Have you tried bargello needlepoint?

It was very popular in the 1970's when I was a teenager. Back then we used some wild and wacky colour combinations!

It is now undergoing a rise in popularity again.

What is bargello?

The steepness of the zigzag depends on how many threads the stitch is worked over, and the position of subsequent stitches. The diagram below shows that when the stitches are stepped by more canvas threads the peak is higher. To give a more rounded effect groups of stitches can be worked either at the end or part way down a slope. Traditionally all the stitches in a design are the same length throughout.

What do I need?

As this form of needlepoint consists of straight stitches it is not essential to work on a frame. If you use more than one strand of yarn (for example 4 strands of stranded cotton or three of crewel wool) try to ensure they lay side by side and not twisted to give the best result.

Design in bargello

The simplest is a row design. The pattern is established in the first row, and then repeated using a different colour, tone or tint in subsequent rows. I will explain the colour terms shortly.

To create a motif design, part of a row is mirrored and a medallion or motif is formed. The medallion can be filled in repeating rows or each enclosed area can be dealt with differently. The pattern is mainly formed by the use of colour.

A mitered or four-way bargello needlework design consists of a triangular section that is then mirrored both ways. Both rows and motifs can be worked in this manner. Some traditional patterns worked in this way are known as tulip, rose and pineapple.

How to use colour

One colour scheme you can use is monochromatic. This uses tones of one colour. Take blue for example, you could start the sequence with a dark blue (a shade is made by mixing black with the original colour) and then use lighter and lighter tints (mixed with white) ending up with a very pale blue. The sequence is then repeated.

I don't want to get too technical here but I'll introduce another colour term; analogous. Basically this scheme uses related hues that are close to each other on the colour wheel. For example red, orange and yellow. Another choice would be purple, blue and green.

Bargello needlepoint can also be worked with contrasting colours. To find any colour's contrast look opposite it on the colour wheel. Yellow is opposite purple and therefore its contrast. The same goes for orange and blue. The trick here is to use much less of the contrast than the main colour. Think of it as an accent. If you use equal amounts of each the effect won't be as vibrant. Think of a mainly blue room that has the occasional orange pillow to give it some "spark"!