love to think of new and exciting project to stitch in bargello needlepoint. Endless possibilities for creative projects exist when stitching bargello. The average needlepointer could come up with enough bargello projects to last a lifetime! Here is my latest list [...]
People are so stressed out these days with anxiety about the economy and life in general; and because money is tight and times are hard, costly hobbies are being placed on the back burner. But, this is not the case with needlepoint—especially Bargello [...]
The American Needlepoint Guild is a non-profit educational institution that focuses on needlepoint. Its stitch of the month program features color photos and charts of basic needlepoint stitches. Every month, a needlepoint expert shares his/her expertise on a specific stitch and shows you how to execute it [...]
This is probably one of the first questions a beginner will ask, because the tendency is to use a very long piece of thread to start stitching. While it is true that bargello needlepoint stitches will cover the canvas quickly, sometimes a longer thread strand doesn’t work [...]
Needlepoint should be handled very carefully. After all, you’ve just spent quite a lot of time and expense creating and stitching it. Normal dust and grime can destroy the beauty and luster of your finished needlepoint piece; so to keep it looking as if it was just framed or completed, use these four tips [...]
The busyness of life has a way of intruding in between entries in my bargello needlepoint diary; nevertheless, here are the results of my labor for your review. I’ve had a bit of start and stop to my stitching, but I have spent about 8 hours completing the white four-way background using Silk-n-Ivory thread [...]
Do you have a favorite stitching place? Are you able to stitch to your heart’s content and then leave without having to pack it all up? To answer these questions, you need some place remote in your home—an isolated area that’s out-of-the-way where you will not be disturbed. You need to set up a nook and cranny for embroidery stitching [...]
The Flame Stitch pattern is the easiest and best known Bargello needlepoint design motif. It can be altered by increasing or decreasing the length and spacing of stitches from start to peak. You can even make different heights that resemble mountain peaks or deep valleys based on your own design needs [...]
Initially, I learned to stitch bargello needlepoint without a stretcher frame. But in recent years after getting formal instruction from experienced needlepoint artists, I’ve gotten used to framing my canvas with brass tacks and stretcher bars. Still, there are key advantages and main disadvantages to using stretcher bars and frames with bargello needlepoint. Here are a few for your consideration [...]
Bargello Revisited, Janet M. Perry’s latest book, gives you the tools you need to create some of the most exciting bargello needlepoint you can make today. In my opinion it is a key Bargello needlepoint essential. Bargello Revisited includes over 30 projects for all stitching levels from beginner to expert [...]
To get great results, Bargello designs should always be centered. In most cases your design will be either square or rectangular, so it will be easy to locate the center. Once you’ve got the center you can stitch in any direction and unless your Bargello pattern gives alternative directions, there are no specific rules you need to follow regarding working order. Here are five steps you can take to center a Bargello needlepoint design [...]
The Bargello needlepoint stitch is very basic and simple. It is a single stitch made by coming up in one hole on the needlepoint canvas, crossing several threads, and going down in the next hole. Based on the design, the stitch may vary in length as low as two threads and as high as eight threads [...]
My freeform bargello needlepoint pillow is beginning to take shape. I’ve attached it to my Lowery Floor Stand so that my hands can be free to stitch quickly and more accurately. Because I’ve decided to experiment with designing as I stitch [...]
2010 Resolution: To Stitch 365 Different Bargello Needlepoint Designs--One Each Day! A long standing goal of mine is to stitch every design from the books in my Bargello needlepoint library, and this year I'm resolving to make significant strides towards completing that goal. I've planned an ambitious undertaking--I resolve to stitch ...
The Flame Stitch pattern is never outdated. Dorothy Phelan created this variation on pp. 42-43 in Traditional Bargello. She designed it for an eyeglass case and includes pattern chart and instructions. The 4-1 step provides complete canvas coverage and allows for a wide variety of color schemes. I used Silk n’ Ivory threads ...
This colorful Bargello flame stitch design reminds me of continuous ripples. What makes this Bargello pattern on pp. 44-45 in Traditional Bargello by Dorothy Phelan unique, is the variation in step. It has 1-1, 2-1, 2-1, 4-1 and 6-1 step rows. Careful attention must be paid to color placement as well as ...
This Bargello pattern reminds me of the smocking on my daughter's dresses when she was a little girl. It is designed to teach the use of a variation of the Hungarian Bargello Filler Stitch and the traditional Bargello Needlepoint Stitch. Found on pp. 46-48 in Traditional Bargello by Dorothy Phelan, it has ...
These clever borders use a variation of the Old Florentine Bargello Filler Stitch. They would make great designs for belts, bracelets and luggage straps. I've stitched all three charts on a 3" square on 18-mesh needlepoint canvas. A larger canvas mesh will result in a wider design strip. The middle and bottom designs ...
Using the basic Florentine stitch as described in this Bargello pattern, makes for an interesting and eye-catching design. The minimalist Florentine peaked pattern, found on p. 52-53 in Traditional Bargello by Dorothy Phelan, has a 6-3 step with a narrow span. Yellow is used as an accent color; but the rest ...
Traditional Bargello by Dorothy Phelan has some very creative and interesting designs. The New Wave Bargello needlepoint design on pp. 56-57 uses the Gobelin Droit Bargello Filler Stitch with varying steps from 6-1 to 3-1. When designed for a pillow or cushion, the pattern offers many possibilities for color variations; but for ...
One of the most exciting things about Bargello needlepoint is the directional stitching flow. In addition to the vertical and horizontal ways the stitches are formed on the canvas, one must sometimes work in different directions. This Florentine pattern, found on pp. 56-57 in Traditional Bargello by Dorothy Phelan is worked from ...
Dorothy Phelan writes in Traditional Bargello that the Zigzag Double Peak Bargello Design is a good preparation for working Hungarian point. The Bargello pattern is found on pp. 58-59. When working this design, completely stitch each row before going to the next, or you will lose your place in the pattern. Each successive ...
Once you have the color placement right, this Bargello needlepoint design found on pp. 60-62 in Traditional Bargello works up quite quickly. Although the colors can be used at random to work each tumbling block, care must be taken to make sure there is consistency. Dorothy Phelan writes that the design will ...
For an interesting Bargello needlepoint design that's worked in Gobelin Droit Bargello Filler Stitch and Florentine Stitches, consider stitching this geometric flattened ogee-shaped pattern by Dorothy Phelan. In Traditional Bargello, this pattern is found on pp. 63-64. The "outline" is worked in a 4-2 step Florentine stitch, and the "fill" is ...
To celebrate a fun and exciting year, and to express my appreciation for your stitching along with me over the past 12 months...
Each Wednesday in March a FREE original Bargello birthday pattern will be available for download.
Check it out!
It's worth a look!
