Satisfied only doing a Bargello?
 

I don't know how to pose this question, but I guess I want to know if anyone else has experienced being stuck on one type of quilt?

I made my first Bargello in November, and I just finished my 5th one. I am going to make a mirror image of that Bargello, but I thought I would "take a break" and sort of relax with a different pattern before I started it. (A Bargello isn't hard, but it is a bit time consuming, I think.)

So I started a Turning Twenty, and I wasn't pleased with it. The pieces just seemed too large. So last night I cut each block into fourths, and now I am playing with those pieces. I still am not satisfied. I will play with it a bit more, and then I am going to put it up if I can't get more satisfied with it. Then I will start the Bargello.

I just don't seem to be interested in anything but a Bargello quilt. I am assuming this will pass, but it didn't between my 4th and 5th. I did the same thing. I messed around with a different quilt pattern and finally abandoned it for the Bargello.

So, have you ever sort of been possessed by one type of quilt design? How long did it possess you? I really really like my Bargello quilts, but surely I am not stuck with only liking them?

Thanks for any insight. :) (Yeah, I know this isn't really a big problem, but I sort of want to know that I am not alone, that I will get back to enjoying a variety of quilts...)

Dina

Why not continue to work with what you love doing? Nothing wrong with that!

Do what you enjoy and enjoy all you do. Plain and simple. Have fun with them.
peace

I seem to be stuck in a paper piecing phase since last July. I've finished all the blocks for one, and I'm simultaneously working on two more full sized paper pieced quilts, also doing lots of miscellaneous blocks in between just for fun. I have no idea when this PP ride will end.

I really enjoy working with the small pieces too. Like doing puzzles I think...
I'm not using up a lot of stash this way, but maybe that will change when I actually start to assemble the quilts.

you are definitely not alone ;-)

Thank you! For some reason this really helps. I suspect that "getting stuck on one thing" is true of me in other parts of my life and I just haven't figured it out yet. But it helps to know I am not alone. :)

Dina

Many times I find that I go through a phase where I work on one type project till I find another one to take it's place. I do not think of it as an obsession. I prefer to relate this to more like an artist study of a different technique. I do the same thing with other interests. I have gone through several cooking phases like crock pot, cup cakes, scones and soup. If this is not normal I do not want to know! Enjoy your current enjoyment till you find another. Happy Quilting!

I like this way of thinking about it, a phase...yes, that works. Thanks. Right now I am playing with the pieces of the non-Bargello quilt I sort of want to make. But my heart isn't in it. My mind is about to decide that is okay and just move on...

Dina

If you like working with a particular "type" of quilt and have tried others and didn't like working on it, then why switch. You might eventually get "tired" of working with your "love" and branch out to other blocks.

Nothing wrong with that! You might try a French Braid if you want something different, but kind of familiar also. Picking colors would be similar to doing the bargello.

Don't give yourself a hard time! You clearly have mastered the art of bargellos and they make you happy and give you a feeling of having done something well which is very important! And this style gives you lots of room for creative design challenges, not to mention the organization and piecing skills. Do what you like to do!

You've found a field that needs further exploration. Why leave it until you have explored as much as you want?

I find myself going back to different forms of log cabins, especially when I have trouble deciding on what to make next.

**I agree! And yes, you are not alone! :)

You're quilting because you enjoy what you're doing, right? So keep doing what you enjoy.

There is nothing wrong with you. One of the gals did a bargello for one of her first attempts at quilting and fell in love with bargello. She has made like six of them, baby quilt size, to give to friends and family as gifts for their new babies. She has done some other types of quilts but she still loves to do bargellos. Keep doing them. At some point you will find another pattern you will like or maybe go on to something new with bargellos. There are no rules and you do what you love to do!

Thanks to all of you. I played with this new pattern again and am going to retire it and go on to the Bargello I really want to do. I should be sewing what I want to sew, not getting something done so I can then sew what I want to....right?

So, off to do just that. Thanks again for all the encouragement.

Dina

Dina - I'm thrilled you are staying with bargellos because I will be starting one soon and you probably will receive lots of PM from me - hope that is ok. LOL

I agree. Stick with what you love. I'm not so much like that with quilts, but I get that way with food. For example, peanut butter cookies. That will be all I want for weeks, then eventually I get sick of them and move on to something else!

That is just fine. I will be delighted to offer any help I can. :)

Dina

Phases are good. My current phase is to make placemats with a matching cloth towel and give as gifts. The quilt top phase I was in led to about 6 UFOs. So now I'm finishing the UFOs but having fun with the mats. Who knows what the next phase will be? I suspect it will lead to the LQS, no matter what! LOL

I made 4 bargello"s last year for Christmas presents for my granddaughters love making them just got a new book by Eileen Wright going to make more but during the time I was making them also worked on Farmer's Wife quilt for another granddaughter for her college graduation gave it to her last week all week I've been thinking I don't have a farmers wife for me after swearing I would never make another one raining today home by myself got 3 blocks done so I guess you can say I'm making another farmers wife quilt guess we do what we want when making quilts now I just need to find 20 colors from light to dark for my next bargello

Many of us enjoy one style or technique and stick with it, some for their whole quilting life. Look at *Holly Taylor* who creates all those fabulous applique quilts we love to oooh & aaah over...I bet she doesn't feel guilty for not doing something different. Do what you love, play with it, expand it,grow with it, enjoy it-never feel guilty for it. :)

I've been working on UFO's and scrap quilts for the last year. Not a lot of scraps left now.

Hi Dina. Have you tried to do a four way Bargello?? I also try to do other patterns, mostly charity quilts, but I have so much enjoyed the Twist N Turns that Eileen Wright has created. I also like doing a pattern called Colorsplash. It is a simple Trip Around the World pattern but has the challenge of selecting colors like the bargello. It is my avatar. I am currently finishing up a yellow/blue top that goes from light to dark. I found the one fabric I was missing so it came out of the UFO pile. Just have fun and enjoy what you make. Love to know what new bargello books you have bought. Stay cool.

I have never made the same pattern quilt more than once because I like variety but that's me. If you enjoy doing the same thing then do it. I'm in this to have some relaxation and fun. If it doesn't meet those criteria then I'm not going to do it. Different strokes for different folks.

I'm stuck on EPP. Hand quilting #3 at home, and #4 is my take along project. Grandmothers Flower Garden just keeps calling to me!

no you not a lone , hi , Debrak just want know have every did a pp diamond log cabin inquiring mind want to know

Hi Joellyn! My three new Bargello books are The Bargello Quilt Book by Piecemakers, Bargello Quilts in Motion by Ruth Ann Berry, and Bargello Tapestry Quilts by Marilyn Doheny. All three are good books, but Bargello Tapestry Quilts will be the most useful, I think. I wish I had had it when I made my own Bargello design, as it really explains how to create the various things....pattern flow, peaks, spikes, S-curves, extended drops, etc.....all the stuff I ended up figuring out on my own (and not knowing the names of). It isn't a pattern book, but 99 pages of just plain (and fancy) good explanations about how to do "Bargello stuff."

I also have Eileen Wright's two books, so I think I am in good Bargello shape for any future quilt. :) So as long as I am in this phase, I will have plenty of ideas. :)

Dina

Where are you finding bargello patterns? I found one online that I did as my first and I think I've caught the fever! I checked at JoAnns and Hobby Lobby but neither of them have bargello books. Makes me think it's a design that's somewhat gone "out of vogue"? Anyhow, I'm interested in doing another. And probably wall hanging rather than bed sized. Can these be done as minis?

I bought my Bargello books from Amazon. Eileen Wright's Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts and More Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts were the first two books I got. The last 3 I bought are listed in the message here that I just typed. (should be two above this message...)

I also used this free online pattern as inspiration for one wall hanging. I just made it smaller. I don't know if a mini could be done, or maybe I just need to think on that. :) Hmmmmm.

http://www.northcott.net/?sid=3&layo...id=1&colid=549

I did find a Bargello book at a quilt show once, but I didn't buy it. I haven't seen any at my LQS. At any rate, I sure enjoy making these Bargello quilts, and if you are hooked, I hope you enjoy them half as much as I do. :)

Dina

Not yet ;-) I've finished 18 blocks for a PP Star Burst quilt, and I'm working on a couple of pictorial type PP quilts now. Nothing too repetitive yet. That's probably why I've stayed so interested in paper piecing lately. Lots of variety.

Is the PP log cabin something you are doing now? Both log cabin and bargello appeal to me, just haven't got around to playing with them to any extent. I've wanted to do a floral log cabin as long as I've been a member here. BarnBum enchanted me with hers.

Bargellos have many different patterns and that may be why you are able to do one after the other. I think the same is true with a OBW. I just finished a OBW and if I didn't have so many others to complete for Christmas I would be doing another.

I have often done 3-5 of the same quilt block/pattern, especially if I am making table runners, placemats or baby quilts; then I move on to something else. I try to make what pleases me, if it's small quilts, bed quilts, quilted bags, etc. and I admit that making Bow Tucks bags in various fabrics can be fun. However, I was asked to make one with a zipper in the top - I finally finished it after many return trips to online tutorials, and am somewhat less than pleased with the results, but maybe my DDIL won't mind too much. She doesn't sew, so she is impressed with whatever I make; I'm just the one with OCD wanting perfection in everything I make; I'm just thrilled though that I was able to do it.

I can relate to your concern in another area. I do zendoodling/zentangling and I found myself liking one pattern I drew and wanting to make it over and over. I became concerned also, as that is not the point of it all ( I told myself) and almost ruined my pleasure in the drawing.
Then I realized the true point in doing anything we do for fun, ie: quilting, drawing, etc. is for the joy and pleasure we get from it, and if drawing the same design over and over made me happy, or in your case making bargellos, then that is exactly what we should do!!!
When the time comes for us to do something else, we will know it and move on!
So indulge yourself as I intend to and have fun!
Hugs and smiles

I have done just this! I am deep into Bargelloing even as I speak. :) Happily, I might add. :)

Dina

It's okay to really love making Bargello style quilts, but if you only stick with that, you might be missing out on your next favorite! If you want to try your hand at another style, find something that is similar like a French braid or log cabin where you can play with graduated colors.

At least you are sticking to fabrics....over the years I have invested in several different things thinking I would do it forever...stain glass, painting, tole painting now quilting...each of those required a financial investment of varying degrees...and when it was over I kept them for years...I still have paints, but no interest! I finally sold the stain glass equipment after about 20 years...just in case I wanted to do it again.

Enjoy what you are doing...it's you!

I know what you mean. That is why I hope this phase is really just a phase. I have made log cabin and French braid, but they didn't seem to catch me like this Bargello stuff has. The quilt I am working on now is my 75th quilt, and only the last five have been Bargello....so I am going to assume it is a phase and just enjoy it until I don't. :)

Dina

Dina, I just looked at one of the tutorials and think I may try it but I wondered if you have any tips on fabric selections...i saw your brown one and it had great balance and movement too. How many fabrics do you typically work with and do you choose always colors that blend well and flow together or could you get the same "ebb and flow" from high contrast darks (of different colors) with bands of neutrals mixed between? Is there a minimum # of fabrics to make this work and/or a maximum # beyond which it just doesn't work?

I love the turning 20 quilt pattern. But I dream of the bargellos.

I understand after doing two Bargellos I bought a new Bargello book to make another style but then I tried a stack and whack and loved that challenge as well. I have decided that so long as the pattern poses a challenge I am good it.