Funny story about my Bargello-in-the-making
 

I have this Bargello 3/4 done, and I will be making another so that the twin beds I have in one room will have matching quilts. Both will match a wall hanging I made earlier.

I have not been following a pattern, sort of going by what I think I will like and trying to match my wall hanging, which I didn't use a pattern for either. I am sewing 1/4 of it at a time, and I liked the first half. (If you have read about this before, last time I was seeking opinions on "should I go up or down with my pattern." Well, I selected down.)

Today I finished the third 4th, and when I laid it on the bed, I did not like it! I spent hours trying to decide what to do next. Should I remove the last 1/4 and make a new 1/4 going "up", should I abandon it and make two Trips around the World out of the fabric I have left, should I never ever try another quilt without a pattern to follow?

Then I remembered something my son always says to me when I ask him if he likes a quilt..."It's upside down." So I turned it upside down, and now I like it!!!

Funny, don't you think?

I took a picture of it in its current stage. I couldn't get far enough back to take the picture in my small sewing room, so I moved the whole design wall (portable, thank goodness) into the longest room in my house. Here is where I am now.

Tomorrow I will start the next fourth. I KNOW I will like it. I will add it to the right of what I have now. This time I intend to extend my pattern down and then up. Do you think that will look as good as I think it will??

Dina

Very Pretty.

Haha! Turning it upside down, who knew! Glad you like it now

Was wondering how you were progressing with this brown Bargello. Looks Great. How in the world did you get your cat to pose like THAT ?? :)

Very pretty love the colors. Sue

With your design wall being portable, how do you get it to stay where you want it? I want to add another section to mine, but it would have to be portable

So far it is fabulous and the design you choose will be good and have a lot of motion like a Bargello should. Perfect!
peace

It's coming along beautifully...i've liked the color scheme since your first post...the fact that you did a bargello without a pattern is crazy adventurous !!!

Love it! You are deffinately on the right track!!

Ha! Hot Rod, my quilt inspector, insists on being in all my pictures, no matter what I do. I used to try to lure him away with a toy. Now I just let him pose. :) He is my constant companion, whether I like it or not! Luckily I likeit.

Dina

I just lean it against the wall. For this quilt, I have put two small stools under it here in my room, to make it taller. In the picture I set it on top of a humidifier. It is all in one piece, insulation foam, I think it is. It comes in 8 by 4 foot pieces, but I cut the top two feet off of mine years ago. Sure wish I hadn't!

Dina

Looking good....

This is beautiful! Have you thought about doing a mirror image for the second quilt? Like a continuation of the first ending with the right edge of 2nd the same as the left edge of this one?

I really like your bargello quilt! Funny, your quilt inspector really takes his job seriously. To protect you at all times, from the camera! Too cute.

Yes, this is exactly what I plan to do!!! I am not sure how to figure out how to do that exactly, but I figure I can figure that out later. :) (Do you think I overused the verb figure? Looks like it to me...)

The second quilt may even be "easier" because I won't be trying to decide my pattern as I go. I will just need a good "quilt map."

Dina

I think it is beautiful! I love bargellos, and the colors of yours are perfect!! Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

it's all about perspective.

where to find the post?
 

I can't find the original bargelloe post and picture - help, please?

Here's the post: http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t-t244915.html

I love the idea of just turning it upside down--sometimes these kids of ours can be really helpful when we need to look at something in a new way!

Hot Rod seems to approve, though he seems more interested in posing, "Did you get my good side?" than in quilt inspection! :)

Loved Auntie V's idea to have the 2nd one a mirror image of the first. I was going to suggest that too and then saw you wll be doing that!! WOW that will be just an amazing room!! i too love those colors..you would never tire of them..soft and nice but still VERY striking w/ lots of movement!! for a twin...your side quarters won't be as visible as the tops but the mirrored effect will still be noticeable.

It is beautiful, I would like to do one but I have not the nerve yet to try and figure out what colors I would do
and if they would look as nice as yours does.

Yes, figuring out the colors is the hardest part. Whatever you do, don't select an odd number of colors. I did, and now it has messed up the ironing, as you are supposed to press to all the even number strips. I just couldn't decide which color to leave out...I had already narrowed it down from 35 to 21. I really would have had it easier if I had gotten it down to 20.

But, if I can do a Bargello, anyone can, I promise.

Dina

Love the quilt! it reminds me of a Caramel Macchiato...

Beautiful. If you don't like it I'm sure some one ie me would love it

LOVE IT!!! A Bargello quilt is on my list...

I think it's great.

It will be beautiful and I can see that your little furry friend seems to like it as well. Great looking quilt, beautiful cat.

I was wondering what you would decide to do and wow, you nailed it. Absolutely gorgeous and your quilting assistant looks like he approves. He knows talent when he sees it. Great job!

It's looking good!

I love the pattern & color scheme. I think it was a wise choice. If it were brighter colors AND had all of the movement of a Bargello, it might be too much to have 2 in 1 room! Please let us see when you are finished!

Thanks for the compliments, everyone. You make me feel good. I will certainly post a picture in Pictures when this one is all done. Give me a couple weeks...or at least a week, if I post before I quilt it. :)

Dina

I really like what you have come up with, Its not upside down at all. lol Aren't kids the greatest. Especially when they have a good eye

Beautiful quilt and I have to say I am sure loving all the storage space you have in your kitchen & dining area I am jealous of both your quilt & your kitchen/diningroom. I just have a little galley kitchen. I know this is off topic but WOW! :shock:

That was funny! It looks great. I have done bargello before and can't believe you do one without a pattern! Good job.

I like it, I think it's pretty cool!

Thanks, it is a pretty good kitchen/dining room area. I think whoever lived built the house used this area for crafts, as that peninsula area to the left is pretty good for sandwiching a quilt and cutting out fabric. And I do have a lot of storage area!

Dina

Stunning! Great colors.

really lookin great.

Dina - I love it, and you have solved a problem for me. I want to make a lap quilt for my son and when I asked him what his favorite colors are he said brown and sometimes blue ----- these colors you have used would be perfect for his quilt. Now I just have to find a pattern (I'd have to have a pattern) and I can get started. What fabric will you use on the back?

I am not sure what fabric I will use on the back. I actually think a natural muslin would look good, but I think I want a thicker fabric than the muslin I have. So, if I am going to buy fabric, I will probably go with one of the beige colors.

Like I said...just not sure yet.

You might want to google Bargello patterns. I seem to remember a free lap sized Bargello pattern when I was looking for one. I really did want a pattern, but none really matched my "mental picture."

Or....if you are interested in a curvy Bargello, Surf Song is the first one I made. It is a pretty pattern. It comes from a book by Eileen Wright called Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts. Let me attach a picture in case that might be the one.

Dina