Bringing Hand-Painted Needlepoint Canvas to Life – A Cute Bargello Camel

Bargello needlepoint is very therapeutic. Several years ago while recovering from major surgery, I took a weekly class on how to make hand-painted needlepoint designs come to life. Each participant selected a unique canvas, threads and embellishments. I chose a “cute camel” designed on 14-mesh needlepoint canvas (I think it was painted by Liz of Tapestry Tent; but I’m not sure) with a gorgeous Middle Eastern color scheme of dark blue, red, gold, brown, and green.

Most of the class participants chose animal themes including cats, dogs, elephants, and of course my camel. Deciding which needlepoint stitches to use was not only fun but educational. Up to this point, the only stitches I knew were the Bargello flame stitch, brick, tent, continental, and slanted Gobelin.

While working on the camel several new stitch techniques were added to my repertoire such as the wheat stitch, Scotch, upright cross and several more. Split stitch and long and short stitches made the camel’s fur look real. Bargello stitch techniques were used in the camel’s blanket, canvas background and the border.

Silk n’ Ivory by Brown Paper Packages, Caron’s Impressions, and Paternayan Persian wool were used to stitch most of the design. Pearl cotton was used for the reins. Krenik metallics covered plastic rings that were used to embellish the tassels.

To make the camel even more realistic, I even researched how Bedouins decorate their camels. Since I desired as realistic an effect as possible; I learned how to make free standing tassels and cords. Tiny jingle bells were attached to simulate the sound that camels make when riding in the dessert.

One of my fellow classmates had lived in the Middle East. She mentioned that Bedouins often attach jewels to the reins and the camel’s head; so I added genuine turquoise beads.

I believe this hand-painted camel was originally designed for a pillow; but once the embellishments were added, I knew it had to be framed to hang in the master bathroom. You may well ask why I placed it there.

The answer is two-fold and quite simple. The master bathroom is decorated in my husband’s favorite color scheme, and while I was stitching it, he fell in love with it and assumed I was making it for him all along. It’s been hanging over 10 years, and each day he never fails to give me a compliment.

Although framed needlepoint is not usually covered with glass; in this case because it was going to hang in a bathroom, the framer was instructed to use it.

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