A Beading TBT

Today's TBT is Traditional Beading.

The diagram for this stitch, along with 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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs and Zecca Designs.  28 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

One of the First Stitches I Learned

Byzantine with Smyrna Crosses.jpg

The Byzantine is one of the first stitches I learned.  This, of course, means I shunned it in for several years as I found stitches I considered more fun or more intriguing.  Frankly, it just meant this was one of the first stitches taught to me and I always thought there had to be something better.  Sometimes, there is nothing better.  The Byzantine can be manipulated in so many ways as it is a fantastic, all-purpose, go-to stitch.  I need to use it more often.

It is a great way to mix thread finishes and colors.  Due to technical difficulties, you can find the stitched sample here. The stitched sample uses good old DMC Floss (4-ply) with Kreinik Metallics Tapestry Braid (#12) on 18-mesh.  

This stitch works for countless spaces, including trees and shrubs, clothing, floors, water, samplers...the list is endless, which also means the threads are endless.  

This stitch diagram, along with all other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can 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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley Designs and Zecca Designs. 28 guides are available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Random Wonderfulness

I stumbled across this stitch on Pinterest* a few months ago.  I had never seen it before and have used it multiple times since.  It looks complex, but is the farthest thing from it.  I named the stitch Horizontal Pairs.

The amount of symmetry in this stitch makes it so easy.  I named it as I did to draw your attention to the fact each row of pairs aligns on the horizontal axis.  Add two stitches over two rows, skip two rows on the horizontal, and repeat.  It's that easy!  (Just don't forget to change directions between the complete horizontal rows.)

The end result looks far more advanced than the stitch really is.  I love it so!

As for threads, virtually anything works.  So far, I've only done the stitch in one color with one thread.  The stitched sample on Instagram uses Vineyard Silk on 18-mesh.  It would look great with rows in alternating colors or thread finishes.  

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

* Speaking of Pinterest, the month of January will focus on stitches and techniques I discovered on Pinterest.

I Always Wanted to be Tall

We wrap up the month of snow with some thought-starters on spacing.  Let's start with the Elongated X.

It's straightforward, fills a large space quickly, allows the beautiful shading to show through (especially for snow), and doesn't overpower an area.  

What if we moved the X's one row up? 

It gets really fun when you incorporate beads.  Here's the first version with a bead in the open area.  (And remember, my diagrams use color for clarity!  For snow, I recommend a white metallic with a white, clear, or translucent bead.  It's a little challenging to distinguish white on white on a diagram.)

So, here is where I usually talk about mesh sizes and bead sizes.  The traditionalist in me would typically say size 14/15 beads on 18-mesh and size 11 beads on 13-mesh.  But here's the thing.  This is snow and it's fun.  The space between the X's in the above example is a good size with potential.  Have fun with it!  Depending on the area, consider using size 8 beads!  Or even size 6 if you want it to really pop!

Speaking of popping, here's a fun addition to the second Elongated X.  Bugle Beads!

You may want to also consider stringing 2-3 beads on a needle and adding those on the vertical.  There are so many possibilities.  The space you are stitching and your personal preferences will dictate the best way.

These stitch diagrams, 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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  28 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Tiny Tiny Diamonds!

Today's post is September's final #smallspacesunday.  And it's a really special stitch.  It's an even more petite variation on last week's #smallspacesunday.  .

The stitch is Tiny Diamonds with Beads.  The image file name is "water snow whatever."  Part of that is that it is 6:00 am and I'm a little tired and the other part is this stitch is perfect for snow or water, especially snow or water that is receding in the background of a piece.

Small Diamonds with Beads.jpg

For water (or snow), I recommend a lightweight metallic such as Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid #8 (for 13-mesh) or Kreinik Metallics Very Fine Braid #4 (for 18-mesh).  Any clear, translucent, or light-colored crystal bead will work in the center. 

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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  28 guides are currently available, including the newest Tea by the Sea, and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Darn Snow

Virtually any darning stitch can work for snow.  I favor straight darning stitches and today's stitch is a recent favorite.  (Here is a refresher on darning stitches.)

The gaps in the row with stitches over three rows are a great opportunity to show off any shading.  Remember to always start from the far side of any row. The diagram starts on the left side.  

While neither stitched sample on Instagram is snow, they are ground covers and are great examples of how this stitch works.  The first is a dirt path on a J. Mahalay piece. The second is the sand from Melissa Shirley's Beach House.

5-3 Darning Stitch with ThreadWorx wool (on 18-mesh) for today's snow stitch on whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays blog post. #whimsicalwednesday #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #stitchdiagrams #letitsnow #threadworx #home #love

52 Likes, 0 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "5-3 Darning Stitch with ThreadWorx wool (on 18-mesh) for today's snow stitch on..."

5-3 Darning Stitch with DMC Pearl Cotton #8 (on 13-mesh) for today's snow stitch on whimsicalstitch.com/whimsicalwednesdays blog post. #whimsicalwednesday #needlepoint #whimsicalstitch #stitchdiagrams #letitsnow #dmcthreads #home #love

32 Likes, 0 Comments - whimsicalstitch.com (@whimsicalstitch) on Instagram: "5-3 Darning Stitch with DMC Pearl Cotton #8 (on 13-mesh) for today's snow stitch on..."

This stitch diagram, along with other #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams, can also be found on a Pinterest board (dedicated to whimsicalstitch.com stitch diagrams).  

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

Enjoy!

More Beads!

Snow stitches beg for beads.  Today's stitch finds its inspiration in earlier posts.  While I wholeheartedly recommend the Baby Bling stitch or Chopsticks (with beads) for snow, let's change the shape of the stitch in between the beads this week.

I present Beads with Diamonds.  

This is an open stitch that is perfect for the wonderful snow shading.  The light blue or gray shading will show through beautifully with this stitch.  Consider using a clear bead, such as Sundance Beads color 131, for the accent.  Frankly, I would use a light sheen Metallic, such as Flair, Frosty Rays, or Crystal Braid, for the diamond itself.

I'm including a couple of variations to (hopefully) inspire you.  The first adds an Upright Cross stitch to the center of the diamond.  I strongly recommend using two different metallics, one for the Upright Cross and one for the Diamond.  

The last variation leaves the center clear but fills in the diagonal stitch between the diamonds.

Beads with Diamonds Variation 2.jpg

It's all a matter of taste.  And your taste is perfect.  

These stitch diagrams, 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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  27 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Santa's Landing Pad

This stitch is unique, to say the least.  And I love it.  I've used it for a blouse and a piece of fruit.  Yes, random areas but the proportions were perfect.  It also makes a perfect snow covered roof.  

When using this stitch for a roof, I strongly recommend a well-defined thread that keeps its shape, such as a Kreinik Metallic, for the dark gray line.  If you want a little less bling on your roof, I recommend a lightweight Silk Pearl (Elegance, Grandeur, or Gloriana Princess Pearl) for the dark gray line.  For the light gray line, Flair or Crystal Braid have the perfect amount of flexibility to cover the area without overwhelming it.  The final touch is the bead between the rectangles.  A clear, white, or clear opal bead would be perfect.  Consider using light blue beading thread for the bead to add a unique smidge of color.

The two stitch samples are from the obscure objects I mentioned earlier.  The first is from a blouse on a Melissa Shirley Indian Girl. The second is from a pear on Melissa Shirley's Vintage Pears...also known as my cat's favorite napping spot.

 Changing directions on this stitch is especially impactful.  This stitch on the vertical is perfect for a tall, slender area.

These stitch diagrams, 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 sells stitch guides for seasonal Melissa Shirley designs.  27 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

X's and O's

I love stitching snow.  The variety of stitches we can use are virtually limitless.  I can't think of a needlepoint artist who doesn't add some sort of secondary color, whether it is gray or blue, to add depth and nuance to the snow.

And those additional colors are exactly why I favor open stitches.  The shading is so beautiful and subtle I don't want to cover it up.  Today's stitch honors that objective and is for a snowman you want to stand out.

Add the base threads (gray lines) first, and follow up with the accent threads (green and yellow lines).  

With most tramme stitches I previously shared with you on this site, I used a matte thread for the base (typically Very Velvet or a heavy Pearl Cotton).  On the stitched sample on Instagram for this stitch, I used all shiny threads.  The base thread is Petite Sparkle Rays.  The green accent thread is Crystal Braid and the yellow accent thread is Shimmer Ribbon.  

When using threads with the same finish, take a moment to make sure they are distinguishable from each other.  As an example, Neon Ray would not work with either Neon Rays + or Shimmer Ribbon as the finishes are too similar.  If you are using contrasting colors, have fun with the colors!  Finish matters less in that scenario.

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 sells stitch guides for Melissa Shirley and Zecca Designs.  27 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!

Snow in September

Today's trifecta is September, snow, and small spaces.

Honestly, I'm never thrilled when new stitch months begin on a #smallspacesunday.  I get nervous that I won't have the perfect small stitch.  This month is different.  

I had to figure out what to do for small sections of snow on a tree on a Christmas stocking.  I did this technique on a whim, with translucent beads, fully expected to not like it, and worked on a backup plan while I stitched.

Turns out I loved it.  And kept it.  

Frankly, I believe what made it work was that WAS a small space.  This much beading on a large roof, or ground cover, would be overwhelming.  The stitched sample on Instagram shows a lot of the tree so you can see the context.

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 Melissa Shirley and Zecca Designs.  27 guides are currently available and more are in the pipeline.

Enjoy!