Updated November 7, 2023.
The knitwear of the Italian fashion house Missoni always are wonderful springboards to needlepoint. Because they design knits and are renowned for their zigzag patterns and bold color choices, you can often use high fashion pieces as the starting point for needlepoint, especially for Bargello.
At Nordstrom’s one day there in the window was a Missoni dress that reminded me, once again, what a great source for Bargello patterns these fabrics can be.
My free pattern for The Caron Collection is a wallet insert with colors taken from a Missoni pillow that used a similar zigzag pattern.
Although I’m too swamped to stitch it now, this Missoni purse from 2004 is a Bargello pattern that is easy to do.
It’s a shallow scallop pattern. The purse, a clutch bag, uses many different colors. Instead of trying to reproduce it exactly, I would pick 10-12 solid colors in one thread, I’m thinking Planet Earth or Vineyard silk or wool. Put all the threads into a paper bag.
For each new row, pick out a color from the bag. Put it back when you have finished the row and pick another color. If you pick the same color, put it back and pick again.
Otherwise, anything goes.
The result will be something as unique as you are and for a fraction of the price of the original.
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
love this idea: Missoni must have been a early influence on several textile designers, and perhaps Kaffe Fassett also? People can use their stash, its not an expensive piece to do, one can choose someone’s favorite colors and make an insert for a Lee item. Personable, not so expensive and one of a kind. Janet, Thanks for the inspiration.
would love to make a missoni cushion or pillow as a gift to my daughter who is a lover of missoni.
where can the canvas of same be purchased
This is not a ready-made pillow. The picture is of a Missoni purse that is the inspiration for the needlepoint pattern in the blog post. You would need to either make it yourself or have someone make ir for you.
I’d encourage you to make it yourself, Bargello is incredibly easy to do, even for someone who has never needlepointed before.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
Janet
Great minds think alike. I was going to make a missoni bargello pillow when I saw all the hoopla of target making them and selling them out on line last summer. Wasnt able to get Elsa williams book but i have bought. Margaret Boyles book and Workbook (used) and of course your biook ( all needed was 2 more days and a ways to put some beads on your round.ornament and my kids would have had homemade ornaments for Christmas. Insteadd i had to buy them made and on top off it I forgot to give them to them because last Christmas was so crazy. But i really LOVE THAT ROUND BARGELLO ORNAMENT. if you have a Missoni PILLOW pattern i would love to have it . If not I guess I will graph one from the purse.
Thanks
SharonZ