Amber Burns

Bargello Needlepoint for Beginners Amber Burns

Nothing is more delicate and beautiful than needlepoint worked in the long flowing stitches. The long stitch is one of the easiest techniques to use in working a needlepoint project. Sometimes called the bargello stitch, it is worked straight--either horizontally or vertically on needlepoint canvas, and looks like a smooth satin embroidery stitch when placed in groups side-by-side.

Bargello needlepoint, which originated in sixteenth-century Italy, employs a simple stitch that is repeated over and over again to form a distinctive geometric pattern in vibrant colors. Our mothers and grandmothers whiled away their time with it in the 1960s and 70s, and Bargello is now enjoying a revival among crafters.

Bargello is easy to master, quick to achieve and very addictive. The stitches take on a rhythm of their own which makes it extremely relaxing and before long you'll be measuring your days in inches not hours.