Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Bargello and Roses

If you've been looking through recent issues of stitchery magazines, you may have noticed the reappearance of bargello. It seems to be popping up in more and more projects these days. And rightly so, since bargello is not only lovely to look at, it's also very fun to stitch.

I've wanted to stitch some bargello for quite awhile now, so I finally had an idea I wanted to try - mixing bargello with other stitching techniques. And here's what I came up with - my BARGELLO & ROSES:


I wanted to do a simple bargello pattern, but I also wanted to use a variegated color in the design, as well as add a bit of the unexpected to the piece. This design is worked on 18 ct. mono canvas (sandstone) with a variegated Watercolours thread, plus several #5 pearl cottons and one soft gold Ribbon Floss color.

For the unexpected element, I decided to add dimensional roses - in this case, bullion knot roses made with #5 pearl cottons. Here are the roses, up close:


While I've stitched my model in my favorite pinks and greens, I've also included a few other color options on the pattern (yellow, lavender, red) so you have several other color options besides my original.

The nice thing about this pattern is that you can also make a shorter version (not as long) that would make a beautiful inset in a larger pillow, perhaps with tapestry fabric on either side of the stitched piece. Originally, I wanted to make this bargello design into a long bolster pillow, but now I'm not so sure. A large rectangular pillow would also show off the colors and pattern nicely.

In any case, my BARGELLO & ROSES is available now on my website, if you're interested in trying your hand at bargello. (I was happily surprised at how quickly this design stitched up - it was a good "no-brainer" project once the first rows were established and all you have to do is repeat them. Then you have to work a bunch of bullion roses, but that went pretty quickly too...and before I knew it I had a finished pillow top!)

12 comments:

tintocktap said...

That's gorgeous, Laura!

Love to Stitch 99 said...

That is absolutely lovely.

I should have known that you would come up with a beautiful bargello pattern and I love your idea of mixing bargello with other stitching techniques. It makes it so much more interesting.

There is this "fish and water panel" bargello scene that I have seen recently in a bargello book, which made me realize that it is extremely difficult if not impossible to find for sales some beautiful bargello projects that involves something else than horizontal or 4-way bargello patterns.

Pierrette =^..^=

Terry said...

This is really pretty and such a femine design I love it

Terry

Front Range Stitcher said...

Very beautiful Laura. Perfect for Spring.

Babs said...

I recently did a guild project of bargello and had so much fun in stitching the pratice piece. When I went out looking for a pattern to try I could never find anything interesting to do. Well, you have inspired me and I love the pattern. This will have to come to my home stash. I am worried about the roses. I have never tried that stitch. Well, time to try it. Great job. You are my hero. Okay, Coni - Stewie are a close running with you. I spent the weekend stitching with Coni a few weeks ago and we talked and talked about your designs. What a thrill it was.

Anonymous said...

I really really love the new banner across the top of the blog now. Plus the bargello. It is so spring like

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this design...what talent you have.

Wanda said...

You talked me into it....I'm going to try it~! Beautiful

Terry said...

This is just so pretty and I love the added interest of the bullion roses.

The colour combination is delightful and bargello is such a delightful form of needlework and I just love this new design of yours

Possibilities, Etc. said...

This is absolutely beautiful - and isn't it more fun than it was 35 years ago when all we had was wool or cotton floss??

Anonymous said...

Simply beautiful.

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