Scrap Bag Diamonds – Free Stash Buster Needlepoint Pattern

Updated September 8, 2020.
Brimming with Scotch Stitch diamonds in two sizes, the Scrap Bag Needlepoint pattern is a good one for medium and large projects.

Two colors appear in all the motifs. the background color and an accent color. Your stash threads add two more colors to the large diamond and one to the small diamonds. This gives great consistency to the design and allows you to use a variety of bright colors as your stash threads. The smaller diamonds have a center to match the background surrounded by the accent color. The larger diamonds have centers in the accent color, surrounded by the background color. The stash threads surround these centers.

The chart (click on it for a full-size picture) uses one symbol for each stitch. This makes the chart very versatile. For a small project, stitch each symbol as a single Tent or Cross Stitch. For the slightly larger project, stitch each symbol as a Mosaic Stitch. The symbols could also be stitched as any other square stitch the same size as a Mosaic Stitch; for example, you could create a pattern in Smyrna Crosses. For the wallet (which is the largest accessory), pictured above, stitch each stitch as a Scotch Stitch, going over three threads. In this way, you can make a set of accessories, which will be coordinated, but with patterns scaled to match the stitching area. You could also use bigger Scotch Stitches to make a tote bag insert, creating a matched set of accessories.

The accent color in the pattern, brown in the model, should be a medium to dark neutral color. If you use a neutral color, any scrap bag thread will work in the motifs. The background color is less important and can be off-white, like the pale pink pictured, or a stronger color. You must be careful to select a color that contrasts sharply with the accent color. Choose a background or accent color that is a solid color or that has only a little variation in shade. Both colors should appear as a solid color because they tie the design together, creating a consistent design element throughout.

Measure out the area to be stitched and mark it with a permanent marker. Find the center and begin stitching one of the motifs in the center. Park the ends of the background and accent thread in the margins of the canvas so that they can be used again without ending the thread. Once the first motif is stitched, follow the chart to place additional motifs. One good way to do this is to stitch enough background to place the next motif and then stitch that motif. The remainder of the background can be stitched later.