I Call It Cheating

And I fully endorse it!

Okay, today's post is about padding.  But it's so easy, I consider it cheating.

On the off chance you don't know, Melissa Shirley does great holiday stuff.  And holiday stuff often involves snow.  The big snow spaces are a lot of fun as you can do fun and creative stitches.  The smaller snow spaces can be a challenge.  Plain needlepoint often works, but it's not always the perfect choice.

Enter padding.  I love it, especially for snow.  It's a great technique for snow on trees, on a window sill, or chimney, just as thought starters.

There are two steps and two threads.  The first step, with the base thread, adds depth to the padded area.  The second thread is the top thread.  It covers the base thread and is the only visible thread when the padding is complete.

The base thread is a strand of thicker thread.  Very Velvet or a larger than normal Pearl Cotton work well here.  You should choose a color similar to the top thread. The top thread covers the base thread in the opposite direction and provides the final look.  Be sure to cover the first and last rows of the base thread so the base thread isn't visible (step 1-2 and final step in Step 2).

Most padding requires only one layer of base thread.  If you want to create more pronounced padding, add 1-2 more layers of base thread.  Be careful to not add so many layers that the canvas holes get stretched.

If you don't like the coverage one round of top thread provides, cover the padding with a second round of the top thread.  

Very Velvet and Pearl Cotton make excellent base rows.  I prefer wider threads for the top thread, such as Flair, Fyre Werks, Treasure Ribbon, Frosty Rays, or plied floss (with a laying tool to maximize its width and coverage).

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.  Ten guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

I Can See Clearly Now

I vividly remember when I was taught how to do glass by Wendy Harwood. Like it was yesterday. It was a glass jar full of candy on a Melissa Shirley stocking. I loved the colors of the candies and looked forward to bringing them to life with bright threads. In the back of my mind, I was bummed it wouldn't be obvious the pretty candies were in a jar, but couldn't verbalize that thought. Turned out it didn't matter. Wendy shared a great solution that showed off the pretty candies in what was very clearly a jar.

Open stitches with Kreinik Metallics.

Jars, eye glasses, vases, windows...everything glass.  It was and is a great solution.  My go-to stitch for windows is Reverse Basketweave in a Kreinik Metallic Braid.  My favorite is #032 Very Fine Braid (#4) for 18 mesh and #032 Fine Braid (#8) for 13 mesh.

Another favorite glass stitch is Alicia's Lace.  It's Plain Needlepoint in alternating directions.  So easy.

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 Pinterest account. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click here to see the stitched sample for Reverse Basketweave and here for the stitched sample for Alicia’s Lace.

Experiment with some of your favorite open stitches and share what you learn with us!  I hope you enjoy this solution!

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.  Ten guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

P.S.  I miss you, Wendy.  A lot.

Trifecta Stitch

Honestly, I can not find a name for this stitch.  I call it the "Trifecta Stitch" because the core element includes three identical stitches.  

What is great about this stitch, other than its clean, classic look, is its versatility.  The base stitch is straightforward.  Three horizontal lines, over six rows, in a column.  Subsequent rows are offset from the first, and then you return to the original pattern.

For the record, it works great on the vertical as well.  It's a great stitch to help focus the eye in the desired direction for the specific area.

The intersection between the columns is where it gets fun.  The top two diagrams have a simple X stitch (2X2) in the spot.  And so much more can be done.

In the next example, I added a single bead, stitched over two rows on the vertical to keep it clean and straight.

In the next example, the intersection is filled with simple columns of three over two rows.  This version works very well with contrasting thread types (matte and metallic).  I've also used two different metallics (Crystal Braid and Flair) to create a snowy landscape.  

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.  Ten guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

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!