A Delightful Valentine Freebie from Liz

For anyone who hasn't found Liz Morrow's beautiful blog, she has now added a web page with downloadable patterns - and a freebie, which changes regularly.

I wanted to share this delightful Valentine with you, and also couldn't resist the purchase, myself, of one of her gorgeous bargello patterns.Her bargello is so imaginative! These patterns may be delivered to your e-mail by PDF - or you can get them "hard copy" as she calls it.

The little picture I'm showing says "click to download" - but this was on Liz's site when I touched it with my mouse - so you have to go to her web page to do that.

Also, don't forget that these charts work equally well for needlepoint or counted X-Stitch. Each little square represents a stitch, which would be an X for cross stitch, and a tent stitch for needlepoint - a simple "translation."

More Beautiful Freebies for Needlepoint/Bargello!!

A beautiful new web site to explore - and freebies to print out also! (both counted work and bargello)

Liz Morrow, whose bargello, in my opinion, is the best on the planet, has now started a web page that is worth spending some time cruising. She has a section that offers free print outs - so do go take a look at Lizart Needlepoint and Bargello!

The illustration is not a "freebie" to my knowledge - it's just a selection of ornaments I especially like. I think they are offered as "beginner" pieces - very simple and very effective. I'd love to do them myself, and I'm not a beginner. I'm sure I would learn a lot that I don't know.

A Very Velvet Pumpkin with Blending Filament Sparkle!

I really haven't gotten very far along with this, as it took me a while to decide what to do with it. It's a good one to demonstrate the simple beauty of blending filament - and I always enjoy using petite Very Velvet. This orange is great!!

The orange outline is plain DMC floss in a darker orange. The features are yellow floss with the addition of the blending filament, as supposedly there is a candle inside.

I'll do the background in YLI Ribbon Floss in black - but outside the circle, I'm not sure what, but probably bargello of some sort. Mitered, I'm sure. I had bought a while back, some Petite Frosty Rays in black with a gold thread through it - so will HAVE to use that. Good excuse!!

The close-up shows clearly the beauty of using the blending filament with floss for just a very subtle sparkle, randomly showing. The "how to" and "why" of doing this is posted on the other blog - Possibilities, Etc. I like to outline the shape before using a textured background - and this one is done by changing direction each quarter section so that there will be no "sawtooth" edges. You can see by just looking at the arrows.

I started at center top, and then at center side, just turned the canvas and kept going - thereby eliminating that sawtooth. Very neat and smooth for a small piece - and also, it makes it easier to stitch bargello around it.

The stem is also Petite Very Velvet, and the vines and leaves are DMC cotton floss.

The pattern for this piece is somewhere on the blog - probably under "napkin rings" - but this one is destined for a table ornament, or maybe a "kissing ball."

A Wonderful Bargello blog

I just found a blog this morning that I was unaware of - this is a great one, and can answer a lot of questions I see from people who are unfamiliar with Bargello.

I've not "invented" anything new for Freebies just yet, as I've been busy elsewhere - so do go look at this and be entertained and enlightened!! It's called Bargello Needlepoint.

The Napkin Ring Chart

I got a lot more stitching done on this napkin ring, but had to put it down, as deadlines are pressing for other things - there is enough done, I think, that you can see what it will look like. There is more background info on the other blog from yesterday's post.

I'm not sure I like my choice of the white Petite Frosty Rays for filling in the area above and below the main pattern - and might take it out and substitute cotton floss. I do, however, like the effect of the Petite Frosty Rays for the hearts and outer Bargello bands, as they look a bit "puffy" and sparkle a little bit too. I used silk for the flowers, as that's what was in my stash in the right color - and the leaves and edges (long armed cross stitch) are worked with cotton floss.

The piece is only a fraction longer than 5 1/2", which is a great size for the napkin ring - so it's best to start in the center where the marking is. Just follow the chart for the upright stitches, and insert the little flowers, which are done with smyrna cross. I changed the chart a little bit, as I had made two mistakes on the stitched version - not a miscount, but a visual thing regarding the look of the placement of the heart.

The chart is presented here vertically, as I could get a larger image to print out - enjoy this, and by all means use your own color choices!! Incidentally, this piece made a bit longer - 7" or so - would actually work for a cuff bracelet!! Earrings could be made with the little flowers. There are some I did quite some time ago on the other blog under "beads" or "jewelry" or something like that.

Needlepoint Napkin Rings in Bargello

A coming attraction for tomorrow - see these on my other blog. I'll put the pattern here when I get it corrected and drawn - this was just a "trial run." Gershwin music is calling tonight on TCM - a whole day of glorious music, beginning with The Great Caruso.

Meanwhile, click to enlarge and see how very simple it is!

An Ornament for Heart Month

I'm not sure, but I think February is National Heart Month - awareness of heart disease, which is the #1 killer of women in this country.

This is my own special cause too, as if I had been aware of the symptoms years ago, I would not have become so ill with it myself. I don't think people realize that heart disease involves more than just cholesterol, blood pressure, etc., but symptoms we don't recognize because we haven't been made aware of them. My blood pressure is normal, as is my cholesterol - and I weigh what I did in college. No health problems at all until this heart valve thing laid me low shortly after my 65th birthday - but I am stubborn, and have things to do and places to go and needlepoint to stitch, so here I am still when my doctor told me three years ago to finish all my projects quickly and put my affairs in order ( or at least my stash of threads and my books)

Anyway, I haven't had time to totally finish this ornament to see what it will look like in its entirety, but this is enough to give you the idea. I have made the chart to include the framework only, as the circle may then be simply filled out with bargello - I used the YLI Ribbon Floss for that, and the center is done in basketweave with DMC perle cotton #5. I left the little warp dips and inserted the Sundance #250 hexagonal beads for a bit of "sugar sparkle."

This pattern would also fit the egg we used here in previous posts. The circle is the same one also as previous posts - the 4 1/4" diameter one. I do like the flowers much much better than the square ones on the first trial of this design!! They are made with smyrna cross "bumps" - or you could simply do them in mosaic stitch. Feel free to play around with your own color choices!!


To draw the flowers onto the canvas, I used my colored Sharpie ultra fine point markers so as not to confuse myself with the diagonal lines, etc.

See the posts below on this ornament for thread choices, etc.

4-way Flowers in Bargello: A Preview!

I have just put a short tutorial on Possibilities, etc. on the subject of the 4-way bargello on an egg, using the flowers I'm developing - great fun on a cold day while watching the History channel! I'll have the piece finished, hopefully, in a few days, and can post the charts and instructions here - but meanwhile, take a look at the other blog and maybe try it on your own. This is a detail of the center with the beginning of the 4-way "frame."
The blue flower has no leaves yet, as I'm tired, and need to study it tomorrow. - but here is the chart for the little pink one to keep you busy.

To Brighten another Gloomy Day

This is just a small preview of what I'm working on today - probably as a mental protest against the fog and gloom we have here in Austin for yet another day. Damp and cold! Anyway, hopefully by tonight I'll have at least a small ornament made for you to print out, if not an egg, as these go fast!

This is how the 4-way Bargello begins when I get an idea. A sketch on my tracing of the egg shape, and then the drawing on canvas, complete with marked centers and diagonals - and the most fun part, THE THREADS!! Stay tuned.

4-Way Bargello: A Preview and Tutorial!

This is just a preview and some background for a project I have planned for later - maybe next week. The 4-way Bargello has fascinated me since I first saw Dorothy Kaestner's book in about 1974. The possibilities and versatility of this method are almost limitless, and can even be used to create round pieces - as ornaments, lids for round jewel cases (my illustrations, made by Inge Wooley of Creative Needle), or even glittering Kissing Balls.

Bargello is a type of needlework made on canvas with upright stitches - the name originates from some chairs seen in the Bargello Palace in Florence, Italy. (These have the "flame stitch" pattern, which is a sharp, zig-zag pattern as opposed to the curved motifs). The term "Florentine" work is also applied to this type of needlepoint, as the Bargello Palace is in Florence. I strongly suggest, as it is very interesting, that you "Google" four-way Bargello, and click on the link for the Wikipedia, which is the source for these swatches demonstrating the difference between flame stitch and the curved motifs. Lots to learn there!

Anyway, It's close to Christmas/Hanukkah, and I thought maybe a very small project to play with might be relaxing while taking a break from lots of activity. The 4-way bargello is actually a "mirror image" thing, and looks a bit Kaleidoscopic, as it mirrors in 8 sections. I'm showing the very small 3 1/4" circle (on 18 mesh) for starters to play and practice. It would be a bit larger on 13 mesh. Notice that it is drawn with an EVEN number of stitches at the top, bottom, and sides, as the stitches are made in the grooves between the threads, being upright. The center is marked BETWEEN the threads, and then the diagonals are marked with dots in all four directions.

The first stitch should be made in the center - not necessarily at the center of the ornament, but somewhere between the top and the center if you wish. Then it's a matter of repeating to the left of the vertical center the same stitches - and turning at the diagonals for the mitering. You can play with threads and colors, and create your own patterns by doing this - surprising results!!




The larger round ornament is one I made from my favorite 4 1/2" circle - and was already on an even count, as I had added the top element, and intended to make that with upright stitches in Kreinik metallic ribbon. (This shape is from my collection of Traditional Ornaments, available on my web page) If you are new to this blog, there is an earlier tutorial on drawing circles of any size, and also the instructions for the "medley of white" ornament, on which you can see that the circle was outlined BEFORE stitching the bargello. This confines the area and makes the outline neat.

I intend to offer individual 4-way Bargello ornaments here later, but meanwhile, study these beauties of Inge's and see how they are done. The last two pictures illustrate what happens by just turning the thing 45 degrees for a different look!!

A "Mitered Florentine" Ornament

That is a grand name for another 4-way bargello Christmas type ornament. I apparently did this one about five years ago, as it was at that strata in the box. I also found another scan of the first one, which was started in perle cotton. I have no idea where the ornament is, but you can see the stitching and the possibilities. It would be great to choose a Caron Watercolours and do a color scheme from it.

You can see on the canvas the marks still showing where the centers and diagonals were drawn. This should help you understand the construction if you don't already.

This piece is 4 3/4" from point to point on 18 mesh canvas. Threads used on this model were Rainbow Gallery Frosty Rays in white, green, and red - and a bit of red perle cotton just under the last red border. I have no idea what prompted me to do that, but I really like the difference in texture. I had not yet found the Kreinik ribbon when I did this one, so used the #16 braid in metallic gold for the uprigiht stitches. Now I would definitely use 1/16" ribbon. Anyway, to begin, mark the vertical and horizontal centers in the GROOVE, as you will be doing upright stitches - then draw the diagonals with dots out from the little 4 stitch square in the center. This little square is where you begin stitching with a smyrna cross.

On this red, green, and white one, in the center area, I used white Spendor silk and Sundance beads - the hexagonal #250, size 14. They really glitter! I did the basketweave thing on every other row on the warp, and then placed the beads in the spaces left in the weft - the instructions are here on this blog somewhere for the bead placement - if not, I'll add it later. It looks beaded solid. You can see on the scan of the pink and purple one that perle cotton was used in this area, as well as on the area just under the top pink border. The stitches, as always on these 4-way designs, change direction at the diagonals. The perle cotton is #3, as the stitches are upright.

Just follow the chart - it's really quite simple. It's best to do the color bargello borders BEFORE doing the white background - whether you are doing those also in bargello or using basketweave. The only explanation I have for the circle is that I started out just playing around with bargello, intending to make a round ornament - but this one evolved instead. It could still be made round by just doing a different format bargello and ending at the curved line.

Notice on the chart, and on the picture of the finished ornament that I made, outside the single line of gold stitches, another framework (for finishing) of three rows of basketweave - but going in different directions from top center to horizontal center. This totally eliminates the "sawtooth" effect, and makes a very neat edge.

Look in your stash and see what you have that might make this ornament - lots and lots of different color arrangements are possible!!

More Mitered Bargello

I found this ornament in the same file box as the previous one - and sometimes I wonder what was on my mind at the time. It was made about six or seven years ago, and it appears that I was dredging up some left over perle cotton, as the entire piece is stitched with this and some Kreinik metallic braid - #202HL for the gold, and silver HL for accents - as well as "jewels" made with bump stitches in Accentuates.

It was the first in this series of mitered Florentine ornaments, and perhaps this is why it's simple - but it has lots of potential for all kinds of different fibers and decorative effects! The ornament, after adding the one outside row of gold stitches, and then two of dark green for finishing, measures just slightly over 5" from point to point on 18 mesh canvas.

A square at least 8" needs to be cut, and the vertical and horizontal centers marked. Fortunately, I have always kept scans of the stitching in progress! You can easily see how it goes - just start with the center square of 4 x 4 stitches, and then mark the diagonals out from the corners. Start stitching in the center, as well, and progress outward. You will change direction at the diagonals as always on the mitered Bargello.

Just follow the chart, as it's quite simple. I see a row of some different color of Kreinik metallic braid (#12 on this canvas mesh) that has little blue and green sparkles in it - My stash is out of this, so I don't know the color number.

After doing the outer green bargello border, mark with your Pilot or Sharpie drawing pen the line around the ornament, a you will then fill it in as indicated on the chart with slanted stitches. I used #3 perle cotton for the upright stitches, and #5 for the basketweave background and the slanted stitches in the outer border.

Please enjoy this one, and do use more imagination than I did in your selection of colors and threads, etc. It's easy and quick to do, so lots of possibilities here!

I decided to wait to do the white and purple bargello until I can get a proper tutorial together (in a few days) on drawing circles and other simple shapes - this is VERY important when doing a symmetric design, but also helps with any painted or counted canvas, as it makes it prettier in the finishing! Nothing lopsided or mishapen.

Please excuse the "lumpy" look of this ornament - It hasn't been properly sent to the finisher. I just folded the canvas under and taped it - so it's rather strange looking.

The Next Bargello

This is to be my next bargello offering, but first I will have an extensive tutorial on my other blog by this evening on why NEVER to use Continental stitch on mono canvas - it's a thing only intended in our grandmothers' time for use on penelope canvas with the pre-worked design. Please don't miss it, if you have been taught to use it. We "outlawed" this in the early 70's, and I am appalled to discover it has re-surfaced and is being taught to new needlepointers.

Another Bargello Ornament!

This is another of the ornaments made several years ago when I was trying to remember these skills from 30+ years ago. It's actually extremely simple in that the count is only over 6 and 3 threads. I was playing around with making shapes, and after making one small one, realized that by just repeating the count and interlocking the motifs, I could make a nicely sized and usable ornament. The measurements are: 5" high x 3 1/2" wide on 18 mesh canvas. Each little motif is 2 1/2" high x 1 3/4" wide.The ornament is stitched with RainbowGallery Frosty Rays for the red and green, and Kreinik metallic braid - size #12 for 18 mesh canvas. (015 green) The background is Splendor silk in white, stitched in basketweave on the warp only, and beads added in the weft stitches. Again - the Sundance #250 hexagonal for some glitter!. The raised spider webs were, of course, made before the beads were added.

I have made a habit since I acquired a color copy machine of making copies as I go to keep a record of the stitching in progress - without these, I wouldn't be able to re-create a piece done years ago without dissecting the thing. As you can see, the blank spaces could be decorated in many different ways - basketweave background with small silk ribbon flowers or perhaps a "jewel" or two for more sparkle. The outside was stitched with a line of gold braid in tent stitch for a nice edging.

If you haven't worked raised spider webs, they are done on TOP of the stitched background, and it's a simple matter of just making an 8 spoke wheel - (as opposed to the five we use for spider web roses.) Then, come up with your needle and thread as close to the center as you can, go BACK over one thread, and FORWARD under two threads of the spoke. Continue this way until the "web" is completely full. It's a great little decorative element - I use it often.

Mitered Bargello: An Ornament

This ornament has been in the bottom of my stash of unfinished (but completed) pieces for several years. It dates back to my wanting to resurrect some of the things I did long ago, but could barely remember how. The 4-way process has many interesting looks and possibilities - and this one is very simple. The threads used were just Perle Cotton (#3 for the upright stitches, and #5 for the background basketweave) and Kreinik metallics.

Also, shortly after finishing several of these, I started using a lot of beads incorporated into backgrounds for some extra sparkle and interest. The "jewels" are made with Renaissance Shimmer in a garnet/burgundy color. Since doing this one, I have discovered the wonderful Kreinik metallic ribbon - the 1/16" size would work perfectly for the upright stitches in the center - and the slanted diagonal elements would still work well with either the #12 braid I used here or the ribbon. The inner turquoise color in the border in bargello was also worked with Kreinik braid, but, again, the ribbon would look much better and cover well for upright stitches.

This is a design that could take on many different faces according to your imagination and the colors and fibers in you stash! Just mark the canvas as you see on the scan of mine - find the centers first on the vertical and horizontal, and then make the diagonal dots out on the 45 degree angle. I used 18 mesh canvas here, and the piece, including the outer tent stitches is 4 1/2" from point to point.

The scan of the stitching in progress might aid in your seeing just how this is done. The term "mitered Florentine or Bargello" simply means that it changes direction at each of the four diagonals - a very interesting design to play with. You might find you can even design your own just by changing the count and the size and shape of the Bargello elements! I have several more of these, which I'll present as soon as I can get them ready (the charts and instructions) - this means I'll have to remember how I did it in the first place. The little tent stitches on the inner border were added last - as an afterthought, as I needed a bit of strong color for emphasis here. It was done with Kreinik #12 braid in a bright navy.

Incidentally, Frosty Rays by Rainbow Gallery makes very interesting bargello motifs on these small, sparkly creations.