Happy Valentines Day!

Wishing everyone a happy valentines day! These pretty pink hearts are outlined in the pekinese stitch. I think this stitch makes a lacy looking edge. It is reminding me of those old fashioned valentine chocolate gift boxes.

100 stitches - pekinese stitch

Introducing the pekinese stitch: This next stitch from 100 Stitches is simple but dramatic looking! Here are the steps. Start with just the basic back stitch: Add a new row of a contrasting or even same colored floss:
Now bring your needle under the second stitch of your back stitch row - don't pick up any fabric, just slide the needle under the back stitch:
Then bring your needle under the first back stitch - again don't pick up any fabric.
Now pull the floss through:
and head for the third back stitch!
Come under the third back stitch without picking up any fabric and pull through, then back under the second back stitch. That's all there is to it! Just continue on through all the backstitches. Notice in this picture how big the loops are on the right hand side of the back stitching line:
According to 100 stitches, you can either leave them big like this or pull the whole thing tight. It just depends which look you prefer.

The pekinese stitch is #2 and is in the flat stitches category of 100 Stitches. I used six strands of each floss. The colors are dmc # 907 green and dmc #3837 purple. I stitched this on 100% cotton, quilting weight fabric with a #24 chenille needle :)