Bargello Needlepoint for Beginners

If you're just starting out with hand embroidery and looking to explore a fun and visually striking technique, Bargello needlepoint is a fantastic choice!

With its bold geometric patterns and vibrant colours, it can add a unique flair to your projects while still being beginner-friendly.

Plus, it's a repetitive stitch technique, which makes it both relaxing and meditative—perfect if you want to improve your stitching skills without feeling overwhelmed.

If the word Bargello is unfamiliar, you may have seen this form of work referred to as Florentine stitch, Hungarian point or flame stitch embroidery.

It is not a new needlework technique. In fact, embroiderers used it in the 15th century for bed and wall hangings, upholstered furniture and table coverings.

But you don't need to undertake such huge projects as those! It works just as well on pillows, bags, belts, purses or even framed pictures.

I was first introduced to it as a teenager in the 1970s, when we used wild and wacky colour combinations!

There are some essentials you will need, and some "nice to haves" if you are thinking of trying this embroidery technique...

To create this form of needlework you build up distinctive patterns from rows of straight stitches, arranged in a zigzag line, and repeated in varying shades or colours.

The steepness of the zigzag depends on how many threads the stitch is worked over, and the position of subsequent stitches.

To give a more rounded effect, groups of stitches (positioned along the same horizontal row of holes) 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. They can also be arranged to form a lattice work, as in the photo above.

The diagram shows how stepping by more canvas threads creates a higher peak

There are three main types of design in this type of needlepoint: row, motif or mitered.

In Bargello the pattern relies heavily on hue changes. These can be subtle or vibrant.

A monochromatic scheme using tints of red (pink) and shades (burgundy)

Hand-drawn colour wheel using Prismacolor coloured pencils

Around the edge I pressed harder to give the most vibrant colour, and the lighter colour inside represents the colour with white added, or a paler tint of the original hue.

The darker inner wheel shows where I used the complementary colour to "grey" the pure colour, by mixing the two together (or in this case layering one over the other).

Bargello needlepoint is both easy and satisfying once you get into the rhythm of the repeating stitches.

It's a relaxing technique that produces eye-catching, professional-looking results, even for beginners. Plus, the more you practice, the more intricate and colourful your designs can become!

So grab your canvas and threads, and dive into the wonderful world of Bargello needlepoint!