Need Encouragement Please
 

I have made lots of quilts that I thought challenging, the Lone Star, Dahlia, Double Wedding Ring, Several Baltimore Albums and the Snake River Log Cabin, but I have started one that I need some encouraging. I have cut the strips and started sewing the sets for the Diamond Jubilee Bargello. It said to read all instructions before starting. Needless to say it has me shaking in my boots. So far it is clear as mud. If I didn't have the investment in the material, although I am not usually a quitter, I would seriously think about it. Please make me believe I can do it. Thanks for letting me vent.

If you can do a Double Wedding ring, and the Lone Star---you can do anything!! I look and drool over those 2 patterns, and they are on my bucket list...Take a deep breath and slowly read thru the directions step by step..sometimes it helps me to draw a sketch of what they are saying for each step..Good luck and post pics of your masterpeice when you are done!! ( hi from Lakeland!)

Oh my goodness, with that list of accomplishments under your belt you can do a bargello with one hand tied behind your back. You will be able to do this just fine, it is just strip piecing. I often need to read instructions several times before it "clicks". Also remember that many pattern instructions are written as though you have never even made a 4 patch, let alone the quilts you have made. I just recently ordered two Judy Niemeyer patterns and started reading through the instructions and like you, thought I had definitely bitten off more than I could chew. But I took a deep breath and went through them again and realized about half of the written directions were explaining how to PP. LOL. So don't worry. Study the placement diagram that hopefully came with this quilt pattern. Label your color/strip placement and organization is the key to a bargello. You CAN do this. No encouragement necessary. You are quilter and I hear you ROAR! :)

I love a challenge!!! Go for it. If your sewing skills are good enough to complete the other patterns you mentioned, then you can surely do this one!! Be sure and post when finished! I can't wait to see it!

With all the other accomplished patterns you've done you know you can do it. Are your stresses quilt related or other things? If the holidays are adding to it maybe think about doing it in chunks where you know you have good stopping and starting points and can pick up where you leave off. I want to quilt during the holidays but I know it will be small or mindless sewing, nothing I can stop and leave for a while.

I agree with the other posters. With all those advanced patterns completed, you should be able to do this one too. Sounds like you are worried about the $$ invested in the fabric and that's also adding pressure. You don't want to make a mistake & ruin it... Is there any way that you could use some scrap fabric and make a mini bargello? I think working thru a small version will give you the confidence and help you work out the kinks.

Shew girl, you can do it! Take a breath, pet the dog, have a cup of coffee and come back to it. You're just psyching yourself out now, so re-set your brain and everything will fall into place.

I have seen your quilts that you have posted... YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Just set a comfortable pace.. keep reviewing the directions .. and just relax.. and remember to post it so we can see it.

I would think with all those others you've done, a bargello would be much simpler. Good luck, you can do it!

Grab a cup of tea (or coffee, or water) read the directions a second time- then sew.
You can do it!!!!

I thought the hardest part of a bargello was sewing all the strip sets!...so boring. Organization is the key, like the others have said. I cut a strip across the strip set.....so that you have a piece of all the different fabrics....numbered each different fabric piece according to your original layout....then tacked it up on the wall directly in front of the sewing machine so I could see and refer to it easily. Since each strip you cut and sew will split at a different point, it makes it much easier to find a fabric that corresponds to a number. I only cut a few strips (from the strip sets) at a time...it made for much less confusion and gave me and the eyes a break from sitting non-stop at the machine. After you get a few of the strips sewn, the pattern will start to emerge and make it easier to "know" that you are sewing the correct strip. Just remember....if you have any questions, we will all be glad to help!

Don't ever give up is what I have always taught my kids. You need to take a few days rest and then go slow and read the instructions before and while you push on. You can do it and it will be beautiful. Show us a picture when you get it done please.

You can do it. you just need to keep strip sets organized or beak the quilt into sections and do a section at a time and join them together. I was taught by my teacher to break ti down into sections, top middle bottom, than break those down into 4-5 sections. Its easier to explain if you see it. Most books and patterns just number rows and keeping track of that many rows can be confusing

Bargellos are really all about organization. If you can keep all the pieces organized, the sewing is easy. Just label everything and you will be fine. It's a beautiful pattern and I look forward to seeing what you do with it. Please don't forget to share pictures.

I just googled the pattern. It looks like a stunning quilt! I'm sure you can do it. The key will be to keep all your strips in order. So as long as you don't have a helpful cat, corgi or child rearranging your sewing room, it should be a piece of cake for you (maybe the cake would keep your would-be-helpers occupied).

Cheers, K

Oh my goodness!!! After all this encouragement I just have to do it. Thanks to all of you. I will try to keep all of this in mind as I go on. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. I might have to ask a few questions as I continue.

Joy - you CAN do it! Yes, organization is the key!!

Also, I've found with patterns that make me say "what the heck are they saying??" that if I RE-WRITE them I then get it. I'll go through the whole pattern section by section. I break down the cutting instructions and follow each cut through to where it is going to go. Then it starts to make sense.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I made a bargello quilt last year...my very first one and it was only the 4th quilt I made... you can do this ... just before to pin , pin , pin where the squares attach.. it is very painstaking but is so worth it when you are done!!! you have already done tons of more difficult ones. this one is just very very tedious but straight forward.!!!

You also might want to check the web site and make sure if any corrections have been posted.

Though I am new to quilting I would love to do a Bargello . I am finding for myself if I do a practice piece it helps me get the floe of it all,

Hang in there and take a deep breath now and then. I've made some bargello quilts. It was not difficult but my biggest challenge is selecting all those beautiful fabrics and arranging/rearranging them until they sing! Take your time and enjoy the process. Once you are done, you'll be glad you did it!

I've done several Bargello designs, (see my avatar) and there's nothing to be afraid of. There ARE things that will make you successful, though. Here goes: 1) cut accurately 2) label EVERYTHING - you might think you can see the difference between widths, but it will become overwhelming. And group them somehow - i like lunch size zip lock bags. 3) I make a copy of the instructions, so I can write all over it as I construct the steps, so it preserves the original. And then make notes and check off the steps as you do them. 4) try to sew in the quiet. If you can't, try to not be actively engaged in conversation with someone, because the Bargello needs your attention to detail. 5) follow the instructions. I know that sounds simple, but the pattern folks have worked this out for a reason, so if it says to press or cut in a certain way, do it. You can change it on your next Bargello.6) put a small safety pin in the top, left square, so you when you have to put it down and come back to it later, will know where the beginning is. Again, you'll think you know, but with the safety pin, there is quickly no question. Good luck! You CAN DO THIS! The sewing is easy - the tricky part is staying focused!

When I'm facing a really challenging project like this I photocopy the pattern and even make sections bigger if I can. Then I use a yellow maker and pencil to go through it and mark or underline important details. Still confused? I do it again and repeat until I feel more confident. Then I use a red or black pen to mark the areas where I know for sure how I want to proceed. I blow up copies of the blocks if necessary so I can see for sure what I'm doing. This whole process might take me several days since I stop and ponder, erase and start over etc. I never mark on the original pattern until I know for sure what I'm doing. After all that I make a block out of scraps if possible just to be sure. I keep all my notes etc in a big baggy so I can refer back. This has sure saved me some costly mistakes in cutting, piecing etc.

I learned on the bargellos I have done to take it one step at a time. It's fun to watch the pattern unfold as you go. I also admit to wanting to skip to the end too quickly and put my friend Mr Ripper in motion to fix it. LOL

Have you checked for a tutorial on the web showing "how to". Sometimes reading a pattern and visually seeing it, or something similar, helps clear up the confusion. I made the spicy spiral tablerunner. It looked so confusing to me until I had a tut that broke it down and I could see the end result. Good luck.

Read Read Read. With your experience you shouldn't have any problems....Wow I just did a image search of this pattern and holy wow I seen one made with blacks and white...Good luck you can do it

Speaking from experience, if I read instructions they could be written in a foreign language. Show me and I can do it. Maybe you could take the pattern to a LQS and ask someone to show you what to do. Maybe a quilting friend would be able to help. At least someone could explain paper piecing to you (altho nobody has been able to show me how to do it LOL). You've done difficult patterns, you can do this one. But visual and/or hands-on instruction might be the answer. Good luck.

Joy, you've made fabulous quilts! My advice: read the instructions until you get the "I GET IT!" moment. If I'm about to start on a big investment of my time and money, I read as many times as it takes to grasp what the words and illustrations are trying to tell me.

I love doing Bargello quilts. My first quilt was a Bargello, I didn't know I was suppose to be afraid of them. Here is what I did. I didn't have a place for a design wall so I covered a child's easel with flannel and sat it near my sewing machine. It is a must because you can see your strips and detect a mistake right away and correct it before you get to far into your quilt. I copied the instructions so I wouldn't ruin the original pattern. I took a piece of heavy cardboard and pinned a piece of each kind of fabric and numbered then with a sticky note. My pattern had 12 different colors. I propped the cardboard up so I could see at a glance which color was what I needed. I cut and sewed the strips as directed. When I began to actually make the pattern, I did the first step, marked it off the directions, went to the next step and marked it off as I went. This was very helpful to me because I found out I would forget which step I was working on if I didn't mark it off. As the pattern starts to begin to show you can see at a glance on the design wall if you have a piece wrong side out or the wrong number. Oh yes, you will probably figure this out on your own but it took me a bit to realize I had to take some of the strips apart to get the right sequence of numbers in order.
Just dig in you will love it. I do.

There's a bargello wall hanging on the McCall's website that's titled Bargello Pocono Ridge. Sept/Oct, 2011 issue. Gives you step by step instructions on how this bargello was pieced and cut. First time for me, and it was very easy. Best of luck!

I would have thought after all those others that a bargello would have been a walk in the park. My advice would be take a break, take a walk, put it out of your mind then come back a day or two later with an open mind.

Baby steps.....baby steps. With all your previous accomplishments this should be do able. I felt the same way the first time I did a Judy Neiyermeyer paper pieced quilt. Maybe this isn't the best time of year for you with thanksgiving and Christmas almost here. Too many other distractions.

Everybody has encouraged you. I don't really think you need it, what you need is a kick in the but toward your sewing room. You know how to eat an elephant, so start chewing. And above all have FUN.

Take a breath, remember to mark everthing,the row number ,piece number and use a piece of paper to cover up all the rows you are not sewing on.Make a extra copy of the picture and use it to work from.I made a bargello and had a wonderful experience.I haven't made all the quilts you have yet. So go ahead, take your time and you will love working on a bargello! Organization and even seams are the key.

I find it helps me to take a highlighter and mark up the pattern with the key words or steps in yellow. Sometimes I make notes in the margins or put a star next to important directions. Go over he pattern twice then mark it up in your own way. You'll feel more comfortable with it when you know what to do next. Good luck!

You CAN do it, just like all the other posters have said.

Remember the Little Engine that Could? book...I think I can, I think I can.... :)

When I have trouble making sense of a pattern I have my hubby read it and show me what it means. Its worked for 38 years. Good luck and I KNOW you can do it .You seem to have a vast knowledge of quilting . So swallow your fear , give yourself a good positive talk and go get 'er done. Hugs

Diamond Jubilee Bargello went on my bucket list the first time I saw a picture of this quilt on this board, it is still on the list but I have done another Bargello a little less intimidating just to easy myself into it. They are only strips of fabric don't let them get the better of you. The key is to label everything you do and don't rush it. You can only sew one piece at a time so take it one instruction at a time. I layed my Bargello out on the floor so many times to check it before sewing. Google Diamond Jubilee Bargello Quilts and click on images, if the pictures there don't give you inspiration then the fact that so many people have made this quilt should convince you that you CAN do it. Do the little red engine trick, when you bought the pattern you obviously thought"I think I can", now when stitching think "I know I can, I know I can". And ofcourse we want to see pictures of your masterpiece when completed, because we know you WILL completed it.

As with anything, the key is taking it one step at a time, following the (important) drections and havng fun with it. If I could do half those quilts you have made, I'd be roaring tiger with any new pattern. LOL, smiles and hugsssssss and good luck with your new project! Can't wait to see it!