Starting a new Bargello
 

I'm starting a new bargello quilt from "Twist and Turn Bargellos" by Eileen Wright (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156...ls_o05_s00_i00)

It's titled "Supernova", but my husband has requested one that looks "like the ocean". I settled on what turned out to be a very limiting color scale from dark blue through teal to white. I needed 20 fabrics, and this is what I've come up with. I'm going to start cutting tomorrow, I think. What do you all think? Does it look like it's blending alright? I don't mind if it's a little stripey, but I've been looking at them so long I need some fresh eyes :P

The fabrics and colors are gorgeous! The only change I personally would make is the off-white with tan buds/ stems (#19 in the layout). I think the browns in that one fabric would make odd little clusters.

I think they are beautiful but I do agree with JenniePenny about the 2nd from the right. It may not show up well.

Hi Kim...I have done a few bargellos so IMHO I would change No 19 to go in at about No 14 or 15.Love your choice of colours.
regards Lynda

I agree with the other number 19 is not a good choice. The value of the print is too dark for the placement. Maybe change. Maybe consider swaping positions number 3 & 4 . It may just be my monitor but number 3 seems of lighter value than 4.

Hello ... I really like the color scheme.

I agree with others regarding the 2nd from the right, but I would also remove the center one - the green and white circles. When I choose bargello fabrics (I've made about 6 of them), I use fabrics that don't have a color or value change as large as the smallest piece that I will cut. The pattern you chose will use 1/4" pieces. Both of these fabrics have both color and value changes larger than 1/4".

I would also swap some of the fabrics around. I converted your selection photo to a B&W print to help decide value. I always do this, or view through a color viewer before I commit. Sometimes the results are remarkable. Take another look.

Counting 1-20 from the left (note: I'm counting the two fabrics I suggested removing to make numbering easier)

Swap 3 & 4
move #7 to between 4 & 5
Swap 8 & 9
Move #6 all the way to the 2nd from right position
Move #3 all the way to between 8 & 9

Re-photograph and convert to B&W again and see how you like it.

Ok ... this might be a little easier to see what I'm talking about. I painted numbers on each fabric to show the moves I suggest.

"R" is for remove

Kim, I've made a few bargellos too and I agree when # 19 is cut it may prove to be too dark in some spots. I'm also concerned about #s 14 & 16. On my screen they seem very close in color & value which may prevent your bargello pattern from being as defined as you would want. Your color choices are gorgeous! I'm getting ready to start a similar color range bargellos for my DS & DDIL. One of the 9 colors is the dark green nation I used for the table runners at their reception. She wanted a water look also but the pattern she picked only needed 10 fabrics. 20 is much harder than most people think! I've made 2 that used 20 and it is the hardest part of the whole project! Look forward to seeing pictures.

I made a quilt from the same book called Nebula and I did it in blue. Here is the picture. I like your blues. It will be a gorgeous quilt. [ATTACH=CONFIG]392727[/ATTACH]

Thanks, everyone!

My camera is not the best at taking true-to-life photos. This one was optimized for color saturation (not value), and so I think some of them might be a bit off. A lot of the darker colors in the scale look different than the photo, but you're right about #3 and #4. I switched them, and then I took a new photo of them in black and white (not changing to black and white on the computer), and it seems to be a better representation.

As for the second to last fabric, I've had misgivings about it, too. The leaves are much less brown in real life, more of an algae green, and the white background is actually a warm ecru. You can't see in the photo, but it has birds and much more densely-patterned areas. I love it, but I can understand the problems. Guess I'll look through my stash.

I'll think about something to replace that middle fabric, though. I wanted to stay away from making of quilt of basically tonals. I wanted some variation and texture, which means that the print doesn't necessarily need to be constant throughout - in the scheme of the whole quilt, it should still accomplish the grading. But it is a big change, not just a small one, so I'll look around. I've been to the fabric store about 4 times and I've pretty much exhausted their selection, so these represent the best set I could muster :/ If there's a solution, it'll have to be in my stash.

I also have to be conscious of color. I'm not making a single-color bargello, and so I can't move things around based soley on value. For instance, moving #8 to a higher number looks alright in black and white, but it sticks out like a sore thumb in color because it's much more green than the light blues that would be around it.

Tashana, your quilt is gorgeous! I love what you did with the colors!

I double-checked with the pattern, and the smallest cut is 3" x 1.25". I think that's still a little too small for #11, but it might not be a disaster if I can't find a replacement.

I love your color selections and am amazed at all the good suggestions from the members of this board. There is so much talent and ability here and everyone is so willing to share their knowledge. Good luck and I will be waiting to see the finished quilt.

Alright, I think I may have it this time?

Here's a new ordering. I've gotten rid of the middle fabric and the leaf fabric. From my stash, I've added a dark blue with aqua highlights that's pretty perfect, actually (hooray!), and a warm ecru background with light green stencil print. I'm not in love with that second one, but not every fabric can be a favorite. It adds some warmth to the end of the scale, and it doesn't stick out badly (in b/w or color), so what else could I ask for?

I also moved some of the other fabrics around. What do we think now? I did my best to get the colors right with the camera, but it's not easy to get the colors right on the screen. I think the color is better than in the first photo, though.

Wow, Kim - it looks PERFECT to me. It's going to be beautiful! I haven't seen this book. Are these quilters much harder than a "regular" bargello? Laura

The twist and turn patterns involve piecing different sections of the fabric "hoop" to get an overlapping look. She also varies the widths of each row more than I've seen in other patterns, but that makes the curve effects very good. I'd recommend picking the book up if you like bargellos. She's got great instructions, step by step, and very helpful charts and graphics.

Great collection IMO. What I'd suggest is to sort of make up your own pattern. After sewing and cutting, law the strips out so that you mimic waves and horizons, maybe a bit of sky at the top and maybe one bit of tan sand at the bottom.

While I am sure you wrote this question to get help, you have given the rest of us a great lesson on reading value!
The black and white photo really makes a difference. So, thanks and I hope your quilt is all you want it to be.

This is a gorgeous combination!!!!

Thanks to all the quilters and their comments. As yet, I have not gotten up enough courage to do a bargello and I also appreciate all the helpful hints. I would have never thought about taking and b/w photo. Looking forward to seeing your final product when you get finished.

Tashana that is gorgeous. I made one of the quilts in that book as well and when I am done with a few projects I want to make another from the book....you guessed it...in BLUES and aquas. I can't wait, I love bargellos.

Rosie

Oh Cherry Pie go for it! I was deathly afraid to make one and couldn't wrap my head around the pattern. I took a class for $75 and when the teacher explained it everything clicked, I felt so stupid that I couldn't figure it out on my own, it really was very, very simple. I think my biggest problem was I kept over thinking the pattern. Suffestions for when you make yours:

* Read the pattern a couple times, go do other things, read the pattern again
*When sewing the strips alternate which end you start at, this keeps your strips from warping
*If by chance you have a 'block' not playing well (ie. not lining up) don't force it, the pattern is so busy you will not notice it when it is completed. If someone does notice it, make a copy of the pattern for them and tell them to give it a whirl...lol
*Finally, make copies of the chart for the quilt, highlight every other vertical line to remind yourself to alternate sewing directions on one and use the other to mark off where you finished before putting the quilt away for the night.

Enjoy, you know it will be beautiful.

Rosie

Tashana, your quilt is the kind where it is hard to stop looking at it and just keep on staring at it! It is LOVELY!

Ooooooo I cat wait to see it. Love the colors!!!

love your quilt. I am hoping to do one for my self! Pretty new at quilting and attempting to do one scares me right now!

go with what YOU like........it's gorgeous!!!!

I agree and I would also change the one with the big white circles. When you cut them into smaller strips and then get the sewed, you may not get the color your eye has been seeing, which I'm guessing is the medium teal, and it will throw off the look. Save the larger prints for the border. Keep your fabrics " reading" solid . It will turn out better in the end. Have fun! I love to do bargellos!

It is going to be a beautiful quilt - can't wait to see it!

I'll update this thread with pictures of my progress. With all the great advice in it already, it might be a good resource for someone wanting to try a bargello for the first time :)

I think I'll start cutting tonight. I waited until hubby got home last night to okay the fabrics (he didn't like the one with the leaves, either), and he seems happy. He was surprisingly picky about this one! Guess it's because it's for our bed. I'm going to try the reversing direction thing for putting the strips together. On my last bargello, I lost a chunk of each strip set because of the curving at the bottom.

I'm so excited!

I agree with Jennie Penney about #19 in the layout, but the colors are great. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

I like the color and arrangement of them just the way they are. But I'm no expert.

I just wanted to agree that this thread has been fascinating, and incredibly informative. Is there any way to lump it in with the tutorials?

Your finished product is going to be beautiful...

...and Tashana's quilt is already beautiful!

Alison

I don't really know how to do that. Does a moderator have to decide to do that? Maybe they'll want to wait until the quilt is finished so it goes all the way through to the end?

I'm with the others about that one fabric but overall it should be beautiful!

Beautiful color selection!!! Please post finished quilt.!!

I like the changes you made. If you are truely trying to work the value, I think #14 in the new layout is a bit light for it's location.

Look forward to seeing your progress. It will be lovely.

Gorgeous fabrics, sounds like you've already gotten good advice.

new bargello
 

I agree. But I love the other colors!! We live on Galveston Bay, and I love the ocean, the sound, the colors, etc. I have been wanting to make a bargello, also. Your colors inspire me!!
Please show us your progress.

I've only made one bargello and it was from that same book - loved it, as did the recipient! I just wanted to comment on the switch to black & white as it does really help with seeing the value, though as mentioned above, doesn't take 'color' into account so well. I will use this technique next time I do another bagello. Thanks!

Looks like you've conquered the color/value hurdle! This is going to be truly lovely. Can't wait to see progress updates. Do keep us posted.