Very pretty! How did you like making the Bargello? I bought a book on making one, but haven't yet-another on my list.
I agree much of the fabric at Joann's is thinner, but some of it is okay. Is it quilted?
Without batting, I would wash it on a very gentle cycle and avoid too much spinning or agitation. My concern would be fraying.
The colors and contrast are perfect for this design - I really like it! You did a great job on this.

It's really quite lovely, Julie. Did you sew the top to the backing? In other words, did you "quilt" it without batting? If you do, I think it would reinforce the stitching of the top and would make it less likely to fray, as Marsha cautioned. It looks like a fair amount of work, and I'd hate to have it pull apart at the seams for lack of a little more work. Nice job.

Oh, I love it! I'm gonna have to try one sometime.

Here in the south we call those "summer quilts" if there is no batting.

No, this isn't lovely. It's absolutely exquisite!

This is the one where you were struggling with wavy borders? So I take it that you did quilt it. If it is the one, looks like you addressed it quite well.

OK.........you say you are a new quilter? Laughing. Why don't you start off your quilting career with something hard the next time. (tongue in cheek) I've been quilting six years now and I haven't even considered a bargello yet.

Great choice of fabric.......very dramatic, calming and pleasing. I've made two 'summer' quilts so far with no batting, and I agree that they are more durable if heavily quilted to reinforce the seams when laundering. It takes the strain off them by distributing the weight of the wet cotton to points of stitching what will not stretch. That is the priniciple of sashiko quilting in Japan. It was traditionally more for reinforcement than adornment.

It's lovely!
The colors are very appealing.
A bargello is another pattern that is on my 'want-to-try' list.
TFS.

~Geraldine

Very pretty. I have been quilting for over 7 years and haven't tried a Bargello quilt. You can use any colors you want, you don't have to use the colors on the pattern. The quilt you create is done in your colors and the way you see it is unique to you. No one has a right to criticize it.

Julie, it's beautiful!

Donna

It's gorgeous Julie!!! I love blue and browns. I have a book on Bargello design and another pattern that I bought to make one.

Still on my 'to do' list!

I agree, you can not say you are a beginner any more lol!!!
Rosa

Very beautiful Julie! I like your colour choice too.
Corinne

Thanks for your comments, everyone.

Marsha, I thoroughly enjoyed making this one, because of the 24 different color fabrics. I also have a book called 'Bargello Quilts' by Marge Edie, which gives different construction directions than the Spiral Burst pattern.
The book instructs how to sew strips onto the batting and backing, thus creating a QAYG project, which (IMHO) would produce a very sturdy construction.

Oh, Marsha...I followed your tip of using/buying a Left Edge Top Stitch pressure foot, thank-you very much! I was able to stitch a nice straight line on the inner edge of my border:
(clickable thumb)

Marsha, Lois, and Calliope.
Yes, indeed it is quilted:) I had fun using different colored threads to match the fabric, but sometimes played with variegated thread. I used a straight stitch, following the diagonals across the squares & rectangles. Average stitching distance is 3-4" apart, but sometimes got as close as 1" on the thin strips of fabric, or as far apart as 5" on the wider strips. I broke thread at the ends of color rows.
Here are a couple examples:

And here is the backing:

Calliope,
Yes this is the one with the wavy borders, and thank you for your comment. But if you saw it close-up, you would see some extra poofiness in the border fabric. I didn't quilt the border, since it's only 3" wide. (Maybe I should have!) I will have to google sashiko quilting...now you've got me curious!

And yes to everyone...I still consider myself a beginner.
Bargello is easier than it looks. All you have to do is sew a bunch of strips horizontally into a panel, sew the panel into a tube, then cut vertical strips of various widths from the tube. You then sew the strips together into vertical rows, offsetting the fabric colors by one square each time, to get the diagonal curves. Occasionally directions call for removing the stitching between various squares, and flipping the strips around, then sewing them back together. Basically, the only thing you have to match is the horizontal seams. If you could all see my quilt from 6" away, you would find that MANY of those horizontal seams are a tad off, but it doesn't bother me, because you can't see the imperfections from far away:)

Another reason I consider myself a beginner, is that I haven't even explored the world of applique (which seems scary to me), or paper piecing, or working with templates, or doing fancy free motion designs.

I don't even know at what point one can move from beginner to intermediate.

Anyway, thanks again for you kind comments everyone!

Julie

Beautiful! I like the colors and the way they flow.

Julie, the quilt is gorgeous and I really appreciate your detailed explanation. I have a bargello on my To Do list but haven't had the nerve to start it yet even though the one I want to do is very simple compared to yours.

Kate

Julie~glad you used the topstitch foot! Your stitching is perfect. It is a great foot to use when you have different heights of fabric. I should think about using it more often. Thanks for posting close up pics. Enjoy them.

Again, I love your summer quilt!

Julie, You certainly have an eye for color! This is gorgeous!

SharonG/FL

Julie, I am very impressed with you quilt. It is beautiful and certianly beyond beginner status. We each are beginners in different aspects of quilting and though I have been quilting for 30 odd years I still have a long ways to go. Bargello is somethng I have not tried but want to. I love your pattern and color choices. Great job and TFS. Jayne

Thanks again for all your kind comments!

Julie

Oh I love it. It looks so complicated....can't believe you are beginner. If you get tired of it, my address is....

Absolutely mind boggling! I love it!

Thanks gals!

I have a tip for any of you who want to try a Bargello pattern.

Try one of Eleanor Burns quilts from her book, Quick Trip Quilts.
The patterns and directions in that book are very similar to making a Bargello. She gives easy-to-follow-step-by-step directions, and the book provides great pictures and diagrams.

I think, after making a "Trip Around The World" quilt from that book, I had enough confidence and experience to go ahead with a Bargello pattern.

Julie

Beautiful!! I'd also love to do one of these some day. It's on my "to-do-list".

Robbi

Oh wow, I love your color choices! Your quilt is really amazing. Nice job, and thanks for posting the detailed pictures and description.

Lola

It's beautiful. One on my to do list as well.

You did a wonderful job on that quilt! I just love bargellos - they are fun to make and so beautiful. I haven't tried the QAYG method, but I do have the book by Marge Edie. That's on my "someday list". TFS

Thanks again, gals!

The next Bargello I make will be with better fabrics, and I might try the QAYG pattern...but will start with a smaller table runner or wall hanging.

Julie