Bargello Help needed!
 

Good morning all!

I am attempting my first bargello ... sans pattern LOL ...

Here's what I have so far:

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and a bigger picture

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It will go up and out on all four sides (I've only got some of the sides and the bottom laid out)

My question: how the heck do I sew all these strips together? there are some that go up and down, and the ones on the side go sideways ... Or do I turn them around so they go in one direction?

Thanks

I think they are all to be sewn in one direction. But quilters tend to make do and do things their way. So if it works, go for it.

The way I've seen it done is you make enough strips that when joined are the length of the quilt you want. Sew your strata, then join it into a tube, still sewing the long seam of the strip. press flat. Now cut your strips to the width you want, lay them out by width, then pick out the correct seam to get your colors to run the way you want in the top row. don't know if this makes sense...

can you sew them together in the same method french braids are sewn?

Take a look at these two done by a couple of our members. It may look like it was sewn both up and down and sideways but it isn't. In order for it to go together the width and height of each little square in a column need to be the same. Let your eye follow the pattern up and down to see what I mean.
There are several how to videos on u=tube you should watch. HTH I haven't started one yet but have been researching.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/pictures-f5/diamonds-jubilee-bargello-t196199.html

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...o-t207648.html

Check this out. quiltinspiration.blogspot.com/2012/05/free-pattern-day-bargello-quilts.html Sometimes I process things better if I can read it too. Lots of bargello designs.

I can't help you as I've never made one, but have to tell you that the bright colors brightened my dreary winter day. It's beautiful!

I have made quite a few Bargello but the strips usually run only in one direction. Even with the Twist & Turn that are more complicated:

OK, is this the pattern you are making???

https://www.google.com/search?q=sans...2F%3B236%3B289

If so, the strips do go all in a vertical direction. You have to "fussy piece" the center section by eliminating certain pieces from the strip and then sewing them together. I hope this picture helps. PM me if I can help you further. You are on the right track and you colors are great.

It is going to be beautiful! Listen to what ManiacQuilter2 says. She knows her stuff. She walked me through my first Bargello and made a Bargello addict out of me...

Dina

I did more reading, perused through the links (THANKS ALL!) and ManiacQuilter2 ... your bargellos are GORGEOUS!!!!

French braid joining COULD be an option, but I'd rather stay outside in -30 (which is the temp today!) than join that many freaking squares LOL

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This is the "pattern" I'm following ... looks easy enough LOL ... and it kind of is (I would have to take a class to really understand how to read some of these patterns, strata, tubing, etc. I need to be shown, not read it - I get lost trying to figure it out ... I'm a SHOW me kind of gal!)

So I rearranged everything so they were all going in one direction. Here's 1/4 of it!

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And I have to say, it looks pretty nice!!!!

Question ... is it normal to have to remove segments of the strips and put them at other ends (sometimes just one square or two?) Or am I making this more complicated than it could be? Seems that half the time, I'm unstitching and restitching squares!

Thanks again for all the input ... seriously, this place is the ABSOLUTE BEST!

Love the colors! I don't believe that you would sew this in different directions...I am interested in seeing if I'm wrong. That would be a new cool way of doing it.

I don't think you are wrong, and the more I thought about trying to sew it in different directions, the more I was ready to toss the whole thing in the garbage LOL

Yes, it is normal to have to move segments of the strips. It is sort of an alternative way to making the tubes. I actually find this easier than making the tubes. You do spend a lot of time taking out seams no matter how you do a Bargello.

I am repeating myself here, but your quilt is beautiful and will just get more beautiful as you go along.

Dina

Love your colors. I also have researched and watched the videos. just not ready yet.

Thanks Dina, I was beginning to feel completely incompetent, even tho it is turning out!

Now you have the idea! I love your color selection.
Keep up the good work! That's going to be spectacular when it is finished!

The only thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is that you usually press the seams in every other strip in the opposite direction - strip 1 press downward, strip 2 press upward, strip 3 press downward,.... Then the strips lock together and make the seams match better,

OMG ... I so love these frigid cold days - stay inside almost all day with no guilt LOL ... took a break and took the dog out ... nice walk, very refreshing LOL (OK, it was cold!) but she's now passed out on the floor while I work on the second half ... here's the completed first half ... I'm pretty proud of myself!

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I did see that somewhere when I was reading ... also read the I should sew them in opposite directions to stop the "rainbow effect" ... that was VERY helpful ... not just for the bargello, but for all the time when I'm sewing strips!

Bargello is on my list. I even have the fabrics...various musical notes prints. A number of people have told me to read, read, read before my first attempt.

The sample I saw was strictly black notes on white and it looked like the notes were moving through the waves of music.

I so have a collection of black on white, although I do have some color musical notes prints in my collection. I'm wondering if putting color in occasionally will stop the "waves."

I would appreciate suggestions/solutions to potential bargello problems for newbies.

Thanks!

I watched the serenity bargello tutorial by Northcott. Picked eight fabrics and made a small one before attempting larger ones. This helped me. You will have pieces left over and do a lot of stitch ripping and sewing back parts of strips back together. Really should making a key of what color you place where. I numbered a notebook paper 1 through however many strips (fabric) and taped a piece of each fabric to its # placement. Which the bargello patterns tell you to do). ManiacQuilter2 just beautiful quilt. :)

When I made my first Bargello a little over a year ago, I asked for advice from members of this board. I got some great suggestions. Let me see if I can find that thread. Yes, here it is.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t-t235168.html

After reading all the good advice, I got Eileen Wright's book, Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts. I picked out Surf Song to make, but FIRST I made a placemat from the pattern in the back of that book. She has designed that pattern for quilters who have never made a Bargello. It has the instructions in step by step simple to follow order, and once I had made one place mat, I felt that I understood the process well enough to "go for it."

That was 7 Bargellos ago. I am addicted. The only other advice I would give is to not feel so worried about fabric selection. I added a few to my last few that were "questionable," and they made the quilts. I will add pictures if I can find them.

Dina

I think this is the one I did, too. The demonstrator says to start all of the strips at the same end and I wondered if I'd get a curve. Sure did! Now I have a pretty good chunk of those strips sewn together as left overs. Any suggestions as to how to use those? It is a pretty pattern but remember to not sew from the same end all the time!

I love your color selection! That is going to look fantastic when you get it finished!

go to Quiltville.com and look up Bonnies Scrappy Bargello - it will give you an idea of what you need to do

Love all of the great advice given - makes me want to make one now!

OH how wonderful that everyone piped in with instructions, because mine would be all over the map!

I HATE reading a pattern, and get so frustrated with myself because I can't "get it". I just took 9 fabrics put them in strips, and cut them in 1 inch / 2 inch and 3 inch strips. Found a pic online of a simple bargello and winged it ...

I'm almost done the other half LOL ... just have to sew them all together!

I can't believe these intimidated me !!!

Wow, if you are almost done with the other half...you are really making progress!! Doesn't it feel good, and isn't it nice to have something really complicated looking not really be that hard at all....:) I am very anxious to see your next picture!!

Dina

I love the bright colors you are using. It's going to be a real beauty!!