Updated December 5, 2023.
Bargello always delights me because it is so changeable. With a single simple stitch, you can create so many looks. I never tire of exploring Bargello. Lately, a big source of inspiration for me has been Bargello quilts. While, often, they are challenging to convert to needlepoint, they act as a spring to my imagination even more often.
This free project series will showcase six charming Bargello projects that can be made up to make a set of ornaments. They are small and can be finished in an evening.
They can be made any small shape. I used a bell shape from a Rainbow Gallery free project (find a similar one 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.
The specific instructions for the project is below. I used stash threads and scraps for these projects, so I do not have thread lists. These projects are all designed for you to use what you have on hand — that’s part of the fun!
Landscape Bargello
For this design you will need:
- light blue thread for sky
- four small amounts of green thread from light to medium
- larger amount of medium-to-dark green thread for meadow
- one or more bright threads for meadow flowers
- metallic for ornament topper
Slightly below the middle of your design, stitch the establishing row, below, of the pattern using the lightest color of green thread.
Above this row stitch all rows as sky using the light blue thread.
Below the establishing row stitch three more rows with the small amounts of green thread, shading from light to dark.
Fill in the rest of your shape with the darkest green. As you stitch leave open scattered steps or single stitches for the flowers (see model for an example).
After the dark green is completed, use your flower color or colors to fill in the open stitches.
Stitch the ornament top in T Stitch, below, using a metallic of your choice.
You can buy the entire series in my Etsy shop as a PDF, here.
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
I love your series of Bell ornaments in Bargello. I started with the landscape design and noticed that when I tried to follow the chart it did not look like the picture of the completed one that you posted. So I enlarged your picture and took a closer look. I discovered that in the chart you use a consistent offset of two from the middle across to the left or right side. The one in the picture uses an offset of two for the first three pairs after the cent four stitches and then an offset of one for the rest of the row giving it a more gentle slope. I am following the pattern in your stitched version and am happy with how it is turning out so far. Thank you for the free patterns. My next one will be done in Water Colours in the color Williamsburg. This is variegated red, white, and blue and will be a liberty bell.
Thanks for noticing. Both lines will make effective landscapes. The printed chart will make a steeper hill.
Keep Stitching,
Janet