Keeping Santa Warm & Dry

December 19, 2021 whimsicalstitch

As promised, today’s #stitchingsunday introduces you to the very smartly dressed Santa from my tree. Today’s stitch is from a forever ago blog post and is also included on page 203 of my first book.

Click image to see #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday **Stitched Sample Gallery** on Instagram.

Click image to see the **whimsicalstitch Stitch Library** on pinterest.com. Includes all #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday stitch diagrams.

Today’s stitched sample is a Santa roll-up from my early days of decorative stitching. The stitched sample uses Neon Rays (black lines) and Flair (yellow lines). The original blog post presents this same stitch on the horizontal, so it’s kinda fun to see the different looks. It’s a fantastic small space stitch. I talk a little about how to navigate the extra bulk this stitch can add, which can be a great feature for certain stitch areas.

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. Retailers carrying the book can be found 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! Happy #stitchingsunday!

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!

Making a Go-To Different

July 21, 2021 whimsicalstitch

I remember stitching this blanket from two years ago like it was yesterday. I recall this because I was disappointed in myself for returning, again, to a go-to stitch for a tall narrow area. There’s nothing wrong with tried and true, but I wanted something more. It was kinda fun (and enlightening) to see what the simple addition of two stitches to the pattern makes. Or should I say fun, enlightening, and a relief?

Click on image to see #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday Stitched Sample Gallery on Instagram. — Click on image to see #whimsicalwednesday and #smallspacesunday **Stitched Sample Gallery** on Instagram.

The go-to stitch is what I consider classic Tramme (far right), a layered stitch with a base thread (black lines) and trios of accent stitches (aqua lines). The original plan was to do that with pairs of accent stitches (instead of trios). It was working as the scale fit the space but *something* was missing. I was bummed and not sure what to do in its place. Disappointment can sometimes turn into great inspiration. On a whim, I added the vertical lines on either side of select pairs of accent stitches and was immediately smitten…and very relieved.

Today’s stitch has more texture than its cousins. While most tramme lends itself to clothing, this one has a little extra texture that will work well for coats, pants, blankets, or scarves. The stitched sample is a border on a blanket from Walking in the Rain by Zecca. I used Trebizond Silk for the base threads (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame for the accent threads (aqua lines). Imagine what fun you could have with color combinations. For example, I would stitch pants with Petite Very Velvet (black lines), a contrasting silk floss for the horizontal accent threads, and a matching metallic for the vertical accent threads.

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.

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!

Christmas is Around the Corner

November 18, 2020 whimsicalstitch

So it’s all about red today. A lot of red, I might add.

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 two strands of Impressions (black lines) and Shimmer Ribbon (turquoise lines) on 13M. It’s part of the same sampler I shared with you last week.

Your eyes are not deceiving you…it is a full coverage and diagonal stitch. Oddly enough, what draws me to this stitch are the single tent stitches in between the 3X3 squares (turquoise lines with the Shimmer Ribbon). It adds a tiny element of surprise AND opens up a different pattern for the Impressions (black lines). I look forward to using this stitch for a jacket with Vineyard Silk and a Kreinik Metallic. It will also work well for a roof with two shades of Rainbow Linen or Vineyard Silk.

If you want to glam it up a tiny bit, consider replacing those single tent stitches I mentioned earlier with a seed bead or a Cross Stitch with a different metallic.

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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Whole Lotta Pink

November 11, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is from the wayback stitching machine, aka early aughts, and a whole lotta pink.

The stitched sample is Impressions (aqua lines), Petite Frosty Rays (gray lines), and Neon Rays (yellow lines). It’s from a class taught by one of my favorite former shop girls (who is now a full-time+ mom of three adorable boys).

This stitch is from a heart sampler and is full of red, pink, and white. (So it’s highly likely you’ll be seeing more red and pink soon.) I love how the oblique angle of the stitches, combined with the use of contrasting finishes in the main repeated stitch elements, adds an element of surprise. I’ve used this stitch for a skirt with black Petite Very Velvet (for the aqua and gray lines) and multiple Kreinik Metallics for the yellow lines. A blouse or dress would be really pretty with more lightweight threads, such as Soie Cristale (aqua lines), Petite Silk Lame (gray lines) and Flair (yellow lines).

If you want to lighten it up a bit, consider a single bead or bugle bead (on the horizontal) in lieu of the yellow lines. Taking that one step further, consider a string of three beads in two colors across the open space (on the horizontal).

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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

I Love (Most) Surprises

October 21, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Today’s stitch is a clever combination of straight stitches that honestly surprised me. And I absolutely love it.

The stitched sample uses Elegance (black lines) and size 8 Kreinik (yellow lines) on 18M. This stitch is reminiscent of a very clever way the one and only Brenda Hart uses open stitches. She stitched an intricately detailed piece with a single stitch and one type of thread. Brilliant. (Here’s an example if you are thinking “What the heck is she talking about?”)

This stitch is perfect for many architectural or home elements, such as wallpaper, rug, tile, or roof. For example, using two different matte textures, such as an overdyed wool and a solid silk for a rug, will add interesting dimension. Alternating black and white threads for a tile floor will be gorgeous. I would love to see it as a background for a smaller area, such as an ornament or small standup. (The stitched sample is just that, a background of a smaller area for a Stitch Guide I’m working on right now.) It will be a great addition to any sampler and, circling back to my original impression, a lovely cover for an intricately painted piece.

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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

A in Geometry

September 2, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Yes, I got an A in high school Geometry but that doesn’t mean I remember any of it and have laughable billiards skills. So, after trying to research the more precise terms to describe the three different sized shapes that emerge in today’s stitch, I leave you with…today’s wide open stitch is really pretty, uses lots of yummy threads, and please pay attention to the spacing of the base threads (black lines).

Before I talk about the threads, I want to bring your attention to the spacing of the black lines. What draws me to this stitch is the emerging shapes are not the same size. The stitch is composed of pairs of black lines with three empty rows between the stitches in a pair. There are five empty rows between pairs of stitches.

Today’s stitched sample is a great example of some of the beautifully painted canvases out there that scream for open stitches because the painting is almost too pretty to cover up. I like to consider the stitching on canvases like this as gently placed enhancements. The stitched sample is from an upcoming new Stitch Guide and uses three shade of Petite Silk Lame and Sundance Beads on 18M.

The first shade matches the dominant color in the area to be stitched and is represented by the black lines. Subsequent shades align with smaller color areas in the piece and are represented by the gray lines. (I used two different colors for the gray lines.) The bead color (represented by the yellow circles) was selected based on the dots on the painted canvas. (When this guide is ready, I’ll be able to show the whole thing in context.)

This stitch will make beautiful clothing with a silk Perle (such as Elegance) for the black lines, a lightweight Kreinik (gray lines) and a seed bead. I would love to see this in a sampler with more dramatic threads (dramatic = larger) such as Kreinik Medium Braid (size 16) for the black lines, Very Velvet (gray lines) and a larger bead for the bead accent. It will make a really pretty tabletop with silk floss (black lines) and Petite Silk Lame (gray lines). In this scenario, I would replace the bead with another Upright Cross and use a contrasting thread (either color or finish or both).

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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Happy #smallstitchingsunday

August 9, 2020 whimsicalstitch

Sometimes simple and small is the best way to go. Today’s #stitchingsunday is a shout-out to some of my favorite small stitches.

By the end of the day lately, I’m tapped out. Several of my works-in-progress are large, exquisite, and honestly, too much at the moment. I turned to a small canvas I had in my stash to get me through this week. (Also, loving Perry Mason and the Watchmen on HBO. Not necessarily perfect stitch TV*, but easy stitches make it easier to do both at the same time.)

The canvas is an adorable eyeglass case (on 13M) I picked up a few months ago. The letters are stitched in Cross Stitches, a trick I picked up from a fellow needlepoint junkie, with silver Fyre Werks. The advantage of a Cross Stitch, instead of a French Knot, Tent Stitch, or bead is that a Cross Stitch covers all four sides of an intersection, making the lines created by the stitches (in any direction) smooth and uninterrupted.

The background is nothing more than what I call Plain Needlepoint, but more commonly known as Basketweave, in Vineyard Silk and Pepper Pot Silk. I considered and discarded cuter and more complex stitches because I wanted the attention to go to the letters and the glasses. In addition, I didn’t want to do that much compensating around the same letters and glasses.

And, last but not least, the lenses are covered in Reverse Basketweave with a size 8 Kreinik Metallic to ensure the canvas shows through, as it would do through glasses.

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.

There’s a time and place for everything and sometimes it needs to be simple. I anticipate I will finish this tonight while I watch the Perry Mason finale. I’m confident you have the perfect spots for any of these stitches. Happy #stitchingsunday!

*Stitch TV = any programming that you can watch and comprehend while stitching. I prefer it to not be completely vacuous; I’m also not a fan of overly harsh reality TV. My favorite Stitch TV includes binging on old series I already know and love (Justified, I’m looking at you), easy comedies (Parks & Rec, anyone?), Great British Bake Off (who doesn’t love an English accent with their sweets?), and sports (or what is passing as sports TV these days).

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!

Which Came First?

July 8, 2020 whimsicalstitch

I’m often asked what comes first for a blog post…the stitch or the stitched sample? In all honesty, it’s both. Some weeks I am inspired by new stitches I’ve used for class projects and get to share student’s wonderful stitching. Other weeks I am walking around my house on Tuesday afternoon desperately looking for something I haven’t shared with you. Today and last week were definitely Tuesday afternoon scenarios.

There is a LOT to unpack in today’s stitch. I stitched these pillows in the early 2000’s and I was all about dramatic composite stitches. In fact, the more dramatic, the better. In my opinion, it works here because there is so much real estate to cover. The pillow, which you can see in its entirety on today’s Instagram post, includes basketweave leaves and a low key background to balance the dramatic stitches and threads on each of the fruit. Just like your diet, needlepoint needs to have balance. And, just like your diet, I’m all about fruit in needlepoint.

The stitched sample is a retired fruit pillow from Melissa Shirley Designs and uses DMC Perle Cotton (black lines), Very Velvet (aqua lines), Very Velvet (aqua lines), and a whole lotta red size 12 Kreinik (yellow lines). I recommend stitching the black liems first, folllowed by the yellow, and wrapping up with the aqua lines.

This stitch would make a beautiful fabric of any kind, say a dress with silk floss (black lines), a lightweight metallic such as Kreinik Metallics Fine Braid (#8) or Petite Silk Lame (yellow lines), and Flair (aqua lines). Extending the fabric theme, how about a pillow with Vineyard Silk (black lines), Silk Lame (yellow lines), and size 12 Kreinik (aqua lines). I may go so far as to replace the black lines under the aqua lines with the thread used for the aqua 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.

I hope you have the perfect spot for this stitch! Please enjoy! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

Let There Be White

April 29, 2020 whimsicalstitch

On the off chance you didn’t know, I adore tramme stitches. Today’s variation is a great way to add more subtle direction.

Most of the tramme stitches I’ve shared with you have been horizontal or vertical with cute accent stitches. Today’s tramme uses diagonal base threads with long accent stitches. The accent stitches provide the subtle angle of the stitch.

The stitched sample is the stomach of a flying puffin (naturally), hence the use of a whole lotta white threads. The base threads (black lines) are Kreinik 1/16” ribbon. The gray lines are Petite Silk Lame and the aqua lines are Soie D'Alger. I acknowledge you may not be able to distinguish between the Petite Silk Lame and the Soie on the stitched sample but I promise they are distinct on the actual canvas.

The most difficult part of this stitch is the first step (black lines). If one of these diagonal lines is off by even a single canvas thread, it will screw up the remainder of the stitch. My recommendation is to start small and work up to the longer diagonal stitches.

An easy way to accomplish this is to add your first short diagonal stitch in a corner. For this example, start in the upper left corner from the left edge to the top edge. Double and triple-check that your first diagonal stitch travels along a perfect 45° diagonal path. After it is complete, count across four rows to the right, bring your thread up from behind the canvas at that point and return it four rows below the left-hand side of the prior diagonal stitch. Count down four rows, bring the thread up from behind the canvas and return it four rows to the right of the prior stitch on the top edge.

Select members of the needlepoint police may offer a more complex way to ensure that your threads are wrapped around the edges versus an ever so slight resulting from my technique. I do the first step of most of my tramme stitches in this manner, especially for large areas, in order to minimize the use of the thread and make this go as quickly as possible. It is a matter of personal preference. I find this counting method effective and easy.

I stumbled across this stitch for a roof with a similar angle. The angle was reinforced with painted lines at that angle (in a different color). That is where the idea emerged to use two different color threads for the straight stitches.

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! 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!

Zoom!

April 22, 2020 whimsicalstitch

I attended my first virtual needlepoint class this weekend and learned a boatload of new things about Zoom video conferencing (literally our link to the outside world these days) and a darling new stitch! Both will be invaluable going forward.

The stitch is from Ruth Schmuff’s new project, Fashion by Zecca. The stitched sample is from the background of the border and uses three plies of Soie (gray lines) and Petite Silk Lame (turquoise lines).

A couple things to note before you begin. The blocks of vertical stitches include five stitches five rows high. The blocks of horizontal stitches include four stitches six rows wide. I’m not gonna lie; I may have rolled my eyes (ever so gently) when Ruth said to stitch all of the stitches in one direction before you stitch the second group of stitches (horizontal blocks first followed by vertical blocks). Wellllll, I jumped ahead to finish an area for today’s blog post and, yes, confirmed Ruth was correct. Your head gets into a pattern of five over five, five over five, etc. Flipping back and forth took some getting used to. There was a whole lot of “Wait, what?” when I would miss a cue.

This stitch will make a fantastic architectural stitch, including wallpaper, house wall, roof, or flooring. For roofs or floors, I would audition wools for the gray lines and a slightly heavier matte thread, such as Vineyard Silk, for the Cross Stitches (turquoise lines). For walls, I would use threads similar to the ones in the stitched sample.

A couple of variations flicking around in my head are stitching one direction of stitches in a different thread, whether that is a different color, finish, or both. Consider changing the Cross Stitch to beads. Consider adding three tent stitches in the center of each empty row between the blocks to give the stitch slightly more coverage.

I’m not going to lie…I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in a virtual class. I participated in enough hilariously awkward video conferences during my corporate years to be wary. Well, it was anything but awkward. Sure, there were some endearing ceiling shots but it was nice to be able to connect with a lovely group of stitchers from across the country. We all learned through live demos, show and tell (from across the country), Q&A, and a few oops. All in all, a great stitching weekend in my pj’s at my dining room table.

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! Have a wonderful #whimsicalwednesday!

#whimsicalwednesday blog