Santa Came in January!

January 31, 2018 whimsicalstitch

With all the holidays this month, it was a so fun to receive an email giving me a gift. My new friend, Amy Poore, sent me today's stitch and stitched sample. It's adorable!

I've seen versions of this stitch around and really like what Amy did with it. It's a fun mix of diagonal and straight stitches, with some alternating directions thrown in for good measure.

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 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. — 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.

Amy used a single color of Pepper Pot for this stitch as a background on one of her new pieces and it's adorable. I recommend stitching it in horizontal columns to keep the straight lines wrapped crisply around the edges. Don't obsess with dragging threads as needed as it is a pretty full coverage stitch. This stitch is great for anything you need to add texture and height to, such as pants, a chimney, a tree trunk...you get the idea.

I've seen versions of this on the horizontal and it's equally charming. It makes a great ground cover, open field, or even clouds.

Threads are dictated by the area of course. But, I do have a hankering to see this done with threads in two different finishes (one for the straight lines and one for the diagonal lines). I have seen this stitch as a ground cover in the combo of an overdyed and solid thread. It was gorgeous.

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 60 guides are currently available, with 12 new Stitch Concepts just added! 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!

Christmas in January

January 24, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Come on, you knew today had to be Christmas, since we've celebrated almost every other fall holiday the past couple weeks.

Today's small stitch is a really cute darning stitch, a technique I love. Unlike most of my go-to darning stitches, this one is on the diagonal. And it's great. I need to do this more.

As a reminder, darning stitches are similar to running stitches, where you begin at one edge and weave your way up and down across to the opposite edge, whether that is on the horizontal, vertical or, like today, diagonal axis. Unlike traditional stitches with a crisp, wrapped edge, darning stitches are much smoother across their respective path.

Darning stitches are great for areas that you want to soften a bit, or want to have some of the beautiful painting show through. I (over)use darning stitches for floors and walls, skies, sand, or tree trunks, to name just a few. Today's stitch is illustrated as a background for Mile High Santa.

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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy!

Thanksgiving in January

January 17, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Last week was Halloween so, of course, this week is Thanksgiving, right?

Today's stitch comes from an apron on a vintage Melissa Shirley Thanksgiving stand-up. It's a wonderful balance of open, interesting, and sweet.

Click on image to see on pinterest.com.  Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams. — Click on image to see on pinterest.com. Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Click on image to see on instagram.com.  Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams. — Click on image to see on instagram.com. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch to see a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

I recommend adding the gray lines first. Fill the smaller diamond with a single Upright Cross, followed by four Upright Crosses in the larger diamond. The stitched sample uses DMC Perle Cotton #8 with Shimmer Ribbon as the accent thread (on 18-mesh).

I love the mix of thread finishes in the stitched sample. The single hue makes for a classic look. Along these lines, I see this stitch (and single hue combo) as perfect for a shirt, field of grass or dirt, tablecloth, clouds, maybe even water. It strikes the right balance between open and full coverage stitches, allowing the shading to play a role in your final stitched piece.

Mixing colors and finishes would make this a great stitch for more dramatic clothing such as a coat or dress. I imagine the gray lines with a rich red velvet, the group of four Upright Crosses in a deep red metallic, and the single Upright Cross in a gold or silver metallic. Try it for a roof or basket with Rainbow Linen for the diagonal lines, Straw Silk for the single Upright Cross, and an overdyed Perle Cotton for the group of four Upright Crosses. Just a few thought-starters for you!

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more will be announced later this week, so stay tuned!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

Halloween in January

January 10, 2018 whimsicalstitch

The blog posts for the remainder of the month unveil a secret about me. I've been negligent in returning my Christmas decorations...okay, some Halloween decorations as well...to storage. The good news for me is I didn't have to scrounge for stitched samples. The good news for you is today is Halloween!

Today's stitch is illustrated as a background for a vintage Melissa Shirley Halloween ornament.

It is very simple. The core stitch element is five straight stitches six rows high (on the vertical). After the core elements are complete, add an accent thread across the top in the middle on the horizontal axis. Voila! Perfect background, floor, wallpaper, basket, dress...even a large window!

The stitched sample uses DMC Perle Cotton #8 with Shimmer Ribbon as the accent thread (on 18-mesh).

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works. I will be posting about 15 new Stitch Concepts later this month, so stay tuned!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy! And happy, happy 2018!

Sometimes Being Right Isn't Everything

January 7, 2018 whimsicalstitch

And that's because today's stitch comes from another mistake! The diagram below was my first attempt at diagramming this adorable window stitch, it wasn't quite right. It wasn't right because it didn't match the stitched sample, but it's still a cute stitch on its own merits. So meet the Patterned Cross Stitch's cousin, the Patterned Cross Stitch!

My counsel for this version is the same as the cousin. Use it to help an area recede, such as a sky or a horizon behind a beautiful landscape, or to let how the canvas is painted standout. The pink area of this canvas was so cute that I didn't want to overdo it. It's also a foolproof way to highlight shading in a small area. A stitch like this is always top of mind for water or windows. I recommend using lightweight threads with a stitch this gentle. For example, the stitched sample uses Trebizond Silk on 18-mesh. Depending on what you are stitching, consider Petite Silk Lame, Silk Straw, 2-3 strands of your favorite silk floss or wool.

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

Or Not

January 3, 2018 whimsicalstitch

Welcome to a new year of #whimsicalwednesdays! Let's kick off the year with open stitches, sparkly threads, and beads, shall we?

Let's start with the first stitch. The stitch is connected octagons with all sides over two rows. While I am aware the primary shape is the octagon, I see the diamonds first, hence the name.

This version would be great for nature, especially areas that don't need a heavy stitch. Think water, sky, clouds. It's a wonderful way to show off the canvas painting. The stitched sample uses Sparkle! Braid for a sky on 18-mesh.

Make it the "Or Not" version by adding an Upright Tied Cross in the center and a bead inside the diamond. It's really something, especially when you mix threads and add beads. A stitcher friend shared a wonderful sample with me.

Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com on Pinterest.  Visit pinterest.com/whimsicalstitch/whimsicalwednesday for a library of all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams. — Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com on Pinterest. 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 for a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams. — Click on image to see on whimsicalstitch.com's Instagram account. Visit instagram.com/whimsicalstitch for a library of stitched samples for select #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

The first stitched sample uses Kreinik Metallics Medium Braid for the diamonds, Rachel for the Upright Tied Cross, and a Sundance Bead. It's exquisite and inspiring. She is using it for a large flower petal. It would be great for clothing, especially dresses or dramatic coats. Replace the bead with an Upright Cross and change the focus to matte threads, such as Pepper Pot, Gloriana Silk Floss, or even Straw Silk, and you would have fantastic greenery.

The second stitched sample is an illustration of thread weights. The sample includes Soie D'Alger and a Sundance Bead. The octagons are two plies of Soie D'Alger and the Upright Tied Cross is a single strand of the same Soie D'Alger. I love the lightness of it. And the shading shines through beautifully.

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works. I will be posting about 15 new Stitch Concepts later this month, so stay tuned!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy! And happy, happy 2018!

Boom!

December 27, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I'm ending December with a bang. And by bang, I mean another fabulous large stitch. Today's stitch is a riff on my recent obsession with layered stitches and diamonds.

I assembled this stitch for the background on a large Santa stand-up. The stitch provides combines lightness with clean lines that could work as a sky, roof, even still water. The stitched sample uses includes Princess Pearl (narrow gray lines), with Flair (dark gray lines), and Kreinik 1/16" metallic ribbon (turquoise lines). The stitch sequence is light gray lines, followed by the dark gray lines, and end with the turquoise lines.

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works. Ten new stitch concepts will be added in mid-January!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

Sweet Scallops

December 20, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch integrates a technique I often do when I feel a stitch is too predictable. I alternate rows in height, thread, or both. I talked about this a tiny bit in my first post about Scallop stitches.

Scallop stitches are cute on their own. My preference is to include empty rows in a scallop pattern. It emphasizes the scallop pattern and is a great way to integrate the shading of the canvas. Another fun technique is to add rows of alternating heights to the mix. It's cute pattern and, more importantly, it offers an opportunity to add another color or finish. The stitched sample uses Pepper Pot Silk and Flair.

This stitch works well for many pieces of clothing, especially dresses, coats, and pants. It's lovely for water, especially with the directional element provided by the shape of the stitch. It's also a current favorite of mine for vases.

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works. I will be posting about 15 new Stitch Concepts in mid January!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

You're So Tall

December 13, 2017 whimsicalstitch

Today's stitch is an easy and quick stitch that offers an elegant and clean alternative for an open background.

I prefer the open centers, as the diagram illustrates. The horizontal accent adds a little something something. It is certainly not essential. It's also an opportunity to add contrasting thread, whether that is color, finish, or both.

If you are #teamfullcoverage, feel free to fill the centers with long vertical stitches. As with the accent, I encourage you to use a contrasting thread. The stitched Prescencia Finca Perle 12 with Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) on 18 mesh.

The height of each diamond makes this a uniquely large stitch. To get true mileage out of it, I recommend it for a background or another comparable tall space. It would work on a tall area, such as a coat or dress, the chest of a bird, or a tablecloth. Flip it 90 degrees on its side and it would work very well for a wide area, such as a tabletop or floor. Have fun with it.

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works, including over ten new Stitch Concepts in mid January!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

Go Greek

December 10, 2017 whimsicalstitch

I'm not trying to make your neck snap. And, yes, this stitch is about as small as last Wednesday's post was large.

I shared this stitch as a candidate for a border stitch over one row. And then I forgot about it. Seriously. I stumbled back across the border stitch while looking for a small space stitch for the tiniest of houses that just so happened had vertical stripes in alternating colors. Voila.

I stitched the sample with two dramatically different colors of Trebizond Silk to reinforce that point. It would be very cool with two colors or two finishes, or both. As I write this, I ask myself why not make it three colors or finishes? And I say to myself, "Why not?" (Cue everyone on the plane looking at me as if I'm crazy.)

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 and stitch concepts for Melissa Shirley Designs, Zecca Designs, and Patience Brewster. 48 guides are currently available and more are in the works!

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Enjoy!

#whimsicalwednesday blog