Maple Leaf Rag – Beginning Bargello Sneak Peek
This is a picture of one of my current projects, Maple Leaf Rag, a sampler to teach people Bargello.
It’s based on a quilt block and each “patch” has a different Bargello pattern. Six of the eight patches have stitching. The remaining ones will have a twisting ribbon pattern and two Hungarianpoint patterns.
One of the cool things about the pattern is that the stitcher picks and develops her own color scheme from the beginning. You begin with a “leafy” shade of Watercolours. Mine is Burnt Toast. Then you add wools, floss, a metallic, and some accent threads to match.
Some of the patches, like the zig-zag use all wool, while some use a variety of threads. Along with learning the different types of Bargello lines and how they are derived from each other, the stitcher learns about different ways to combine threads in a pattern.
The derivation between each pattern is made clear because every pattern in the piece is based on the simple zig-zag line in the first patch. Once you’ve stitched this sampler, you will be able to create your own Bargello patterns with ease because you understand how a pattern is created.
I’m doing this class as a pilot with two of my friends, Debbie and Rose. One of their pieces is a pretty green, the other yellow. I’ll try to take some pictures at our next meeting to show you all three.
When it’s done it will be available as a cybercourse (most likely) and as an eProject through All about Needlepoint.
I have two other Bargello samplers planned one with closed motifs, which might be a Victorian style Spot Sampler, and one on more advanced lines, which will be another quilt block. If you do all three, you’ll be a Bargello expert in no time.
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Look forward to seeing these online. I love seeing the different effect that comes from using different colours and threads
I love this sampler! I’m fairly new to needlepoint (less than a year) and am fascinated with bargello. Although I haven’t tried any yet, I hope to soon. This blog has become a tremendous resource for me and I visit it every day! I look forward to using your new website.
Oooh, it’s looking great, Janet. I very very rarely use autumny, earthy colours, preferring the cooler shades of green purple and blue, but I do like the effect of them in this sampler. It might be enough to encourage me to try some. Not enough probably, to make me wear them, but perhaps willing to try them in my stitching, LOL.
Can’t wait to see more.
Jocelyn