J&M Bargello Pillow

The J&M Bargello pillow is back from my finisher and has been delivered to our friends.  Their response:  "Very awesome!!"

The pillow is about 12" square and my husband helped pick the backing fabric.  It is an upholstery "velvet" with some texture to it.  Side view below

J&M Bargello Pattern

Merry Christmas!  Well, almost anyway.  I have just added a new Free Pattern to my website.  The J&M Bargello pattern from the previous post.  Just the basic pattern, not the whole project.  It can be used vertically or horizontally (as pictured), alone or repeated.  Even worked as a 4-way as I did.  Have fun.

J & M BARGELLO

Not quite a month ago, I realized I needed a special Xmas gift for a special couple that we care about.   In the past, I made them a box and when they were married I made a tray in the same colors as the box.  So I thought it would be a good time to make them a pillow in those same colors.  Of course it had to be Bargello if I was to get it done in time!  And it had to be an original design.  Yikes!

First I grabbed my file of Bargello Ideas and in a couple of days I had the design roughed out, canvas cut and some threads pulled.  Unfortunately, most of the thread is a nice wool tapestry thread that is no longer made. 

I just had the bare outlines worked out and set to stitching.  All went well until I got to the background.  I started with the parts in between the diamond shapes, using the Watercolours that I had used touches of already.  When I tried that for the interior background, it looked awful!!!!  Way too bright and in your face.

I spent several days trying to figure out a background, ripping out that interior at least 3 times, and finally settled on what you see.  Except I had not looked to see how much thread I had left.  I worked the top background, keeping track of my thread.  Oh boy, I discovered I only had enough to do the top and bottom sections.  Back to the yarn cupboard.  

I tried several things, including the browns (talk about bright!) and some other brands of thread (where did this blue come from anyway?!) and finally determined that I could do the diamond framework in a different shade in the same blue family, but would have to use something else for the fill.  Finally tried a darkish gray and decided it would have to do. 

In the end, I think it turned out pretty good.  I hope I can get a better picture when it comes back from the finisher.  Fortunately, my finisher is a good friend and she said she could get it back to me in time for Xmas.  Whew!!