Free pattern day: Bargello Quilts

Last year we featured the Best of the Bargellos.  Here is some more inspiration by way of free patterns!  As you can see, the bargello technique can be used to create interesting backgrounds for applique, as in Bohemian Bird by Marinda Stewart; to showcase landscape prints, as in Desert Nite by Marinda Stewart and Willow Garden by Nancy Rink; and to use up your stash, as in the scrappy bargello tutorial by Bonnie Hunter.  *Note:  this post was updated on March 3, 2013.

Wedding Quilt, 75 x 84”, tutorial by Molly at Purl Bee

 
Ruth Ann Bargello quilt, 42 x 56”, free pattern by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabrics

Delectable Bargello, 74 x 92”, a quilt made from half square triangles; tutorial by Cindy Carter at Carter Quilter 

Breakfast in Bed Placemat tutorial by Amy Friend at During Quiet Time 

Twilight Garden Bargello Quilt, 47 x 82", free pattern by Sally Ablett at Fabric Freedom

Ombre Bargello Quilt, 45" x 35" or 44" x 42", free pattern at Robert Kaufman Fabrics 

 Bohemian Bird, 50 x 50", by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabrics

Cultivate, 48 x 60", fabric by Elissa Barbieri and free pattern by Bonnie Mitchell for Clothworks

Bargello Wall quilt, 40 x 26", inspired by Rolling Prairie from designer Mabeth Oxenreider at All People Quilt

Smitten Quilt, 71 x 85", fabric by Barb Tourtillotte and free pattern by Stephanie Sims for Clothworks

Windsong by Ellen Maxwell for Michael Miller Fabrics

Willow Garden by Nancy Rink for the Willow and At Home in the Woods collections by McKenna Ryan at Hoffman Fabrics

 
 Savannah Lap Quilt by Stephanie Sims for the Savannah Collection by Christine Graf at Clothworks

When landscape prints are cut into bargello strips, they create a kind of surreal, David Hockney-type appearance, as in the Desert Nite quilt shown below.

Desert Nite by Marinda Stewart for Michael Miller Fabric

Amish Bargello Quilt, from the Scrappy Bargello tutorial by Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville from her Scrappy Bargello tutorial

 Navajo Winter by Jinny Beyer. Reminiscent of a Navajo rug, this design is created by arranging a repeat of mirrored and non-mirrored versions of a single block.

Rectangle Bargello, inspired by designer Amanda Murphy at All People Quilt 

 

  
Poppies, free pattern by Deb Mosa at Classic Cottons.  Go to their free patterns page and scroll down to see the download, or, view the pattern here.

Frequently, bargello quilts are made by sewing strips together to form a tube, then slicing through the tube crosswise. The resulting tubes are un-stitched at different seams, then laid side-by-side to create the staggered appearance of the quilt. A video by Alex Anderson with Margie Edie (below) provides a nice introduction to the technique.

October Lights Quilt - part 1 - by Marge Edie with Alex Anderson as seen at HGTV

For parts 2-4 of this Simply Quilts series, see the October Lights Quilt page.

Image credits and links: Image credits:  All images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links.  If any links are broken, we'd love to know; email us at Quilt Inspiration.