I have been to the virtual secton and have found most of Barb's tutes on making bargello, but for some reason cannot find the first where she would tell how many fabrics and how wide the strips are before they are sewn together. I found the next steps , but not sure how to begin. Can anyone help? I love those and am ready to start on one.

I hope someone is able to help you out because I could never find that first one either.

the number of fabrics and width of strips is determined by the pattern you want to produce in the final top. Skinnier strips help make sharper "turns" in the pattern, wider strips give straighter line and shallower turns. I would think you want to find a simple pattern first, or make up a simple one to test on your first attempt. Here's one free bargello pattern that I found by googling "free bargello quilt patterns". Good luck

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/1076764/...Quilt-Patterns

I think it is really difficult to follow the Bargello by Barb because of all the comments. But that is just me...

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-41828-5.htm

This gives the amount. At least 7/8 yard of 11 fabrics. Safer to have at least a yard. The strips are 2 1/2".

I am doing a beginners bargello, I am using 11 colors, each block will be 41/2 in when I am done, and each block is the same size

I wouldn't buy just 7/8ths.I would want that little bit extra.

Barb recommends at last 1 yd, but you have to have minimum 7/8 yd.