Bargello: Florentine embroidery technique (photo and video)
Content
- Technique of Florentine burgello embroidery (bargello)
- Patterns of burgello embroidery (bargello)
- Master Class
- Threads for embroidery technique Bargello
- A bit of history
- Video: bargello technique
The splendor of this embroidery goes back to medieval Europe. This was the name of the main building of Florence. The correct spelling in Italian is Bargello.
Contemplating bargello embroidery in all its splendor, it is difficult to believe that all this luxury is obtained as a result of performing the simplest stitches using a simple technique.
Technique of Florentine burgello embroidery (bargello)
Bargello has a complex history, butIts technique is extremely simple. It is called counting because when it is executed, the threads are counted. According to a long-standing tradition, only a vertical stitch is used, the length of which can change during the process, which gives it a special and unusual look. Florentine bargello embroidery is famous for its bright colors. In this case, for each color, several of its shades are taken, located one after another as the brightness increases or decreases. This is how Florentine embroidery with the unusual name bargello acquires its multi-colored and bright original colors. The patterns receive extraordinary convexity and depth, a play of light and shadow.
Patterns of burgello embroidery (bargello)
“Flame” Traditional embroidery motif called“flame” we have already considered earlier. In addition, there are other themes, such as pomegranate and cloves. The theme of the pomegranate was popular back in the Middle Ages. The carnation pattern is also famous and gorgeous like the pomegranate fruit. The symbolism of the carnation in the Middle Ages was such that it signified love and marriage. That is why the craftswomen from Florence wanted to have carnations on their canvases. Thus, Florentine bargello embroidery acquired white, pink, red and yellow carnations. Each color symbolizes different events and things.
“Pomegranate” If you think about it, you can concludethat bargello embroidery resembles a tapestry. It is generally accepted that the technique of embroidering tapestries originated from her. In the Middle Ages, they decorated the interiors of the most noble and wealthy houses. There are other types of bargello patterns:
Carnation pattern
Pattern "Diamond" (Rhombus)
Medallion pattern
Pattern "Wavy ribbons"
"Weaving" pattern
"Northern Lights" pattern
Pattern "Mirror"
Pattern “Cathedral” On our website you can find patterns for bargello embroidery patterns.
There are patterns for every pattern of every type of embroidery. There are also patterns for bargello embroidery that are not particularly complex.
Master Class
To better understand the necessaryMaterial and technique of bargello embroidery, we will conduct a master class, which consists in making a heart with the help of bargello technique, or countable smoothness.
Master class, tools and materials
Florentine sewing technique Bargellois counted and similar to “layout” embroidery, that is, it has parallel stitches of the same or different lengths. The play of colors is created by gradually changing the tonality of the color. To work, we need to take a thread 50 cm long. Thread this thread into a needle in two folds. On the left edge of the plastic form, make the first stitch vertically from bottom to top, while skipping 2 squares of canvas. Thus, the stitch will be equal to a step of 4 cells.
We retreat to the right and rise 1 step higher,keep the step at 4 cells. Next we embroider stitches parallel to the previous one, but higher by one cell and to the right by one horizontal cell. It looks like the stitches are going up a ladder. In the same way, we make 5 vertical stitches, after which we fasten the thread to the wrong side of the product. We fasten the tail of the thread under the weave threads.
The next step is that we mustsew 4 stitches in a downward direction for a total of 9 vertical stitches. Now we continue our Bargello embroidery, stepping back to the right and repeating the previous stitch exactly. We have received the middle of the product. Then we repeat the Bargello drawing again. Step back to the right and go up 1 step above the first stitch, maintaining a step of 4 squares. We make subsequent stitches parallel to the previous one, retreating one cell to the right and one cell above it. Let's repeat the procedure of going up and down the hill. Now let's fasten the thread from the inside out. Thread the thread under the last 2 stitches and trim the ends with scissors.
Thus, the first row of work is completed.The main direction of bargello embroidery is set. Now change the thread to a different color to achieve maximum color effect. Let's secure it and continue our work, observing the required direction of the thread. We also start the second row on the left side of the plastic blank. In this case, we must exactly repeat the pattern of the first row. All other rows are repeated, we only change the color of the threads. We will complete the rows at the top and bottom, leaning on and using the edges of the plastic blank. To complete the work, it is necessary to sheathe the edge of the product with a “loop” seam. For final decoration, you just need to attach decorative elements to the reverse side. Now our heart, made using the Bargello embroidery technique, can be considered complete.
Threads for embroidery technique Bargello
In the Middle Ages for Florentine embroiderythey used almost exclusively woolen threads, but over time the craftswomen began to use silk threads as well. Modern embroiderers do not miss the opportunity to work with any thread. These are wool, silk, floss and even ribbons. It all depends on personal preferences and imagination. The most important thing is that the canvas or canvas is filled with threads without gaps. This is the main condition of Florentine embroidery, and this is what makes it exactly like a valuable tapestry.
Florentine embroidery can be usedin order to decorate clothes, jewelry and accessories, bags, paintings, home furnishings. Such as napkins, towels, bedspreads, lampshades and pillows. The applications of Bargello embroidery are very wide because its beauty and splendor are inimitable and irreplaceable. It is impossible to take your eyes off the bright fiery drawings, reminiscent of ancient tapestries, a fairyland, or magnificent gardens of Eden. For this reason, Bargello embroidery is worth studying and mastering its technique. Good luck to you in this noble endeavor.
A bit of history
Florentine fashionistas doted on embroidery,which was so reminiscent of oriental fabrics, imported to Italy at that time and incredibly popular. This embroidery was also called the “Florentine stitch”. There is another name that sounds like “Hungarian embroidery”. She was known by this name in Holland in the 17th century. It was believed that the technique came from Hungary. In the castle of the Hungarian princes named Jadwig, many examples made in this technique, dating back to about 1380, were discovered. The dowry of the princess of this family, who married the heir of the Medici family, was brought to Florence. The magnificent embroidery captured the imagination of the court fashionistas, who very soon began to pass it off as their own.
This Italian embroidery is very originala pattern similar to tongues of fire. Very often they talk about it as a torch, or fiery. Florentine embroidery can have an angular shape, but often appears in flowing waves. After a long period of near oblivion, Florentine embroidery became popular again in the 20th century. This happened in the 70s of the last century, as a result of which the new bargello technique was invented. This is the "four directions style". The overall appearance is reminiscent of kaleidoscopic patterns. The motifs of these patterns are divided into squares, each of which in turn is divided into 4 parts diagonally. In the resulting triangles, the direction of the stitches is changed by 90 degrees. The pattern of this bargello has the effect of an iridescent wave. (photo of the four-direction style technique).
Video: bargello technique
