Two Bargello Needlepoint Free Patterns

One traditional pattern and one traditional with a twist make up this week’s Bargello Bells. Both are fill patterns in that shapes are created and then filled with additional Bargello.

Chain Mail

This is a traditional pattern. It’s called this because the hexagonal shapes look a little like chain mail armor.

To make this bell you’ll need:

• 5×7″ piece of 18-mesh mono canvas
• 4 threads in varying shades of one color
• metallic to coordinate with thread colors
• extrafine marking pen, safe for marking canvas

Trace your bell shape onto canvas (find it here). You could also use other simple shapes, such as rounds, teardrops, eggs, or mini-socks. Because they are designed to be ornaments, always put a square topper at the top.

Begin by tracing your ornament outline onto your canvas using an extra fine permanent marker made for marking fabrics (I use Pigma Microns). Because Bargello uses straight stitches you might find your finished piece looks better if you color your shape in a light version of your main colors. Use thicker markers or acrylic paints to do this. The coloring does not have to be even.

Starting somewhere in the middle of the bell and using the darkest color, stitch the outline of the areas following the chart below.

Once the outline is stitched throughout, fill in with the other colors following the chart. Shade the interior from light at the bottom to dark at the top.

Stitch the top of the ornament in Tent Stitch using your metallic thread.

Harlequin Diamond

This pattern is a modern twist on a diamond pattern, divided into halves.

To make this bell you’ll need:

• 5×7″ piece of 18-mesh mono canvas
• white thread (scraps are OK)
• black metallic thread
• 2 skeins of thread in coordinating colors
• metallic to coordinate with thread colors
• extrafine marking pen, safe for marking canvas

Trace your bell shape onto canvas (find it here). You could also use other simple shapes, such as rounds, teardrops, eggs, or mini-socks. Because they are designed to be ornaments, always put a square topper at the top.

Begin by tracing your ornament outline onto your canvas using an extra fine permanent marker made for marking fabrics (I use Pigma Microns). Because Bargello uses straight stitches you might find your finished piece looks better if you color your shape in a light version of your main colors. Use thicker markers or acrylic paints to do this. The coloring does not have to be even.

Because there are two lines of the outline color on one side of the diamond, but only one on the other side, you will make this pattern diamond by diamond.

Park your thread between units if there is enough to use in another diamond.

Begin by stitching the center diamond (black and white) somewhere in the middle of the bell. Next stitch the darker half surrounding the bell, following the chart below.

Stitch the lighter side of the diamond and the light outline surrounding the darker outline of the diamond.

You have the sides for additional diamonds started. Using them and following the chart, stitch more diamonds to fill the bell.

Stitch the top of the ornament in Tent Stitch using your metallic thread.

Follow the series:

Come back next Tuesday for more ornaments.

• Landscape Bargello
• Offset Swag
• Chain Mail and Harlequin Diamond