A Free Bargello Design For Christmas

Stitch this free Bargello design, perfect for creating festive Christmas cards or holiday decorations.

Also known as Florentine work, this traditional technique features a pine tree motif inside a festive bell, making it an ideal project for the season.

Follow the easy instructions below to bring a touch of handmade charm to your holiday greetings.

Materials you'll need for this bargello design

  • 27-count Linda evenweave fabric or 18-count mono needlepoint canvas
  • Needle for embroidery

    DMC embroidery floss in the following shades:
  • Green: DMC 500, 501, 502, 503
  • Blue: DMC 930, 931, 932, 800, 775
  • Metallic Gold: DMC stranded metallic gold for added sparkle

Need a refresher on separating embroidery floss? Check out our video tutorial on the best techniques for smooth, tangle-free stitching.

Download the free christmas bargello pattern

Click here to download and print this festive design. Perfect for Christmas cards, ornaments, or framed art!

 

Design description and instructions:

This Christmas bell design uses a traditional Bargello needlepoint pattern known as "trees," ideal for creating a festive holiday motif. The bell consists of 3 pine trees, with golden candles atop each one, symbolising the warmth of Christmas.

The trees are stitched in varying shades of green, while the sky features a beautiful gradient of blues.

The bell is detailed with a golden clapper and hanger with a ribbon bow, for an authentic seasonal touch. Use the darkest shades of green for the tree bases, with lighter shades toward the top.

For the sky, start with the darkest blue at the top of the bell, and lighten it as you work toward the horizon.

How to stitch the free Bargello design

  1. Cut your evenweave fabric or canvas to the required size. Separate your embroidery floss as needed, you will be using 4 strands in the needle for this project.
  2. Start at the top of the bell with DMC 500 (dark green) stitching the top of the tree motif. Work each stitch over 6 fabric or canvas threads.
  3. Move to DMC930 (dark blue) for the sky, zigzagging across the canvas. Leave spaces for the gold stitches, which will be added later. 
  4. Progress with the lighter shades of blue and green as you move down the design, creating the gradient effect. Fill in the gold details last. 

Helpful Tips: 

Use multiple needles: Thread a different colour into each needle to avoid rethreading frequently.

Use a laying tool for a smoother, more professional finish. 

Share Your Creations!

I hope you enjoy stitching this free Bargello design. I'd love to see how you personalise it!

You might want to finish your bell by mounting it into an aperture card, and you can find full instructions for this method on my handmade greetings card page. 

Feel free to experiment with different colour combinations or techniques.

Send me a photo of your completed project, and I might feature it on the site or social media.


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