This
is my favorite of the daisy stitches. For some reason, the combination of the
circular eyelets and the Smyrna cross stitches looks soothingly orderly to me.
I've chosen two colors of pearl cotton for my sample, but I think you could
also use a thinner thread.
Consider using a combination of a soft thread and a metallic or the combination of an overdyed thread and a solid thread. My example is fairly puffy, but by choosing finer threads, you can create quite a delicate effect. Try using a Kreinik #4 braid for the eyelets and overdyed floss for the crosses -- or vice versa!
I've seen this stitch used for a garden, with each circular eyelet in a different color, for an interesting effect. I've also seen this used in metallics for dragon scales. Consider adding beads or sequins in the Smyrna cross spaces, too. This is also an excellent architectural stitch. Imagine it worked all in cream as part of a fountain or statue, for example.
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