Explore guide
Plan a Bargello panel and color quantities
Verify one complete stepped repeat before extending its color bands or estimating supplies.
Related lessons and tools
Verify one complete stepped repeat before extending its color bands or estimating supplies.
Before you start
Have the chart key, chart width and height, fabric thread count and threads crossed by each stitch. Keep floss strands separate from fabric threads.
How to do it
- Read Bargello repeats — Track stitch span and vertical step separately. The repeated rise and fall creates the pattern; a misplaced first row can shift every following color band.
- Plan needlepoint from canvas count — For one stitch per canvas intersection, design size follows stitch count divided by canvas count. Allow extra canvas for the frame and finishing separately.
- Budget every embroidery color — Estimate stitch quantity and consumption by color, then round each color to whole packages. Large total leftovers do not replace a missing specific shade.
- Plan mounting and framing — Reserve enough ground for the selected attachment method and keep raised stitching clear of glazing. Choose a mounting method that supports the fabric evenly and can be reviewed later.
Try this example
Stitch a single rise-and-fall unit in three colors and measure each color’s used length. Multiply by the planned number of complete units, then include partial edge units and finishing tails separately.
Check your result
- Count from two independent reference points before filling a large area. Verify the outer stitched dimensions on the actual ground; include finishing fabric separately.
- Changing fabric count changes physical size, not chart complexity. Fractional stitches, mixed scales and non-square grounds need explicit chart instructions.
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