I love to experiment with overdyed and multi-colored threads and fibers when stitching Bargello needlepoint; and as a result every one of my stitched Bargello projects has a bit of overdyed thread just for the thrill of it. The energy that’s produced from watching the colors unfold in a flame stitch or scalloped Bargello pattern can keep me stitching well into the night. While thinking about why I stitch with overdyed and multi-colored threads, I’ve come up with four reasons for doing so [...]

I just couldn’t resist writing about this cute Needlework Brooch from the Artazia Collection. The hand painted needlework brooch is quite intricate like a piece of miniature artwork [...]

Live in New England or looking for a hand painted needlepoint canvas to commemorate a visit? Knit & Needlepoint, located in the historic Back Bay area of Boston, MA is THE place to find scenes from Boston to Cape Cod to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard [...]

Silk & Ivory is a soft wool-silk blend yarn designed especially for needlepoint-stitch, knitting, and crochet. Distributed by Brown Paper Packages, it is made in Switzerland of 50% silk and 50% Merino wool. Silk & Ivory may be used on #13, #14, #16, or #18 needlepoint canvas, and is currently available in 196 colors in neutrals, browns, yellows, reds, oranges, purples, blues, greens, and grays & black color families [...]

I love samplers…and Bargello samplers are loads of fun! I’m currently working on a one (it will be featured in a future post); but this FREE pattern by Su Mwamba of TangleCraft is a great way to spend some quality Bargello needlepoint stitching time. You’ll use several stitch techniques including Bargello. There’s mosaic, double cross stitch, and eyelet stitches. When completed, you’ll have a rectangular shaped design that can be used to decorate a variety of items [...]

Do your hands get tired or achy when you stitch? When working on a typical Bargello needlepoint project, you will most likely make thousands of repetitive stitches before you’re done; so anything you can do to soothe your hands and keep them nimble will help. Try these hand therapy tips when stitching Bargello needlepoint [...]

For the best-looking results, take time to prepare BEFORE you make the first stitch in your Bargello needlepoint project. Common tasks like stretching the canvas, getting it ready to stitch and choosing color schemes and appropriate threads are the same no matter the type of needlepoint project you are making; but equally important are the two preparation activities that should be considered BEFORE you purchase canvas and supplies [...]

The main focus of Needlepoint and pattern: themes and variations is how to mix other needlepoint stitches and techniques in with Bargello needlepoint designs. Gloria Katzenberg provides valuable information for beginning stitchers as well as Bargello needlepoint designers. She encourages you to experiment with colors, textures, and to always be on the lookout for inspiration for Bargello projects [...]

Whenever I pick up my copy of Bargello Stars, Shells, and Borders by Josephine Ruth Paine, I think of summertime and beaches. Watching needlepointed seashells, crabs, and seahorses come to life on canvas is a thrilling site for one who grew up near the ocean and spent most summers at the beach playing in the sand [...]

On one of many business trips to the Scottsdale AZ area, I had a chance to visit Quail Run Needleworks and spend an entire afternoon there. There were so many hand-painted needlepoint canvases, threads, fibers, finishing accessories, charts and stitch patterns that I felt overwhelmed [...]

It has been said that quality materials and quality workmanship provide immense pleasure and satisfaction to the stitcher while adding tremendous value to the entire stitching experience. One of the worse things that can happen is to work a Bargello needlepoint project with poor quality materials and/or workmanship. Here are some pointers you can use to consistently produce quality stitching results.

Bargello needlepoint never ceases to amaze me. It’s known by so many names. Recently, I discovered that it is sometimes called the Irish stitch, when worked over canvas mesh up to 6 threads. Piecework Magazine offers this FREE Irish Stitch pattern to make a wallet or other finished project [...]

You may well wonder what Bargello needlepoint has in common with Japanese Embroidery. The answer is that many needlepointers also enjoy stitching Japanese Embroidery and many needlepoint designers use Japanese Embroidery techniques in making new stitchable works of art [...]

One of the few Bargello needlepoint treasures I still own is my interpretation of this hand-painted canvas of three beautiful women. I like to think of them as three sisters for they remind me of my sisters and me. Stitching this canvas was loads of fun as I tried to capture a bit of our personalities in the stitching [...]

If you’re planning to design your own needlepoint, you will need a fine point drawing pen that does not feather or bleed. Pigma Micron Pens offer a waterproof quick drying and permanent pigment ink that is fade proof against sunlight or UV light [...]

Writing a book that has “all you need to know” about a subject can be difficult; but Florentine Embroidery: All You Need to Know for Perfect Results by Barbara Muller does just that–provides all you need to know about Bargello needlepoint to get the desired results. It’s a terrific resource and a “must have” for your Bargello needlepoint library [...]