What makes this Bargello design interesting is the way the diamonds intersect–especially at the top. Meticulous attention should be paid to stitching the outline first before stitching any other area. To keep from losing the 4-2 step pattern, each color should be worked entirely in each diamond shape before going on to the next one.
This Bargello needlepoint pattern is found on pp. 56-57 in Bargello: An Explosion In Color by Margaret Boyles, and is considered to be an easy design. I would agree once the outline has been worked. I had to stop several times because I skipped a hole at one of the design peaks (a common mistake that’s made when stitching Bargello needlepoint).
I chose four shades of taupe–from very light to dark; and to highlight the center, a burgundy red. When stitching Bargello needlepoint, you should use very dark colors in small areas, since stitch definition is lost, and no texture will show through.
Yum…these colors make me yearn for my daughter’s delicious red velvet cake!
Congratulations on two weeks of meeting your commitment. I don’t get by your website daily, but when I do get here, it cheers me – I LOVE stitching Bargello needlepoint. Thank you for creating the website. And I am sorry about your father’s death. It took me a while to get back into stitching after my sister died -I have a rug she stitched beside the bed.