Welcome to Caroline’s Blog and our interview with Janet Perry, author of Bargello Revisited!

If you are not acquainted with Janet Perry, Janet is a leading writer of stitch guides for over 20 nationally known needlepoint designers.Her stitch guides are published under the name of Napa Needlepoint, not a surprising name since Janet lives in the Napa Valley region of California.

Janet is also author of the popular newsletter, Nuts About Needlepoint and highly informative blog at www.nuts-about-needlepoint.com.

Now, let’s learn more about Janet and her Bargello passion!

Janet, since ordering your book, Bargello Revisited, for my shop I’ve been anxious to ask you a few questions and want to thank you taking the time to answer them.

Caroline asks: How did you  become interested in Bargello and what was it that appealed to you?

Janet answers:  Being almost entirely self-taught as a stitcher, I relied greatly on my LNS(local needlework shop). Never mind that I was a good 20+ years younger than any other customer. My Mom indulged me by taking me there and one day I saw this glorious book on Bargello. I had to have it.  I bought canvas and wool and started stitching.  I loved it so much I wanted to do a set of dining rooms chairs (in fact I still do).

Caroline asks:  Why do you think there is a renewed interest in Bargello?

Janet answers: Bargello so easy to do.  It is less expensive than many other kinds of needlepoint and the results look really good right from the beginning.  Most experienced stitchers don’t like to be reminded of their first needlepoint, it looks so bad; but your first Bargello will look pretty good, and that’s wonderful positive reinforcement.

Caroline asks:  If  a needlepointer has only done Tent  or Basketweave Stitch, is Bargello much more difficult?

Janet answers: Bargello is much easier than Basketweave, which can be hard to learn.  I think it’s easier than Tent, but you need to think in terms of holes and threads, not intersections, since the stitches are straight.

Now if you know how to do Brick Stitch. Bargello is the same stitch, just longer and grouped differently.

Caroline asks:  Is Bargello as functional as basketweave or is it better used as a decorative stitch?

Janet answers: Bargello is functional to some extent.  You can’t use it for places which get lots of wear. it would be a disaster for kitchen chairs, but it certainly would be suitable for those occasionally used dining room chairs.

Janet, I think we’ve all wanted to needlepoint dining room chair seats at one point of our stitching careers. I gave up on the endeavor a long time ago, but I did actually complete one chair seat in Bargello a number of years ago and actually won a ribbon at the Woodlawn Needlework exhibit for it.

Thinking about that chair seat, it now resides in my shop.  It had *lived* in my living room next to my fireplace until we had a chimney fire many years back.  Once my children were safely out of the house, I went back to rescue my needlepoint and my Bargello chair escaped with only one hardly noticeable singe spot! 

Going back to the topic of Bargello being functional, you have some great tips in your book about selecting threads based on the type of use for your project. 

Thinking of Stitching. . .

Caroline and Janet