Bargello Needlepoint

Book excerpt: Bargello needlepoint, which originated in sixteenth-century Italy, employs a simple stitch that is repeated over and over again to form a distinctive geometric pattern in vibrant colors. Our mothers and grandmothers whiled away their time with it in the 1960s and 70s, and Bargello is now enjoying a revival among crafters. The technique lends itself to dramatic, wave-like designs in exciting, graduated colorways, and it's often used to create striking pillows, bags, belts, and purses. This new collection brings Bargello designs up to date with 40 stitch patterns, graded from beginner to advanced. Sisters Laura and Lynsey Angell offer a brief history of the technique as well as tips on tools and materials plus a tutorial of the stitches. A wealth of designs follow, enhanced with full-color photos and easy-to-read charts. In addition to guidance for creating textures and smart finishes at edges and borders, the authors provide suggestions for using fancy and alternative yarns and experimenting with freestyle patterns.