Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

One of the things that I enjoy the most about quilting is the endless possibilities, how versatile and improvisational it can be.
There are some easy techniques that can lead you to amazing creations. Having this in mind I decided to show how easy it could be to use strip piecing to create different patchy patterns that you can implement for any type of project.

Pillows, pouches, tote bags, garments, quilt blocks, patches, wall arts, coasters, etc.

The more creative you get the more interesting your project will be. The fabric contrast is very important to end up with astonishing design.

Start deciding your color palette and pick five to seven different prints with your choice of colors, I picked six prints from our Marrakesh fabric collection.

Step #1
Start cutting WOF strips from each print, you can adjust the size of the strips depending on the size of your project.

You can either cut the strips the same height or different heights to give it dynamism.
I cut some of my strips 1 1/2” x WOF and 1” x WOF to have two different strip sizes.

Step #2
Now that your strips are cut, start playing around with the placement of the strips until you find one that's appealing to your eye.

Step #3
When you are done experimenting with your placement, attach the strips together.

Step #4
To create your template use some thick paper or cardboard to draw some geometric shapes like squares, hexagons, or equilateral triangles that will fit on top of your patched strips.

I personally like to keep my templates so I traced them on construction paper.

Step #5
Experiment with the placement layout of your figure before starting to cut, place your chosen template on top and play with it you can try to place it on-point or just turning it to find your desired placement.

Step #6

When you find the desired placement start cutting the shape on the fabric.

Step #7
Have fun trying different placements and discovering new patterns.

Step #8
Even some of the fabric leftovers could be used.

I hope this inspired you to play around with strip piecing! Let me know if you have any questions below. 

Until next time,

Jannelle

Hello Makers!

I hope you guys are doing well as we get accustomed to our new “normal,”. We just want to say we're extremely grateful for your support as we try our best to keep our heads high and continue with new releases. As many of you are at home doing what you can to stay happy, we are doing the same. We are always striving to push our limits and proceed forward with our passion on bringing you beautiful fabrics - which brings us to today!

We are very excited to show you our NEW GROUPS OF COLLECTIONS FOR 2020! Featuring new color palettes, Fusions, and even some nostalgia. … Just in case you didn’t get to see it on social media, here’s a quick rundown what’s being released!

Available June 2020

▸ Trouvaille by AGF Studio

▸ Pacha by AGF Studio

Available July 2020

▸ Cozy & Joyful by Maureen Cracknell

▸ Terra Kotta by AGF Studio

▸ Flowerette by AGF Studio

Available August 2020

▸ Daydream by Patty Basemi

▸ Hooked by Mister Domestic

▸ Pure Solids by AGF Studio (New Colors!)

Available September 2020

▸ Serenity Fusion by AGF Studio

▸ Picturesque by Katarina Roccella

For more details on availability, prints, and upcoming free patterns, check out our “Digital Catalog Season 2 Jun - Sep 2020”. 

There are so many beautiful things to look forward to in this upcoming season! Which collection are you most excited about? Let me know in the comments below.

Till next time,

-Trisha

Hello my fellow makers!

It has been a while since my last post, I missed so much connecting with you! To make a good come back I decided to co-design a wall art with my little one, Carlota. She loves to participate in my projects, and I love to keep her busy and motivated with creative tasks.

When she showed me her drawing of a rainbow that is also a sun to bring joy and happiness to our lives, I decided to use the bias tape appliqué technique to translate her idea into our quilty project. Today we will talk about what bias tape is, how to make it, and how to appliqué it.

Bias tape is a strip that is cut on the diagonal of the fabric at 45 degrees from the selvage. The fabric on the bias has a little stretch, which is very helpful for curvy lines or for beautiful bindings to avoid wrinkling or unwanted gathering while stitching.

You will need to cut double the size of the width of your finished size. For example, I cut 1" strips because my design requires 1/2" strips.

To prepare your strips, follow these steps:

1. Lay your strip flat wrong side up on your ironing board.
2. Fold it in half and press it.
3. Unfold the strip, it should have a center crease.
4. Fold the top edge of the strip toward the center crease and press.
5. Fold the bottom edge of the strip toward the center crease and press.

Another way is to use a bias tape maker, it comes in different sizes for different widths. All you have to do is insert the strip through the wide end, and pull it through the other end while pressing it. It will save you a lot of time and effort. You will jump from step one (1) to step five (5).

I used a 26" x 20" square of "Tranquil Waters" from our Pure Solids collection for the base, and appliquéd the first strip using the print "Tekstiil Emberglow" from the Lugu collection in a semicircle with a diameter of 8" with a bottom elongation of 2".

As a rule of thumb the thinner the strip, the narrower the curve it allows you to make. In the rainbow, the bottom strip was the most challenging.

To appliqué you need a template or a guide on the fabric to follow unless you are improvising your curves:

1. Inner Edge: Always stitch the inner edge of the strip first making sure you are not pulling the strip. The outer edge of the strip may lift and create a wave-like shape. Don't worry this is normal, just press and steam the strip to flatten it.
2. Outer Edge: Stitch the outer edge of the fabric, and press and steam again.

I pinned the fabric to a board, knotted the end of a piece of yarn to a pencil, and ask my co-designer to help me outline the other five layers of the rainbow by anchoring her finger in the center of the circle. There is 1" more or less between each layer.

Once all the pencil guides were in place, I followed them to stitch the other layers and the sun rays. The design looks amazing, it is super easy to make, and Carlota is enjoying every moment of our time together.

At this point, I realized that it would've been great to have the batting and the backing behind the quilt top before appliquéing the strips. But I know I still can come up with a great idea to quilt it and make it our mother/daughter piece of art.

The world has stopped and many of us have to stay home, it is hard and challenging, but this is also a great moment to be grateful and to enjoy the simple things we have and don't see or appreciate in the rush of our daily routines.

I am thankful for my beautiful artist and for the opportunity to work with her hand in hand in this project that we will keep together to remember today.

Hope you enjoyed it,

Laucara