Bargello Bookmarks - 3 Free Patterns

Image contains a collage of photos showing bookmarks created with the bargello needlepoint technique.

What is Bargello?

Bargello (pronounced bar-jello) is a type of needlepoint embroidery featuring straight vertical stitches arranged to form colorful geometric designs. The name originates from the Bargello palace in Florence, where a pair of chairs were found that feature a beautiful flame stitch pattern created in this way.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a blue and teal bookmark made with the bargello needlepoint technique. A basket of multi-colored yarn sits in the background.

Supplies

plastic canvas or needlepoint canvas
tapestry needle
tapestry wool or yarn
scissors
pattern

The Basic Stitch

A bargello stitch is simply a vertical line. You’ll thread the needle up through an opening from the back of the canvas, then send it back down through an opening one or more boxes above the first one. You can vary the length of the stitch simply by skipping more holes in between where you bring the needle up and down. In addition to changing the length of the stitches, you can also create patterns by raising and lowering the stitches in relation to each other. This can create a zig zag, scallop, or flame effect.

Image contains a piece of plastic canvas with a series of straight vertical stitches increasing in size. The stitches are made with blue yarn threaded onto a tapestry needle.

How to Create a Bargello Bookmark

To create a bookmark using this technique, first choose a pattern you like and gather your supplies. Trim a piece of plastic canvas to the size specified by your pattern. Then, starting with the first full row of your pattern, work one row of the same color stitches from left to right. Continue, moving down the pattern, stitching one colored row at a time.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a piece of plastic canvas with three rows of vertical stitches in a zig zag pattern.

Finish your pattern by adding any partial rows at the top and bottom to give your bookmark a rectangle shape. Tuck any loose ends into the stitches on the back of the bookmark to secure them.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a piece of plastic canvas covered in rows of straight vertical stitches forming a chevron pattern.

If your pattern had you use a piece of canvas larger than your finished design, trim off any extra plastic so that there are no visible open holes on any side. If not, move right to creating the border.

Add a border by making a stitch inside each hole around all four edges of the bookmark. I like to put three stitches in each corner hole to completely cover the plastic.

Image contains Amy’s hand holding a needlepoint bookmark with a partial border. The tapestry needle is poking through a hole on the edge, threaded with purple yarn.

Tuck the border ends into the stitches on the back, then your bookmark is ready to use! You can add a tassel if you like, or leave it as is.

Image contains a chevron patterned needlepoint bookmark laying on top of an open copy of The Beginner’s Guide to Brush Lettering by Amy Latta.

Three Free Patterns

Here are three easy free patterns to try: Simple Scallops, Classic Chevron, and Darling Diamonds. Just click the button with the pattern name to download the colored grid. Feel free to use whatever colors you like for your own bookmark, mine are just a guide to help you place your stitches in the right spots.

Image contains three colorful needlepoint bookmarks made with the bargello technique.

SIMPLE SCALLOPS CLASSIC CHEVRON DARLING DIAMONDS

Image contains two books with needlepoint bookmarks inside and another bookmark laying on top.

More Projects

If you enjoyed these Bargello bookmarks, here are some other craft and needlework projects you might want to try.

If you give these Bargello Bookmarks, or any other projects, a try, I’d love to see what you create! Make sure you’re part of the Amy Latta & Friends group on Facebook so you can share your latest photos and we can all inspire each other. Hope to see you there!

2 Comments

Hello, the link for the simple scallop design loads the chevron instead. I would love to make the scallop one, could you provide the correct design grid?

Thanks!
Maja