It’s highly unlikely that a brand new, never before seen, original and unique Bargello needlepoint stitch can be created! As anyone who has experimented with needle and thread has found, just when you think you’ve “discovered” a new Bargello stitch, you find that someone else invented it years, decades or even centuries before you came on the scene [...]
I love to stitch first thing in the morning before the day is in full swing. In my home, this is the quietest time—perfect for retreating to my small studio with a cup of Samurai Chai Mate gourmet tea and my favorite Bargello stitching tunes [...]
Wonderful things happen when you use your imagination. Imagination plus one or two simple Bargello patterns can offer unlimited opportunities for self-expression in needlepoint.
How many times have you admired a beautiful piece of Bargello needlepoint—and wished that you had stitched it? Once you begin stitching, you’ll find the creative experience endlessly rewarding—fashioning beautiful embroidery pieces [...]
I’m wearing out stretcher bars! I’m 25 days into the 2010 Bargello Challenge and I’ve got to change to a new set of 6″ bars. Luckily, I have several more sets in my needlepoint stash; so most likely, I will not run out of them. However, at this stitching rate, I’ll probably need 15 sets [...]
The presents are wrapped, the Christmas tree has been decorated with Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Ornaments (by my three-year old granddaughter), the handmade needlepoint Christmas stockings are hung on the fireplace mantel and I’m baking a scrumptious fruitcake. Um….I love the Christmas holiday season and the smell of baking and cooking wafting from the kitchen [...]
I must say that this needlepoint project is the most free-form one I’ve ever done. That’s just how I had to stitch it. Because it was going to be a memorial tribute for my friend Jeff who had been diagnosed with late stage colon cancer, I just couldn’t do too much pre-planning [...]
Like most needlepointers, I have a huge stash of hand painted needlepoint canvases, and also like most avid stitchers I will not be able to complete them in my lifetime (or my children’s for that matter). So, I had this simple yet incredible idea to re-cycle the hand painted needlepoint canvases I’ve collected throughout the years and use them to stitch Bargello designs [...]
Green your Bargello needlepoint and help reduce greenhouse gases. One of the best ways to do this is to use eco-friendly threads. Natural fibers like cotton, silk and even bamboo can help keep the environment clean because of the way they are manufactured. Here’s how you can help [...]
Those of us who are addicted to needlepoint are unaware of it ever dying as an art form and beloved hobby. But the rest of the world is declaring its rebirth–a Bargello needlepoint renaissance. A lot of folks are blaming the slow economy for its resurrection. Others are discovering Bargello needlepoint’s stress-reducing benefits. Whatever the explanation, recent surveys indicate that interest in needlepoint is up 30% mostly because of its social aspects.
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!
