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!

Are We There Yet?

December 30, 2020 whimsicalstitch

I started with an idea about alternating directions of stitches over two rows and one…and did not land where I thought I would. But, I kinda dig where I did land.

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 me playing with size 12 Finca Perle (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines) on 13M. Changing the direction of the stitches over one in the same group of stitches is something I haven’t seen before and I see myself doing this again. (This does not mean it has never been done; I simply haven’t stumbled across it yet.)

Clothing, sampler, and sky/wall/background are the first areas that pop into my head for this stitch. For a lighter look (similar to the stitched sample), I recommend 2-4 plies of silk floss for the black lines and a lightweight metallic (such as Petite Silk Lame or Kreinik size 4 or 8) for the yellow lines. For a more dramatic look, consider using two metallics such as Crystal Braid (black lines) and Frosty Rays (yellow lines). When I use two metallics in a stitch, I make every effort to make sure they have unique finishes. For example, I’ll mix Kreinik with Flair but not with Crystal Braid.

Don’t overlook the fact that this stitch, like most stitches, is scalable. I’m already planning on using a smaller version for a cute pillow I had no idea what to do with until now.

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 books (!) for you! 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. For more information, visit here. Volume 2 will debuts in January 2021.

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!

#whimsicalwednesday blog