This was the first time I've done any bargello work. It was a fast and fun project. This needleroll was taught as an EGA program in taught over two meetings in early 2001. It was designed by one of our talented chapter members, Carol Clarkson. The needleroll is worked in DMC floss on canvas with bits of white muslin sewn on the ends of the roll.

The first night we learned the bargello stitch/pattern. We chose our own colors. It was recommended that we use between two and five colors. Some of the members used one row of glitzy fiber as an accent in the short row — an outstanding look!

The second night we learned a special stitch used to close the tube -- Carol called it the "Joining Stitch." You make a series of Xs that overlap each other so that the seam comes out looking like the braid, seen in the detail image to the right.

Another member of our chapter raises horses, and she gave us some horse hair to fill the needleroll. The horse hair is supposed to help your needles stay in good shape -- not get all tarnished. I found the horsehair was not that fun to work with, and seemed just sort of dirty and scratchy when I filled my needleroll. But it's always fun to try something new!

I tied my ends with some picot-edged satin ribbon.

Pattern name:	Bargello Needleroll
Designer:	Carol L. Clarkson
Fabric:	canvas
Floss:	DMC cotton
Copyright year:	2001

Back to Cameo's Corner: 2001
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