Bargello can be a wonderful source for easy backgrounds. With such strong patterns, however, it can appear too heavy for many designs. In the Viking ship canvas by kate Brans, above, you can see how the combination of skipping a row of threads between rows of Bargello and using a soft overdye creates a lovely background. Using the blue threads the background evokes both sea and sky.
I used three strands of Gloriana’s Lorikeet Wool here and made one very large curve for the Bargello, below. I chose to use such a small pattern because the ornament is small (3″). By picking a design where there are no repeats, this background frames the bright ship.
You can see how this Bargello as background idea works in this piece, the sampler for 25 Bargello patterns (available here). Once again skipping a rpw of threads and using a soft overdye help this background. Because the piece is a city skyline, the blue color evokes the sky.
And because the piece is larger, the repeated pattern works. By putting the open line between the rows, the Bargello is opened up and does not look as solid. The pattern, Northman, below, or most other Bargello line patterns, will work if treated this way. The quiet repitition of this pattern and the contrast in color and intensity create a lovely background.
This kind of treatment works well with Bargello lines that have stitches all the same size. It will not work as well for Hungarianpoint patterns.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
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