Time Spent: 2 Hours
After dumping my thread stash onto a clean sheet, I’ve chosen muted Victorian colors in varying hues of antique green, pink, blue, grey and cream. To add a little spice, I’ve thrown in some variegated and overdyed threads as well. Not sure yet how these colors will be arrayed on the canvas, but I’ll leave that up to inspiration and surprise! Since this pillow is a freeform experiment, I will use wool, cotton, and a little silk to create the finished design.
To get ready for stitching, I’ve cut a 16″ square piece of 13 mesh white canvas and taped the exposed sides. I will use two pair of 16″ stretcher bars and brass tacks to secure the canvas. You don’t have to use stretcher bars or a frame for bargello needlepoint. In fact, my first 10 projects were done without them, but I’ve grown accustomed to stitching this way and the finished product hardly needs blocking.
Whenever I start a new project, I select a needlepoint bag to hold supplies and thread. Since I own many different sizes, shapes and colors of bags, I’ll use my favorite navy blue one. It’s large enough to hold everything including the framed canvas.
Tomorrow, I make my first stitch! Until then….
