Any Tips Before Starting a Bargello pattern???
 

I've always admired a Bargello so bought a pattern and received my fabric Saturday. I've read the instructions and sort of understand what they're saying but will read again before actually starting. Are there any tips I should know about before starting this project? Any suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated. :)

I'll be watching this post as I'd like to try a Bargello someday.

Ms. Kim S. I am also doing a bargello for the first time. I finally (thought) I understood the directions---but did not understand why I did. My friend helped me w/directions (still the same story) so I dived in have my strips sewn together. You can always go to the LQS and ask for help.

Lana
the Quilting Dreamer
Lansing, MI visiting in Leander, TX at the moment

Ops! should have added, I am doing the Bargello by piecemakers. The
colors are lime greens to purple, 10 different fabrics. I love the picture
of your home it is beautiful.
Lana

I recently finished a bargello and had a great time during the process. I, like you, read the instructions twice and still wasn't sure I understood them correctly. It wasn't until I was actually halfway done before the lightbulb clicked and I knew what was going on! LOL There are several tips that I can give to help you with the pattern/construction of your bargello. When you have your fabrics in the order you want them, take a picture....it may show a fabric that needs to be in a different position. After you get your fabrics in the order that works best, take a small scrap of each, number each just like the pattern calls for, and then post it where you can see easily (I cut a horizontal strip from a vertical strip set and tacked it on the wall right in front of sewing machine), you will refer back to this "fabric map" often. Use a smaller stitch length when sewing the strips and it will lessen the amount of stitches pulled loose with all the small pieces. When sewing your long strips, mark the first end you start with, then alternate the ends as this will help prevent bowing of your strip sets and they will lay flatter. When you start cutting strips to sew for the top, you have to stay organized. Since I am not, I only cut a few at a time, sewed them onto the top, and then cut a few more. If you choose to cut them all, you have to mark/separate/bag or whatever works for you. As you add rows to the quilt top, go back and sew along the edge to keep the seams from pulling loose. These are most of the ones that I have either learned on this board or just from experience. I can tell you that it really isn't as hard as it looks and you will surprise yourself at how fast it goes together! Good Luck!

The Bargello has 24 different fabrics. Maybe should have started with one that didn't have so many. It's called Spiral Burst. Very pretty!! My avatar isn't a picture of my home but my dream home. I love, love, love the old farm houses and maybe someday I'll have one.

I really like your idea of taking a picture of the fabric. Like you, I'll only be able to cut a few strips at a time when it comes time to put them together. I'm not organized either. LOL!! I'm a little intimidated by all the small pieces but there's only one way to overcome that. Just jump in! Thanks for all of your suggestions. :)

[QUOTE=Quilting Dreamer;4879354]Ms. Kim S. I am also doing a bargello for the first time. I finally (thought) I understood the directions---but did not understand why I did. My friend helped me w/directions (still the same story) so I dived in have my strips sewn together. You can always go to the LQS and ask for help.

You don't know how badly I wish I had a LQS. The nearest is 1 1/2 hours away.

Just to add to buck eye rose, once I got all my strips sewn together and then made the tube, as I cut them I put them into the order they where to be sewn to get my design on the design board. I read and reread the instructions then opted to make my own design on graft paper. That one I could understand. Have made 4 of them now and love it.

I just made my 1st bargello quilt about 6 mths ago. They had a pattern on line that showed a basic one. It was all made with 4 in blocks, much easier, it came out beautiful. I enjoyed making it.

I was laying all the fabric out on the table to get a picture to make sure everything looked alright and my son came in. He said, "Wow! That's a lot of fabric." Showed him the picture of the quilt and he said, "I can see it now. You'll be in there saying why did I ever start this thing! I must have been crazy! You'll come storming out saying I can't do this and why did I ever think I could. Then it will be thrown in the corner until next summer." Does this kid know me or what! LOL!! This time I'm going to prove him wrong. :thumbup:

I use a highlighter pen to mark off the pattern pieces as I sew them into strips - that way you know exactly where you are in the pattern and what colours are next to sew onto the strips.

excellent advice. I'm saving this for the day I'm ready.

I can see going this route.

I am loving all this advice. Saving this thread for sure.

Go Kim! Prove that little naysayer wrong ;-)

When I did mine (21 fabrics) I cut just the next row to go on each side, and then used pencil (in case I was ever crazy enough to do it again I could erase my marks) to mark that row off the chart in the book. They really do go together much quicker and easier than you would believe looking at the finished results.

I have one started, took a class at my LQS about a year ago. I got 10 rows put together and on my design wall, still don't really understand it. Maybe because the largest piece is 2 inches sq. It is one of those UFO's that may never get done. I pull it out and look at it for an hour or two then put it back. Having an awful time with it. Just cann't get my brain wraped around it.LOL but I will keep trying!!

A few tips that help me. First once you get the fabrics in the order that you like , Pin the number to the fabric. Once you have sewn your first strip set. Slice off 1 inch strip and hang it to use as your visual map , also pin the same fabric order number on each square. This will keep you from getting confused . If you cut all of your strips for your strip sets at once , put them in seperate pile or boxes and but the order number on the box or put the number on the pile.
I use a large buletin board to pin my strip sets and partial strip sets. I find using the buletin board to be very effective from keeping chaios at a mimium.
I also make a copy of the pattern and once I have cut and sewn a column , I draw a line through all the way down the column , so my eye does not wander back and forth on the pattern. Some use a piece of paper , and tape over the completed portions of the pattern, and move the paper after each column is sewn.
Bargellos are not hard , just stay organized. My first one , it took me about 10 columns , before my brain adjusted , then it went much faster.

Here is a link to pics of my bargello in progress....it shows how I laid out my fabrics and one of my fabric map tacked up on the wall so I could see/use it easily

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...s-t152707.html

hope that will help....if you have any questions, please pm me

I've already done a stupid thing. Instead of cutting selvidge to selvidge I cut the other way. Now of course when you measure selvidge to selvidge the fabric isn't as wide. Is this going to mess things up? Will I need to order another piece of this particular color?

It is helpful to have an area where you can sort the strips in order and hang up. A fold up drying rack helps.
I find the most difficult part making these type qyuilts is to keep the strips in order. So, anything you can have will help.

That's gorgeous!!! Definitely like your fabric map right there in front of you so that will be something I'll do just as soon as I finish cutting my strips. Thanks!!

In theory as long as you have enough strip sets you should be ok. Do you still have enough strips - or if you cut them all the same you should have enough anyway - your strip sets will just be longer so you can make more slices out of each one. you still have the same amount of fabric. Those are my initial thoughts anyway... you may get some other thoughts though

That's right! I'll show him! ;)

I'm sure hoping this will be the case and I'll be ok.

I agree and think you should be ok....although since you started cutting end to end and not selvage to selvage, you may want to do the same with all of the fabrics, that way the strips are all the same length. You don't want to waste any fabric or have to buy more. You won't end up with the same number of strip sets, but this is ok as they will be longer.

It's only the one fabric I cut the wrong way. The others are selvidge to selvidge. I should be alright because I ordered 1/2 yard extra. If I see I'm running short I'll order another yard. Darn it!!!!

starch :)

I've got that. :thumbup:

All I can say is ...Take it slow and stay focused. LOL This is not a pattern that can be done in a hurry. Please post pitures when your done.

I've made many bargellos. The best tip is to make a practice piece out of scrap fabric first.

All of my strips are cut, starched and waiting on me. Going to finish my coffee and see what kind of mess I can make today. May be going to something stronger than coffee once I get in the middle of this. LOL!! I'll post pictures. :)

Started making the rows last night and so far so good but I've only gotten one finished. LOL!! All I can say is thank goodness for pictures. Can definitely see how this isn't one of the those projects you want to take on when tired or at the end of a long day.

It is definitely exciting to see the pattern coming together. Do you pin all those seams....I never did....I lined up the seams, felt them "lock" together and then held them and sewed (keeping fingers out of the way)....was so much faster. I don't think I had but maybe 2 or 3 that I needed to go back and fix.

I do pin all of the seams. It takes less time for me to do that than go back and try to fix them. Yesterday I was working on it and everything was falling right into place. Was cutting another strip and ran the rotary cutter right into the outer edge of the pointer finger on my left hand!! Didn't cut all the way through but got it pretty good. Actually got a little woozy and sick to my stomach when I realized what I'd done. Didn't think I was ever going to get it to stop bleeding and when I finally did it struck me that I may have gotten blood on my fabric. Thankfully there wasn't but leave it to a quilter to be more concerned about the fabric than the finger. LOL!!! It's quite sore today but going to get back at it anyway since it's coming together so nicely. :)