Today's Quilter - UK (2020-03)

71

ESSENTIALGUIDElsewingbargellopatchwork

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INDIVIDUAL ROWS

METHOD

In its simplest form, creating the strip sets needed

for Bargello can be achieved by sewing individual

pieces of fabric together into vertical columns.

These columns can be repeated and used as they

are, or be inserted into dierent strip sets at

strategic points to create the pattern required. In

Bargello, fabrics are numbered in order to keep

track of where each fabric should be in a design,

so it’s a good idea to create a swatch card before

you begin any project (see Fig 1).

1

To make an individual strip set into a vertical

column, cut your fabrics into straight strips of

the desired width and then subcut into squares

or rectangles according to the pattern you are

creating.

2

Following the colour order you have chosen

(see Using Design Charts), sew the individual

pieces together, using a consistent seam allowance

(usually in). Press t he seams to one side (Fig

2 ). When making such columns, alternate

the pressing direction, so the columns will fit

together snugly later when they are sewn together.

br 1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

Fig 1 Making a swatch card

One

strip set

Fig 2 Creating a

strip set

Fig (^3) Creating a design chart
This needlecase was made using strip sets constructed from
individual squares. Due to its small size, this project happened to
suit a simple stepped pattern most, with special detail added with
a tiny embroidered butterfly
USING DESIGN CHARTS
Bargello patchwork can be complicated and can consist of
dierent strip sets, so it’s important to keep track of where they
all fit in the design. Constructing a design chart using graph
paper is a good way to do this as you can interpret the vertical
columns of the work into a numbered and coloured chart.
Number the columns across the top of the chart and note the cut
width of each column. The example in Fig 3 shows the complete
strip set outlined in red.
1
2
3
4
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9
10
Col
1
1 in
Col
2
2in
Col
3
2 in
Col
4
2in
Col
5
1 in
Col
6
1in
Col
7
1 in
Col
8
2in
Col
9
2 in
Col
10
2in
Col
11
1 in
Col
12
1in
Col
13
1 in
10 9
10
8
9
10
7
8
9
10
8
9
10
9
10
8
9
10
7
8
9
10
7
8
9
10
7
8
9
10
8
9
10
9
10
1 1 1
1
2
1
2
1
2 1
1
2
3