Bargello quilt pattern

This dynamic quilt in the Bargello style (named after the needlework technique) is easier to construct than might at first appear. Made with 12 identical large blocks, rotary cutting and clever pressing make for accurate piecing and a finish you can be proud of! The amazing Alison wood designed this bargello quilt pattern for Todays Quilter magazine and if you’re looking for more beautiful quilt projects then check out Alison’s Instagram @thechainpiecer and Todays Quilter latest issue.

If you’re new to the world of quilting don’t worry you can still sew Alison’s bargello quilt. Just head over to our quilting for beginners guide for more help and pick up a new machine from our best sewing machine for quilting or long arm quilting machine round-up. But now it’s over to Alison for her bargello quilt pattern!

My starting point for this quilt was a lovely Kaffe Fassett pink and grey fabric (the design is called Millefiori), which inspired my choice of colours. However, I decided to put the busy Millefiori fabric on the back of the quilt where it can complement, but not overpower, the soft ebb and flow of colour on the front. I included three colours from Oakshott’s new Alpine range of shot cottons in my quilt (www.oakshottfabrics.com), and I am grateful to Oakshott for supplying me with these fabrics before they had become available on the website. The shot cottons are much more than ‘plain’ – the subtle two yarn weave lends a soft sheen and depth of colour, almost a shimmer, which I love. They also press very flat and crisp, which is a great help in a quilt in which there are so many seams!

Alison Wood

You will need

• Ten (10) different fabrics – ¾ yd of each*
• Binding fabric – ¾ yd
• Backing fabric – 5yds
• Batting – 73in x 83in

Finished size

65in x 75in

Notes

• Use a ¼ in seam allowance throughout and press seams in the direction indicated in the instructions.
• RS = right side of fabric.
• WS = wrong side of fabric.
• WOF = width of fabric.

* Choose ten (10) fabrics and arrange them in order, taking account of the effect you would like to achieve. Think about grading the transitions in colour and value, but also allow for some changes/contrasts in colour or value so that the wavy bargello design shows up clearly. Solid, semi-solid fabrics, such as shot cottons or tone-on-tone fabrics, work best in my opinion: some suggestion of texture is nice but a very busy patterned fabric could distract from the design on the quilt top.

Bargello quilt pattern

Alison Wood

Alison Wood has been making quilts for 25 years and still hasn’t run out of enthusiasm, although she often runs out of time. She enjoys teaching and sharing tips and techniques to save time and improve accuracy. Alison’s projects are often featured in Todays Quilter. Alison blogs as a way of keeping track of her projects, and lives in the beautiful Surrey Hills. You can see more of her work over at the thechainpiecer.blogspot.com and @thechainpiecer

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