Which One is Your "Just Right?"

Woven Hungarian is one of my favorite stitches and, I confess, you will find it on virtually every piece I stitch.  It's a great stitch for large or small spaces, yet what often is overlooked is its scalability.

The base pattern includes alternating rows of sequences of three stitches going over 2-3-2 rows. Depending on how much shading you want to show through or how dressed up the stitch needs to be, the accent stitch can be a cross stitch, French Knot, bead (as diagramed), or empty.  

Click on the 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 the 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.

Things start to get interesting when you expand the stitch, especially for large spaces such as skies, water, and large spaces in what I call masterpieces, meaning very large dramatic canvases with large areas to fill.

The first expansion (below left) increases the length of the stitches from two and three rows to four and five rows. The last variation (below right) expands four and five rows to six and seven rows.  And it's huge.  And I love what it could do for a large canvas, especially a sky or gorgeous kimono.  I have no other name for this, other than massive.

Click on the image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. (Note: actual image on Pinterest may vary. It is the same stitch.) Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on the image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Pinterest account. (Note: actual image on Pinterest may vary. It is the same stitch.) Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Goldilocks always thought the smallest object was the best but, in this case, the larger alternatives are more than fascinating.

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.

IIf you like what you see on this blog, there's more: 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; Mary’s Whimsical Stitches Volume 2 features chapters on Balanced, Beading, Diagonal, Layered, Oblique, Small, and Straight stitches.

Also, you can download for free the first chapter from my first book which covers 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!

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 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! 

It's a Brick...House!

Today's #smallspacesunday features the Brick Stitch.  It is, quite possibly, the easiest stitch ever.  It can be done on the vertical or horizontal. 

It is also scalable.  The only caveat is to go over an even number of rows (to keep the bricks centered on each other).  The above example is over two rows; it is over four rows in the example below.  I wouldn't necessarily consider an over-4 brick stitch a small stitch, but wanted to demonstrate the adaptability of the stitch.

You can also skip rows if you would like to show the shading on the canvas or to make the stitching a little less dense.

The last example is the trifecta!  It doubles up on the bricks, skips rows, and adds a small accent.

As for use, this is a great stitch for bushes (especially in the background), ground cover, small area clothing, small area backgrounds, buildings.  

I am a big fan of plied cotton and silks.  I like using 4-ply on 18-mesh and 6-ply on 13-mesh for this stitch, along with my trusted laying tool.  There is something about the softness of the plies that make the final finish soft and gentle.  It also works well with stranded silks, such as Vineyard Silk or Pepper Pot Silk. 

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Nine guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Be creative and enjoy!

Open Sesame!

It took me a couple years to get used to the idea of what I naively called "naked canvas."  Every row and every intersection had to be covered with a stitch of some kind.  Fortunately, I got over it and today I can't imagine not using what I call Open Work.

I use the term Open Work as an umbrella term for any stitch that allows any canvas to be seen through the stitching.  It is commonly used to highlight shading on a canvas.  It also serves as a tactic to draw the focal point to another part of a canvas by minimizing the attention to a specific area.  I'll demonstrate how both uses work.

The first is shading.  Open Work uses a stitch that balances a pattern with open spaces that allow the shading to show through.  This is just one example of the many stitches that accomplish this.

The example above is one of Melissa Shirley's fruits.  It is stitched with a #3 Pearl Cotton (dark gray lines), Frosty Rays (the yellow lines), and a #12 Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (light gray lines).  The dark area down the center (on the diagonal) of the photograph is how the canvas is painted.  The shading shows through yet there is a consistent color pattern with the threads.

It's a great way to avoid odd sequential color values that aren't quite right, inconvenient compensation in and around the different colored areas, and to sustain a clean pattern.  Truth be told, if I stitched this canvas today, the only change I would make would be a #5 Pearl Cotton instead of #3 to draw more attention to the shading.

The next example is Skip Stitch.  

Skip Stitch is beyond easy.  Stitch it as you would stitch an area in Basketweave (on the diagonal).  In the photograph, you can see how the shading shows through in a more natural manner than it would if you did Basketweave with several shades of thread.

The Skip Stitch is a great way to direct the eye to key elements on the canvas.  I wanted the attention to go to the more elaborately stitched bushes on the hill, so I wanted to make the grass understated.

It can also be accomplished through thread weight, specifically using a thread that is far lighter than the canvas would typically call for.  For example, using a #4 Kreinik Metallic Very Fine Braid on an 18-mesh canvas or Rainbow Galleries Elegance on a 13-mesh canvas.  

These stitch diagrams, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Nine guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

You Will Be(ad) the Death of Me

Beading.  I love it yet I hate it.

There are certain canvases I gravitate towards and my first thought is, "Oh!  That (whatever element on the canvas) will be so very perfect with beads.  As painted.  I don't care how big the space is.  It will be perfect with beads.  I must have beads."

And then I buy ten tubes of beads for the shading, of course, and curse at myself the entire way home.

Somehow, I know how to power through with beads.  I have two tricks that help me do so.  Not everyone agrees with my tricks.  But, I've been doing it this way for close to 20 years and it works.

The first is transparent thread.  Transparent thread eliminates the need for multiple needles (with different color threads) or the time-consuming chore of changing threads on the needle. I can shade to my heart's delight.  

I used to find transparent thread at the local drug store in the now rapidly disappearing sewing section.  I've seen transparent thread  at local needlepoint shops, but find it is very expensive.  I now buy it at my local fabric store.

The second trick is to align the individual rows of beads by returning the needle through the entire row after it is complete.  

This is a tried and true method for me to bead.

Don't get me wrong.  There are occasions when I buy colored beading thread.  I use it to reinforce a color in an area, especially if it is a small space or brick beading.  More often than not, if I am adding a single bead to an already open space area, I will use colored beading thread.

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope this post helps you reconnect with beading.  Thank you for stopping by! 

Reverse #smallspacesunday

This week's #smallspacesunday post shares the Reverse Basketweave stitch.  

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.

What I love about this stitch is it adds texture and some dimension to a small space, all the while keeping it very neat and clean.  Consider it for a small basket, hat, gloves, ground cover, bushes (in the background), lamp base, side table, small fruits or vegetables...you get the idea. 

Like other small space stitches, this stitch works well with overdyed threads as it merges the various hues of the thread well and doesn't overpower a piece.  

It is a great stitch to use if you want the shading to show through.  To accomplish that, use a very light thread weight based on the canvas mesh you are using.  For example, use Elegance on a 13-mesh canvas or Kreinik Metallics Very Fine Braid (#4) on 18-mesh.  

As an example, I use this stitch frequently for window glass, especially with a Kreinik Metallic. I use Kreinik Metallics color 032 (Pearl) in a Very Fine Braid (#4) on 18-mesh and Fine Braid (#8) on 13-mesh.  It provides the shiny look of glass all the while allowing the colors of the window as painted to show through.  

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 a book for you! Mary’s Whimsical Stitches 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.

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 #smallspacesunday!

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!

Simply Square

Let's face it.  There are times when you want a good looking stitch, yet don't have the attention span to do a complex and clever stitch.  Today's stitch looks great and does not require a huge amount of brain space.

The stitch provides full coverage stitch and encourages you to mix colors and thread types.  The diagram maps out three colors, simply because it is easier to visualize the stitch that way.  There are three elements:  the center square (dark gray lines), the corner squares (yellow lines), and the rectangular fillers (light gray lines).  

My most common use for this stitch is to do the center square and the corner squares in the same matte thread and the rectangular fillers in a metallic. 

The Cubed Square Stitch makes a great and subtle background.  Off the top of my head, it also lends itself to clothing, tabletops, floors, or roofs.  It's a great large space stitch for any variety of designs.  

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you enjoy the Cubed Square stitch.  Let us know where you use it so we can learn together!

Thank you for stopping by! 

How Do I Love Thee

Let me count the ways.

Beetle Stitch, you are fantastic.  You are a wildly versatile stitch in both use and pattern.  Let's start with the base pattern.

A simple pattern to follow...over 2-2-2-4-6-6-6-4 and repeat.  The diagram shows the horizontal version, resulting in columns.  The two's always match the sixes and the fours always match the fours in subsequent columns.  You don't have to skip a row between columns, or you can skip multiple rows.

It's a great dressed down stitch, but it dresses up really well when you skip multiple rows.

In this example, I combine threads to get a more elegant effect.  The gray lines are a matte thread and the aqua lines are a soft sheen metallic such as Kreinik Metallics #8 (or #12) braid or Rainbow Galleries Flair or Fyre Werks.  I like to use those metallics, regardless of canvas mesh size, as they lay well on the canvas and don't overpower the space.  You can use the same color family for a more subtle elegance or complementary colors to make the area stand out a little more.

The last scenario uses multiple hues.  This is a perfect strategy for those canvases without a painted background.  Melissa Shirley's Mary Lake-Thompson line of fruit bowls, teacups,  baskets, and fruit canvases are great examples of those canvases.  Use three complementary colors for the canvas and create a subtle but impactful background to the piece, tying the colors of the piece together.

The Beetle Stitch is great for a large background, sky, water, large space clothing (such as Santa's coat), bag, or floor covering, to name just a few.  This stitch is great as a full cover stitch but also a wonderful light option.  For example, the use of a lighter weight metallic (versus the canvas size) highlights the shading of the painting on the canvas.

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline. 

Enjoy!

The Cushion Stitch

#smallspacesunday found a new (to her) small space stitch.

I found this truly unique small space stitch while looking for a stitch to do a cushion.  It was a beautifully shaded cushion, and I was leaning towards stitching it as painted in plain needlepoint...until I found this stitch.

I named it the cushion stitch, as that was its inspiration.  However, it can serve many purposes.  It would make excellent tree bark, roof, ground covering, bush, coat or jacket.

For my cushion, I used three different threads of the same color family.  For the aqua lines, I used a pliable wool.  I used Neon Rays for the dark gray line and Frosty Rays for the light gray line.  I think it would be great fun to use this on a coat in three different colors as diagrammed.

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesdays.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley Designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

I hope you enjoy this latest find as much as I do!  

There is Always an Exception

You may notice I am a big fan of symmetrical stitches.  There are not very many overtly diagonal stitches in my day to day repertoire.  There are always exceptions.

I rediscovered this stitch as I was admiring the array of completed needlepoint just back from the finisher at my local needlepoint store the other day.  It's called Diagonal Mosaic*.

It's a great way to fill a larger space, works well in either direction (whether I like that or not), and an excellent way to add contrast with fibers, either in complementary or contrasting colors.

My favorite combo for this is Pepper Pot silk and a soft sheen metallic such as Rainbow Galleries Fyre Werks.  It's a great stitch for a roof as it lends itself to the angle of the roof (if the canvas is painted that way).  I also use it on coats (in alternating directions), bags, baskets, and trees.

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

* One of the many names I found for this stitch.  As this is not unusual, you will find I describe a stitch in a widely known name (if it exists) or create my own name for it.

Hip to be Square

Today's stitch is another go-to stitch for me.  I use it for skies, coats, baskets, tabletops, house exteriors, and backgrounds.  The ability to enhance it defines its versatility.  The base layout is below.  It is a 5X5 square split into two rectangles with a row of plain needlepoint down the center.  Typically, I use a matte thread for the gray lines and metallic thread for the yellow lines.  

The first variation is the center row.  I make the center stitch of the center row a contrasting element, such as a bead, a different color metallic thread, a French knot, or a cross stitch.

The next variation alternates the center row colors, which is a great way to add a subtle dimension to a coat or background.

The last variation is alternating color combos, a great way to add dimension to a basket or large space.

This stitch is scalable as well.  Consider doing a 7X7 or 9X9 square for an especially large space.  Those would break down into two 3X7 rectangles and two 4X9 rectangles, respectively, with a row of plain needlepoint in the center.

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on www.pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday.  

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 for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  Eight guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline. 

Enjoy!