August 19, 2026 whimsicalstitch

I imagine what it would be like if the detectives from Law & Order had to look at my search history. Dinosaurs, bullion knots, IG image sizes, Alison Roman’s gorgeous chili, and frogs. It’s odd. It’s also such an amusing summary of teaching needlepoint.

Today’s stitch comes from a frog. Since the frog's colors were so interesting and precise, I wanted to retain them. So, basketweave it was. Did not have background stitch for frogs on my bingo card last week, but a quick google search told me there were tree frogs and water frogs (wildly simplified). So a leaf became the theme for the background. And I still haven’t broken up with columns yet, so here we are.

The stitched sample uses two strands of white Floche for the leaves, and we integrated the Neon Rays colors from the frog to create a bright little background for it. This would be a beautiful background for a fruit or floral still life. What I adore about it is not just the colors, but how they add interest without overwhelming the subject matter of the canvas.

Happy #whimsicalwednesday!

Many stitch names in my books are made up out of whole cloth. When I launched my blog in 2015, I searched high and low for proper stitch names and found stitches with no names or identical stitches with two or more names from different sources. I quickly learned to focus on the diagrams, which I think are prettier (and more important) than any name. A stitch by any other name is still just as interesting!

My latest book is in stores now! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

More from whimsicalstitch.com
If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of five books offering contemporary how-to collections of stitches 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.

Fun Fact

August 5, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is more columns, which is a coincidence, I promise! But today’s stitch is also a great way to illustrate a fun fact about basketweave.

Click on image to see on pinterest. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.
**A Note about Diagrams**: I use colored lines make diagrams as clear as possible. The primary function is to illustrate a stitch sequence. For example, the layering of colors demonstrates that you add them in that order. They also represent ideas for integrating additional threads (one line per color). Or, you can use the same thread for all color lines. That's where I encourage you to use your imagination for your project.

The stitched sample is from a darling Mopsey Designs Holiday Stamp piece that I am decompressing with at the end of my current long days. Hence, simpler stitches. (Not complaining, just offering context.) I used peach Flair for the columns of black tent stitches. The yellow lines in between use five plies of Soie D'Alger. The columns of reverse basketweave (straight black lines) use two plies of the same Soie D'Alger.

You may be asking why.

This is a perfect illustration of a lighter touch. Same thread, same color, different look. If I had used five strands of the Soie for the reverse basketweave, it would have been very heavy, yet I knew I needed the thread in between the rows of Flair to not disappear, so they had to use more plies. And here we are. I love the lightness of the reverse basketweave columns and the pop of a mild metallic mixed in.

The fun fact is that reverse basketweave is what basketweave looks like on the back of a canvas. So, if the columns of tent stitches were stitched with the same thread, the front would look like the back, just opposite. It’s also a great way to spot-check your basketweave on future projects.

Happy #whimsicalwednesday!

My latest book is arriving at stores now! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

More from whimsicalstitch.com
If you like what you see on this blog, there's more. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches is a series of five books offering contemporary how-to collections of stitches 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.

Columns and Christmas

July 29, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Our last week of columns for backgrounds is here! Today’s stitch is from the background of a very popular Rachel Barrie nutcracker that a student of mine is stitching. And for those of you who recognize this nutcracker, yes, the pants on this guy are stitched with this stitch.

She used silver and white Radiance for the black and yellow lines, respectively, and a silver Sundance Bead for the center. It’s sparkly, delicate, and a nice contrast to the other metallics in the piece.

A quick note on the diagram. The vertical column pattern is a 5X5 square, a skipped row, followed by 11 tent stitches and a skipped row. And repeat. The tent stitches in the vertical columns at the top and the bottom of the diagram are where the diagram ends. So there are fewer stitches.

This stitch is scalable. To change the scale, the size of the squares and the vertical column pattern are odd numbers. So, a possible alternate size is a 7X7 square with 13 stitches in between. Or, you could keep the squares 5X5 and change the height of the vertical single stitches to 13, 15, 17, etc. Center the square against the vertical single stitches to the right or left of it.

Happy Background Month!

A preview of volume 5. Stay tuned for more info!

Speaking of backgrounds, my book is starting to arrive at stores now. Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes. (Shameless, I know.)

Hope you have fun with the stitch and are as excited about Volume 5 as I am!

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 that you add them in that order. They can also provide ideas for integrating additional threads (one line per 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.

Most stitch names in my books are made up out of whole cloth. When I launched my blog in 2015, I searched high and low for proper stitch names and found stitches with no names or identical stitches with two or more names from different sources. I quickly learned to focus on the diagrams, which I think are prettier (and more important) than any name. A stitch by any other name is still just as interesting!

I’ve also learned that there is a very good chance that a stitch pattern that I come up with may not be new. But it is new to me. I spent almost an entire afternoon at a stitching friend’s home, poring through binders of stitches she gathered over decades. Not only were many of them drawn by hand (whoa!), I discovered stitches I thought were created decades later, with a different name, in a different presentation, from a different source. So, a stitch doesn’t belong to a single person or teacher. They are all part of a huge and decades-old network of really creative people.

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.

My Favorite Things (Copy)

July 22, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Week 3 of columns for backgrounds is here!

On the off chance you don’t know me, I loved layered stitches and open spaces on canvases. And today’s background is a perfect example of why.

The canvas is a darling Christmas train bolster pillow from KCN Designers. (Link here.) I love literally every color on the details of this canvas and it has a lot of detail, so I imagine I will stitch the train cars in simple stitches, such as basketweave, some beading, and French knots. Stripes are always a good idea. Columns of tramme (layered stitches) are an even better idea.

I used gold Fyre Werks for the black lines and added pink (aqua lines), green (yellow lines), and white (gray lines) silk floss on top. (All of the silk floss is from my stash so I can only say with confidence that the white is Soie d’Alger.) I will decide whether to add a simple stitch, such as Alternating Skip Tent, in between the columns after I complete stitching the train.

And last, but not least, this stitch is scalable, and you can accomplish some wonderful things with wider columns and/or by adjusting the width of the space between the primary columns. If you choose to widen your columns, I suggest the width of the column be an odd number of the base threads (black lines). That way you ensure the outer edges of the columns will match.

Happy Background Month!

And, yes, my book is now on its way to stores! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

Hope you have fun with the stitch and are as excited about Volume 5 as I am!

Most of the names for the stitches you see here are made up out of whole cloth. When I started needlepointing 30+ years ago, a teacher would draw or describe what she recommended, and off I went. Seriously. When I started my blog, an industry friend told me stitch names were crucial. I searched high and low for proper stitch names. What I found was stitches with no names or, even worse, identical stitches with two+ names from different sources. On top of that, some of my favorite stitches had generic names, such as Rug 1 and Rug 2. I quickly learned to focus on the diagrams, which are prettier. A stitch by any other name is still just as interesting!

There are some commonly understood stitch names, such as basketweave, continental, Scotch (3X3 and above squares), Mosaic (2X2 squares), Smyrna Crosses, and Hungarian (groups of diagonal stitches over 2-3-2 rows). It feels like it ends there. When naming stitches for my blog and books, I make every attempt to integrate generally accepted names, but also feel that a legible diagram is more important.

More Columns!

July 8, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Week 2 of columns for backgrounds is here!

Today’s columns feature another favorite stitch of mine, woven Hungarian. The stitch has a lovely balance to it and is certainly pleasant to look at. I used the same thread combination as last week’s stitch, three plies of Soie d’Alger for the black lines and Silk Lame 18 for the yellow lines (on 13M).

I chose evenly spaced columns so the woven Hungarian elements wouldn't be lost. I used what I call Alternating Skip Tent between the columns to keep it smooth but not too open. Some of my favorite “simple” stitches to add between columns are reverse basketweave, horizontal straight stitches (the white lines in the stitched sample), or today’s stitch: alternating skip tent.

And last, but not least, this stitch is scalable, and you can accomplish some wonderful things with additional groups of woven Hungarian and/or by adjusting the width of the space between the primary columns.

Happy Background Month!

And, yes, my book is almost on its way to stores! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

Hope you have fun with the stitch and are as excited about Volume 5 as I am!

Happy Background Month!

July 1, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Happy Background Month to all who celebrate!

It’s been more than a minute since I’ve devoted a month of blogs to one topic. This month will focus on one of my favorite background themes: columns. I often mention that a blog stitch can be repurposed as columns, so I’m sharing some column ideas that have been rattling around in my head.

Columns for backgrounds are not a groundbreaking idea, but I encourage you to consider stitches other than satin stitches for columns. Columns are versatile and easy to create to suit any subject matter. Columns typically don’t overwhelm a canvas, and yet they can still be fun on their own. They can be full coverage or open stitches.

The inspiration for this stitch was Layered Diamonds from a 2022 blog post. I adjusted the layering slightly by centering it over the lower set of diamonds, but you can do any version you prefer. I used Silk Lame 18 for the black lines and three plies of Soie D'Alger for the yellow lines. Since the Soie was on top (to help ensure the metallic Silk Lame doesn’t overwhelm the background), I wielded my laying tool to make it look as if I ironed the Soie, and I’m very happy with the result.

If you are concerned about the open canvas in and/or between the columns, fabricators have a wonderful technique to make the most of it. Many pillow finishers or framers will put a lightweight, gauzy piece of fabric between the canvas and the pillow form, or between the canvas and the mounting boards/foam core/backing boards in framing. It’s a wonderful technique. (Caveat: I may not be using the exact correct terms for framing, but I hope you get the idea.)

And last, but not least, this stitch is scalable, and you can accomplish some wonderful things with larger diamonds and/or adjusting the open space between columns. Also, you can add quiet stitches to the open space. I’ll talk about that next week.

Happy Background Month!

And, yes, my book is almost on its way to stores! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

Hope you have fun with the stitch and are as excited about Volume 5 as I am!

Sorry for the Radio Silence

June 24, 2026 whimsicalstitch

It’s been a little nutty here for the past month or so. The good news is I have a clean closet, volume 5 is at the printer, and I found a stitch for today!

Let’s start from the last point, which is related to the first point. Today’s stitch was found (yesterday) in my WIP stash, buried in my closet. This is a forever-old Liz Goodrich Dillon witch, and I may have squealed when I found it. It is also possible I forgot about this project, and as soon as I saw it, I remembered how much I loved it and can’t wait to finish it soon. My best guess is I used Vineyard Silk (black lines), Neon Rays (gray lines), and size 12 Kreinik (from a spool) for the yellow lines.

This is a great all-purpose stitch for clothing (obvs) or many architectural elements, such as floors, roofs, or walls. Wrapping paper also comes to mind. Again, a great all-purpose stitch. I don’t think you will be surprised to hear that I love the black lines and the vertical groups of yellow lines on their own just as much. I look forward to using that version for a background, and eliminating the smaller rectangles and horizontal groups of yellow lines.

And last, but not least, this stitch is scalable, and you can accomplish some wonderful things with larger rectangles. That is what I’m going to play with very, very soon.

And, yes, my book is almost on its way to stores! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

Hope you have fun with the stitch and are as excited about Volume 5 as I am!

A Hint of What is Coming

June 3, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is from one of my favorite recent projects from Aristeia and Melissa Shirley. More fruit! And I absolutely love the background on it.

It’s an octagon grid with two plies of blue Soie D'Alger (black lines) and good old-fashioned Kreinik on a spool in size 4 for the aqua lines. It’s delicate, interesting, and doesn’t distract from the stars of the show. (Fruit. Fruit is always the star of my needlepoint show.)

To navigate the open spaces, you pivot your stitches between shared holes to add the grid framework. But the addition of the small eyelet stitch is the secret helper here. Not only is it cute and adds sparkle, but it also provides camouflage for those times when you have to drag a thread.

This stitch is also an example of what is coming with my next book…Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 5. Volume 5 is dedicated to background stitches of all sizes and shapes.

Hope you have fun with the background and are as excited about Volume 5 as I am!

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 that 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.

I’ve also learned that there is a very good chance that a stitch pattern that I come up with may not be new. But it is new to me. I spent almost an entire afternoon at a stitching friend’s home, poring through binders of stitches she gathered over five decades. Not only were many of them drawn by hand (whoa!), I discovered stitches that I thought were created decades later, with a different name, in a different presentation, from a different source. So, a stitch doesn’t belong to a single person or teacher. They are all part of a huge and decades-old network of really creative people.

I'm Getting There, I Promise

May 27, 2026 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch comes from the same student’s work as our last stitch. And, I liked it so much, I’m also including a variation I’m using in a current project.

And a brief tangent for a quick update…volume 5 of Mary’s Whimsical Stitches will be launching very soon. I’m making some last-minute additions that I hope you will find helpful, so thank you for your patience!

Today’s stitch is very similar to last week’s stitch, but a lot easier. Kinda.

I love the contrasting colors in the original version. The blue centers really make the greens pop. The second sample is my current WIP from Mopsey Designs. I adjusted the 3X3 squares to all tent stitches because it just fit better. In the pink stitched sample, I’m using two shades of Vineyard Silk for the black and yellow lines and Radiance 18 for the aqua lines. It’s subtle, but I wanted that because there is so much color coming from the nutcrackers.

Naturally, I thought this would be easy. And, it became easier once I pulled out the first round of stitching and started again. Regardless of which version you use, I strongly recommend stitching the 3X3 squares first. That defines all of the vertical columns and will make your life that much easier. I suggest stitching the aqua lines first, followed by the vertical black and yellow lines, and then filling in the horizontal rows in between the vertical columns.

Have fun with it! (And now back to work on volume 5.)

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 that 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.

I’ve also learned that there is a very good chance that a stitch pattern that I come up with may not be new. But it is new to me. I spent almost an entire afternoon at a stitching friend’s home, poring through binders of stitches she gathered over five decades. Not only were many of them drawn by hand (whoa!), I discovered stitches that I thought were created decades later, with a different name, in a different presentation, from a different source. So, a stitch doesn’t belong to a single person or teacher. They are all part of a huge and decades-old network of really creative people.

#whimsicalwednesday blog