Bargello Fantasy (Needle Adventures Artists Collection)

Bargello Fantasy, Courtesy of Tara K.

This Needle Adventures Artists Collection chart was published in 1994, based on a 1991 Loretta Spears design which was published originally in the July August 1991 issue of Needlepoint Plus.   The magazine version of Bargello Fantasy is discussed separately.  The two designs are almost, but not quite, identical.  The "ribbon" across the top of the design is longer in this version and the lower left bargello pattern is different.  The bottom triangles may also differ.  I can't be sure of that based on the images I've seen.

As you can see from this old eBay auction description, the design was intended to be done on a piece of 12X18 inch 24 count congress cloth.
http://www.hydroponicsonline.com/store/Bargello-Fantasy-counted-thread-chart-Needle-Adventures_230609280986.html


The supply list for this project is as follows:
Congress cloth, 24-count, French blue cut 12x18"
12x18" stretcher bars
DMC floss (with Anchor and Madeira conversions listed in the chart)
Blue Violet 324 — 3 skeins
Dk. Cornflower Blue 791 — 1 skein
Med. Cornflower Blue 793 — 3 skeins
Lt. Antique Blue 3752 — 4 skeins
Very Lt. Antique Blue 3753? — 2 skeins
Lt. Baby Blue 3752 and/or 3756?— 4 skeins
Blue Needle Necessities overdye floss — 110 — 1 skein
Danish Flower Thread 230 — 1 skein  (I have seen Guterman sewing thread substituted.)
Balger/Kreinik #8 Braid — Silver 001 and Sky Blue — 014, 1 spool each
Balger/Kreinik Cord — Silver 001, 1 spool
Mill Hill Beads #02009 — Ice Lilac

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Courtesy of Terry

You can see Terry's unframed and then framed versions at the two links below but she kindly allowed me to reproduce the unframed version above.

http://through-the-hoop.blogspot.com/2007/03/bargello-fantasy-needlepoint.html

http://through-the-hoop.blogspot.com/2008/06/bargello.html

There were three other Loretta charts published by The Artists Collection under the "Needle Adventures" name--Florentine Fantasy, Medallions, and Today is Someday.

UPDATE: Sorry that many of the photos here have vanished.  I can't add them back in as I no longer have the originals and Google seems to have removed them permanently from the backups for the blog. Sorry!  I will reload the ones I still have when I find them gone but these are no longer available.

Bargello Fantasy (Needlepoint Plus)

Bargello Fantasy (Needlepoint Plus)

Bargello Fantasy was original published  in the July August 1991 issue of Needlepoint Plus.   In 1994 Needle Adventures republished this design as a chart with a photo of the finished model on the back cover.  The chart version of Bargello Fantasy is discussed separately.

Needleartnut's Bargello Fantasy from NP Plus

The two designs are almost, but not quite, identical.  The "ribbon" across the top of the design is shorter in this version and the lower left bargello pattern is different as you can see in this photo of the finished magazine version, courtesy of Needleartnut.  The bottom triangles may also differ.  I can't be sure of that based on the images I've seen.  The scans of the Needlepoint Plus model and magazine cover are courtesy of Ann in Baton Rouge.

Needlepoint Plus July Aug 1991

Corrections to the magazine chart are posted in the Errata tab above.
https://lorettaspears.blogspot.com/p/errata.html

The delicate version stitched by Sue. H.

And this is Sue H.'s version on congress cloth.   It isn't framed yet.  Thanks, Sue!

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Materials List:

Watching Florentine Fantasy Grow

The Needleart Nut blog is stitching one of the pieces from Loretta's chart "Florentine Fantasy" and posting progress photos on her blog.  I'll post updates (latest on the bottom) as she stitches.  By the way, she is stitching this on linen, not needlepoint canvas.

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She will do the long Bargello piece on blue canvas.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/08/jsome-counted-work.html

The first band on the sampler is in position.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-first-band.html

The second motif is cotton floss and Kreinik metallic.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-second-design.html

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/moving-along.html

Now the third motif is introduced.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/starting-section-c.html

The third motif is done and so is the star.
https://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/star-and-some-stripes.html

The curvy Bargello stripe is next.
http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-bargello-stripe.html

And now the Bargello stripe curves are done.

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-bargello-line.html

Flame stitch is next.

https://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/another-section.html

A four-way Bargello flower shape is the next-to-the-last motif.

https://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/another-bargello-design.html

And the Bargello spot sampler is done!

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/finished.html

Personally, I am not a sampler person or a fan of Bargello, but I think this is lovely.

Florentine Fantasy

Cover Photo Courtesy of Irina Gorin

"Florentine Fantasy" is a chart by The Artists Collection, Needle Adventures Series, published in 1993.  It diagrams two bargello pieces, one a small box top size and the other a longer rectangle.  This chart is fairly easily available today.  This site has three for sale.
http://www.crossstitchers.com/shop/store.php?Florentine%2520Fantasy&view=AC75-155

Close Up

The Artists Collection published three other Loretta charts under the Artists Colletions name--Medallions, Today is Someday, and Bargello Fantasy.

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Chart Models Courtesy of Irina Gorin

Several folks have stitched this piece and posted photographs on their blogs.  Here is The Committed Stitcher, who used red, white and blue for colors.  The final piece is shown below.
http://blog.fiberholic.net/2007/09/florentine-fantasy-framed.html

Florentine Fantasy Framed, Courtesy of Meg W.

Here is the Needleart Nut's version.

http://needleartnut.blogspot.com/2020/09/finished.html

Medallions (Needle Adventures, Artists Collection)

"Medallions" is a chart by Needle Adventures, Artists Collection, published in 1993.  It diagrams a spot sampler that uses bargello motifs.  Ornaments made from some of the designs are shown on the cover as well.  This chart is fairly easily available today.  This site has one for sale.

http://www.crossstitchers.com/shop/store.php?Florentine%2520Fantasy&view=AC75-155

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Close Up

Lara is stitching one of the ornaments from this leaflet which she says is called Christmas Heirloom Victorian Gem and was available as a separate kit as part of the Christmas ornaments club.  See the article entitled Victorian Gem June 1993 for more information.
http://diet-pepsi-and-xanax.blogspot.com/2012/02/next-project.html

A second Bargello ornament from this leaflet was published in April 1993 under the Needle Adventures name in the Christmas Heirloom series as Medallion.


There were three other Loretta charts published by The Artists Collection under the Needle Adventures name--Bargello Fantasy, Florentine Fantasy, and Today is Someday.

Instructions Page Courtesy of LakeAustin

Materials List:

Wichelt Imports' Vintage Linen 28 count, 10 x 18 inch piece

Lacquered Jewels 484 (may substitute Access Commodites' Bijoux) or Balger Cord 034

May use either DMC or Anchor cotton flosses:
light blue - Anchor 274 or DMC 928
medium light tan - Anchor 387 or DMC Ecru
medium tan - Anchor 388 or DMC 842
medium dark tan - Anchor 392 or DMC 642
medium blue - Anchor 849 or DMC 927
dark blue - Anchor 850 or DMC 926
dark tan - Anchor 903 or DMC 3032
light tan - Anchor 926 or DMC 712

Today Is Someday

"Today is Someday" is a chart by The Artists Collection, Needle Adventures Series.  It diagrams a spot sampler and shows two parts of the sampler used as a bell pull and ornament.  This chart is fairly easily available today.  This site has three for sale.

http://www.crossstitchers.com/shop/store.php?Today%2520Is%2520Someday&view=AC76-155

Three other Loretta charts were published by Artists Collection under the Needle Adventures name--Medallions, Florentine Fantasy, and Bargello Fantasy.

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Tara Stitches and Wins

Nordic Needle often posts profiles of their customers.  The link below is from 2011 and  talks about Tara Kohinska of Winnipeg in Canada.  Tara provided images of her work to Nordic Needle for the article and I just happened to spot Bargello Fantasy there.  Tara won two ribbons for this piece at the famous Calgary Stampede!  I thought you'd enjoy seeing her ribbons and the rest of her work.
http://www.nordicneedle.com/newsletters/_300/315.shtml

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