I thought it might be time to show you all another quilt made by my sister Kate. This bargello quilt is a real beauty. It is the second bargello quilt that she has made. Instead of me telling you all about it, here you have it straight from Kate:
"Well, the book I used is by Marge Edie, "Bargello Quilts." It covers the basics and has patterns ranging in difficulty from small place mats to large fracture bargello quilts. I didn’t quite follow her method. She makes her strip sets, slices them into strips and then makes a tube out of them, which is later opened up back into a strip. I thought that the tube part was an extra step so I skipped it. Anything to speed things along.
If I had to guess, I’d say the top took me about 3 to 4 months. There are over 2000 pieces, plus the two borders. And I pinned each and every seam to make sure my seams lined up. I used over 35 fabrics. With so many fabrics, organization is a must so I made a fabric "key" so I could remember in which order I had the fabrics placed. And yes, I did use the same pattern for my first bargello (the rust, gold, green and blue one.) I found the pattern pleasing so I just made it a little wider for the second quilt. Oh, and a design board is a must. I don’t see how you can make one without being able to stand back and see what the pattern is doing and if you’ve managed to make a mistake.
I have found that the best way to make your fabric choices is to start with the main border fabric. Yes, I know the usual method is to pick the borders after most of the top has been constructed. But if you start the with border fabric, you can then choose which colors to use in the pattern. It seems work best if the border fabric is a large print and the pattern fabrics are on a smaller scale. Since you cut the pattern fabrics up into such little pieces, if the print is too large you might loose the color. For example, I had a lovely rust and blue floral, but when it was cut up some of the pieces had so much of the leaves on it that the piece came across as a green rather than a rust or a blue. (Make sense?)
Gee, now I’m thinking it must be time to make another Asian bargello quilt…"
32 responses to “Kate’s Bargello Quilt”
What a pretty quilt! I still have one of those quilts on my mental “to do” list. I love the effect.
What a pretty quilt! I still have one of those quilts on my mental “to do” list. I love the effect.
I love her colors. Great work.
I love her colors. Great work.
Wow, what a beautifull quilt!!
Wow, what a beautifull quilt!!
Oh it is beautiful! And I agree with her. All my bargello’s I’ve done I’ve started with the border fabric. Even if I ended up not using it in the end! It really helped pick colors!
Oh it is beautiful! And I agree with her. All my bargello’s I’ve done I’ve started with the border fabric. Even if I ended up not using it in the end! It really helped pick colors!
What a gorgeous quilt! I love it! I’ve never tried making a bargello quilt before. I think I still have a while before attempting something like that!
God bless 🙂
What a gorgeous quilt! I love it! I’ve never tried making a bargello quilt before. I think I still have a while before attempting something like that!
God bless 🙂
Oh how very pretty! Great job Kate!
Oh how very pretty! Great job Kate!
Way to go, Kate!
I’ve never made a Bargello quilt!
Way to go, Kate!
I’ve never made a Bargello quilt!
That’s a great quilt! There are some amazing, talented quilters in your family, my dear!
That’s a great quilt! There are some amazing, talented quilters in your family, my dear!
Oh, wow, the workmanship in that! What a work of art–it’s just amazing!
Oh, wow, the workmanship in that! What a work of art–it’s just amazing!
Hi there! I just wandered over here from House of Charm, and I’m so glad I did! I love, love, love quilting and fabric, and I love reading your blog! I’m adding you to my blogroll so I can remember to visit every day! Yay! ~A 🙂
Hi there! I just wandered over here from House of Charm, and I’m so glad I did! I love, love, love quilting and fabric, and I love reading your blog! I’m adding you to my blogroll so I can remember to visit every day! Yay! ~A 🙂
Kate must enter that into a competition, its gorgeous.
Kate must enter that into a competition, its gorgeous.
Isn’t it amazing how talent runs in families??
Isn’t it amazing how talent runs in families??
This Quilt is gorgeous I look at it and dream if only I was talented like you and your sisteryou are very lucky ladies to be able to do sutch Beatuifull work its a joy to look at your work.
This Quilt is gorgeous I look at it and dream if only I was talented like you and your sisteryou are very lucky ladies to be able to do sutch Beatuifull work its a joy to look at your work.
Very nice! Kate must have a lot of patience to pin each of those seams, but the result is wonderful!
Very nice! Kate must have a lot of patience to pin each of those seams, but the result is wonderful!
wow that is a fab quilt Kate
I love to see your work on your sisters Blog .happy sewing to you both
hugs Beth
wow that is a fab quilt Kate
I love to see your work on your sisters Blog .happy sewing to you both
hugs Beth
What a great bargello. I really like her choise of colour. I`m working on my first one, and it`s a real joy to make. 😀
What a great bargello. I really like her choise of colour. I`m working on my first one, and it`s a real joy to make. 😀