Holly

I don't know if I've expressed how much I love whipped stitches. They make some of the more basic stitches look more finished. A back stitch is a back stitch, but a whipped back stitch looks somehow more elegant and neat. 

I decided to use whipped stem stitch for today's piece featuring holly. I like the way it adds some volume to the leaves. I used a DMC 890 and it's sparkly cousin, C890, for added pizzazz. Holly is one of the plants associated with the winter season. It symbolizes hope, endurance, and creativity during difficult times. 

Details:
Stitches: whipped stem, back, and satin stitches
Thread palette: DMC 890, C890, C666 (3), SS 102 (3)