Designed by Carolyn McNeil for Stitch-opedia, Boris The Boxer is an easy project to work. It consists of two stitches – long stitch (sometimes called the Bargello stitch) and brick stitch. These are both straight stitches. Long Stitch is considered the easiest stitch to work [...]

Many designs in this sampler are related to holidays, beginning with January’s choice of Good Cheer to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year. This is followed by February’s Love Knot to celebrate Valentine’s Day, March’s Double Irish Chain for St. Patrick’s Day, May’s Mother’s Fancy Star to Celebrate Mother’s Day, etc [...]

First presented in the premier issue of Needlepoint Now (March/April 1999), Tony’s Minieri’s Persian Tile is a delightful geometric design. Twelve different color combinations are provided — or choose your own from goodies in your Bargello needlepoint stash [...]

This great Bargello needlepoint ornament was designed by Sue Kerndt, (one of my favorite teachers and designers). Designed for Needlepoint Now Magazine, Garland Twist was designed as a beginner’s project to introduce some fundamental canvas techniques. It uses basic threads and examples of different stitch types [...]

These colorful needlepoint bracelets made with 14-mesh canvas are easy and fun. Great for clubs, schools, and craft fairs and bazaars, you’ll want to stitch several to keep and share with friends. Designed by Judi Kauffman for Coats & Clark, each bracelet measures 8¼” around and ½” or 3/8″ wide [...]

There are so many things you can do with this FREE Bargello needlepoint pattern. The Floral Tile Bargello needlepoint change purse pattern is from The Caron Collection and is based on an adaptation in the book, Florentine Embroidery by Barbara Snook who in turn adapted it from a 17th century needlepoint sampler [...]

The FREE Santa Christmas ornament pattern by Libby Sturdy for The Caron Collection is more suited for intermediate to advanced stitchers. Libby is such a talented designer and her patterns are whimsical and fun. There are some wonderful stitch techniques including Turkey Work and Alicia Lace; however I fell in love with the Bargello needlepoint on Santa’s hat [...]

This simple Bargello needlepoint bookmark designed by Tracy R. Lambert and licensed to About.com, Inc. is quick, easy and ideally suited for last minute hostess gifts. It stitched on 10-mesh needlepoint canvas using medium weight threads. Left over sports-weight knitting yarn would be great to use [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Another name for Bargello needlepoint is “the long stitch” because of its simplicity and coverage over multiple canvas threads. This FREE Bargello needlepoint pattern by Su Mwamba of TangleCrafts showcases the long stitch extremely well. It’s called Bobbin Along and looks like a box of thread or bobbin spools [...]

This FREE needlepoint design by Laura J. Perin was originally designed for Blackwork, a form of counted-thread embroidery that is usually stitched with black thread on evenweave ground fabric. Since the pattern for this design comes with a template drawing which [...]

Beginners and experienced stitchers will find the Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Candles Ornament quick and easy to make. Colorful Christmastime red, green and blue are used to stitch the candles; and to complete the ornament little flames of fire are added to the top of each candle as a symbol of Christ’s message of peace, love, and joy [...]

Today, the snowman has come to symbolize fun during the Christmas holidays. You find pictures of snowmen on cards, note paper, in coloring books and…yes, ornaments like this Bargello Needlepoint Snowman Christmas Ornament [...]

The Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Bell Ornament uses three shades of gold metallic to depict a shiny hand bell—the kind used to play Christmas carols. A tiny plastic ring covered with gold thread makes the bell’s clapper come alive [...]

The remaining three FREE Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Series designs are scheduled for release beginning next Monday and for the two following Mondays. Each week, an original Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Ornament design by Althea DeBrule will be available for download to be stitched in time for the holiday needlepoint finishing season [...]

It has been said that the Christmas gift-giving tradition originated with the three wise men that came to find the Christ child at the first Christmas. To honor Christ’s birth they brought gold, myrrh and frankincense—gifts fit for a king. Since that time, the tradition of exchanging Christmas gifts has become one of the main highlights of the holiday season. Gifts are wrapped to heighten the receiver’s anticipation. Colorful wrapping paper, ribbons and bows adorn packages in all shapes and sizes. The Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Gift Ornament Pattern uses two shades of red to depict a foil ribbon pattern used in making popular Christmas gift wrap [...]

The Christmas tree has its roots in Germany. Over the centuries it has evolved into one of the most popular symbols of the Christmas holiday season. Christmas trees come in a variety of sizes and types. Evergreen and fir trees are used the most; but artificial trees made of tinsel, plastic and everything in between have taken the Christmas tree to new levels. The Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Trees Ornament will hopefully stir memories of past holiday times enjoyed with family and friends. Beginners and experienced stitchers will find this Bargello needlepoint project quick and easy to make. The finished design is approximately 4” square [...]

THIS DESIGN IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Although it isn’t clear who started the tradition, legend has it that lighted candles were placed on Christmas trees to remind people of the starry night when Christ was born. Benjamin Franklin is credited with taking the tradition to new heights by decorating his Christmas trees with colorful electric lights. Today, Christmas lights come in all sizes, shapes and colors including storybook character theme lights. But, the best Christmas lights are the traditional old-fashioned ones depicted in this Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Light Ornament design [...]

Introducing the Bargello Needlepoint Christmas Series, six Bargello needlepoint Christmas ornament designs to stitch in time for the holiday needlepoint finishing season. Each Monday for the next six weeks an original Bargello Christmas design by Althea DeBrule will be available for download. You will have one week to stitch each design and get ready for the next one in the series. The first three designs are described in this post [...]

I’ve always been fascinated by Faberge Eggs. Did you know that only 69 of the original 105 jeweled eggs created by Peter Carl Faberge still exist? Over the past two centuries, designers and artists have made many reproductions. There are even hand-painted needlepoint canvases depicting a stitching version of these eggs [...]