Day 69: Tumbling Blocks Bargello Design

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 appear to jump and change direction if the placing of the colors is not consistent. Therefore, you should work each color block at least three times on the diagonal.

The darkest color in each tumbling block segment should be worked for the diamond pattern, and the remaining two colors can be placed as you wish for the sides of each block.

I used 9 different colors of Madeira Mouline Egyptian Cotton Embroidery Floss.

Interesting Tidbit about Dorothy Phelan

Dorothy Phelan performed extensive research of the artists, engravers, print-makers and print-sellers who contributed to the designs available to early amateur domestic and professional embroiderers, as well as other craftsmen and women relevant to the needlework trade in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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