Making a Bargello
 

I purchased a book last night "Bargello Quilts" by Margie Edie and I was surprised that a Bargello is made in tubes.
It that the way everyone makes them? After a lot of studying this book I may be ready to try this one in a year or two.

I have purchased fabrics to make one, but have not started yet. To my understanding they are all made this way.

I have doen many bargello patterns, many are done in the tube methods. There are others that have very long strip sets, and some smaller strip sets that are joined.
When I did my first bargello, I really really struggled with the whole tube , and unsewing ... but after about 5 strips , it was so easy it became one of my favorite methods. It does take working thru that first one or at least part of the first one to get it all to "click" for many of us. But once it does .... WOW so much fun.

:)They are a lot of fun to make.

One or two year??? Is that how long it takes to get your nerve up to do one?? Just wondering. It's on my to do list.

Give one a go, they are not that hard. :)

I am taking a class this saturday, have been scared to do one by myself so we will see if i will dive into the books

A lot are done in tubes, it depends on how many times the pattern changes. Sometimes tubing it is more work than not tubing. My avatar is an example of a bargello that is NOT tubed because of the constant changes.

I have her book too and before I attempted one of hers I took an online class at Quiltuniversity.com with Ruth Blanchette called "Bargello Seasons". In the class you do 4 bargello each one slightly different, progressing in difficulty. All 4 of the bargello in this class are done using the tube method.

The class is all online, the teacher sends you the instructions and you can logon to a board and ask questions and post pictures for her to give you tips etc. I highly recommend it.

My avatar was made in her second class "Bargello blues".

Bargellos are so much fun...and much easier than the pattern looks....after the first few strips, you will look forward to adding more and more strips....the pattern shows better with each strip and it gets very exciting....I've been known to holler with excitement at seeing the pattern emerge! LOL

Maybe start with a Trip around the world. similar idea as a bargello, but everything is the same measurement. Here is an example. I did this one, king size in the colors of the rainbow Roy G. Biv,(Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet) it was my 2nd quilt ever. Good luck! (Sorry for the poor picture or a picture)

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All the instructions you will find are not the tube system, but it's the easiest in my opinion. There is a book published by the Piecemakers in California that is really easy to understand and it a good source for your first bargello. I believe those instructions are long strips rather than the tube system, but at any rate you do a lot of sewing/unsewing to get the pattern to move in the right direction. I am beginning a wave bargello this weekend, using 24 fabrics and I can't wait!

Bargellos are great fun and so much easier than they look. Give it a try! I highly recommend the tube method. The tube method also works for Trip Around the World.