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April 2019

The Lone Star

Hello my Dear Makers,

Don't you love to mix traditional quilting techniques with fun prints? Today we will be learning step by step how to make a Lone Star mini-quilt using the mystical fabrics of the Lugu collection.

If you love the Lone Star like me and would like to challenge yourself in a bigger project, I invite you to take a look at the Stardust quilt, or check out the Buho quilt for a twist on the technique.

The fabrics featured are Efflorescent Opulent (Fabric A), Sova Nightlight (Fabric B), Odyssey Dewdrop (Fabric C), Tumeric (Fabric D), Tile Blue (Fabric E), Endless Paradise (Fabric F).

 

Lonestar-Lugu12

You will need two (2) WOF x 2 1/2" strips from fabrics A and B, one (1) WOF x 2 1/2" strip from fabrics C and E, three (3) WOF x 2 1/2" strips from fabric D, and eight (8) 9 5/8" x 9 5/8" squares from fabric F. *WOF (Width of Fabric)

Join the strips into strip sets: strip set 1 (D - E - A),  strip set 2 (A - B - D), and strip set 3 (B - D - C).

Cut all the squares from fabric F in half diagonally into half square triangles.



Lonestar-Lugu09

Sub-cut each strip set into 2 1/2" strips on a 45 degree angle, using the 45 degree guide from your quilting ruler. You should get eight (8) from each strip set.

To start creating your block arrange the resulting strips in order. 

Lonestar-Lugu07

Take the half square triangles from fabric F and align them to the strips following the image, then join the pieces.

Each block is 1/8 of the Lone Star.


Lonestar-Lugu10

Once you have your eight (8) blocks ready, pair them and join them to get (4) quarters. Then pair the quarters to get two (2) halves.

I love this technique to piece concentric projects because it guarantees a flat center.

Lonestar-Lugu11

Join the halves and trim the excess from fabric F to square your mini-quilt. The final size is 29" x 29", ideal for a wall-art, or like my little nephew suggested, a nap time blankie ;).


Lonestar-Lugu06

Now the final touch ... the quilting!! How would you quilt a Lone Star? Would you do something simple like horizontal lines, or maybe follow the lines of the star... would you do it by hand?

Let me know, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Lone Star making!

- Laucara


Our Latest Giveaway: #AGFPets

Hi Makers,

Hope your April is off to a good note, so far. :)

This month, we have a lot of fun things in store for you! One of them being our latest GIVEAWAY involving PETS. Yep, that's right. Since we're all animal lovers here and often see posts of all your cute pets with your sewing projects, we thought this would be a fun way to see/hear more about them! Here's the scoop: 

AGFPetsLogo AGFPetsCollageTag us using the hashtag #AGFPets on social media with a cute photo of your of pet (this includes cats, dogs, birds, bunnies, lizards, hamsters, etc) with a handmade AGF project! This could be a quilt you've made or a baby quilt, a table runner, a cute bag...get creative! Make sure to also share a little story about your cute pet too.

Best photo and story wins a 20 piece, fat quarter bundle of our fabrics!  

Winner will be announced on our Instagram Stories on Thursday, April 11th, 2019. 

Good luck and can't wait to see your animal friends! :)

Keep creating, 

- Sophia 


Color Master of the Month: Sapphire Shine

Color mood board

Spring is finally here, FULL force! Time to celebrate all the beauty that comes with the season, blooming flowers and delicious fruits. While looking for inspiration this month, the most common spring colors are usually pastels and that led me to pick periwinkle to be the star this month. So, as I scavenged all our Color Master boxes, I picked this “Sapphire Shine” edition that has a lovely play on soft purples and hints of blue that remind me of amethyst crystals (like the picture on the top left corner). This group of fabrics has a specific theme, not just with the colors but with its geometric shapes and landscape prints that really motivated me to create a mood board that captured this feeling.

With this wide variety of tones, take your fabric projects to the next level! All you need is one bundle to make a project that's perfect for the month, and you can get it in two sizes: Fat Quarters or Half yards.

Here are some projects from the lookbooks that you can make with our “Color Master” fabrics!

Sewing inspo

Triplizip Zipper Pouch  #1: Featuring the print “Cuboid Cobalto”, this will a great quick project to sew up to let a print shine, and it’ll be big enough for all your sewing notions!

Plenum Quilt#2: Using the entire "Color Master" to create this gorgeous, soft purple filled quilt! An explosion of color using our signature quality cotton, combined with an original and unique project. If you’re interested in only making the Plenum Quilt with the box, then check out our Plenum Quilt free pattern, which includes all 10 prints!

Mago Wallet Bag #3: The “Painted Desert Night” print from Bari J. is one of my favorites, it can make any projects you make with it, look very elegant!

This “Color Master” bundle can give you the option of using just one print or several to compliment any of your sewings designs. Although this bundle highlights the baby blue color, each print has distinct hues that make it easy to pair with other projects. For example, the print called Sweet Meadow Orchid”  (Print shown below, circled in red) has an array of colors like lime green and royal blues that can help piece together other fabrics with a matching color palette.

Bundle_Sapphire BLOG

Imagine all the possibilities that can be done and if you still need some DIY ideas, you can follow our #AGFColorMaster hashtag, where you can see what other makers are making with these group of fabrics! Remember that this box is there for your convenience, it has many uses! The “Color Master Box” can keep your fabrics organized and neatly displayed for easy finding, or you can share the love because it’s perfectly curated in a box for an easy present!

Too excited to get straight to the fabric?! Well, we have some exciting news for you! You can get the “Cloud & Sky” edition in a BUNDLE. If you missed our big reveal on our social media last week, we now offer our Color Masters in both BOX and BUNDLE! The bundle option is there for anyone ready to be cut and be sewn right away, also available in FQ or HY!

If you're a fabric lover or know one in your life, these group of fabrics would be the perfect gift or you treat you yourself by finding them in our online stores. If you’re creating a sewing project using a “Color Master,” please feel free to share it with us on social media and join the rest of the community sewing with these fabrics!

Sew with love,

Jannelle

 

 

 

 

 


The Magic of Quilting- How to Make a "Domino and Star" Quilt Block featuring Lugu Fabrics

How-to-Domino-and-Star-Block--Tutorial.

Hello Makers,

Whooo is ready for another quilt block tutorial?! Me me me! I am especially excited about this new block tutorial because I got to sew with Jessica Swift’s new fabric collection called Lugu. All the prints in this collection are gorgeous, ranging from magical moons, moths, festive deer and florals and my favorite which I think is the star of the collection the Sova owl print! It comes in two great colors ways.

Swatches

I fussy cut Mr. Owl to be in the center of my “ Domino and Star” Block, a fun, beginner-friendly block that is pretty easy to whip up. This playful, whimsical collection would be perfect for nursery/children's room decor or for those who just want to add a bit of quirkiness and eccentric style to any room you're trying to fill.

Give my video a view below and make sure to leave me a comment! Also, make sure to check out all the other block tutorials in our AGF Quilt Block Collection Playlist!

 

To end my blog post for today I wanted to share a personal quilting story with you.

I had the privilege to sew up the Free Quilt Pattern for the Lugu Lookbook called Owl’s Tale. Not only did the beautiful colors in this collection bring me joy but the delightful, carefree illustrations brought my mind into a magical place. I started this quilt two days before I got the call that my Dad wasn’t doing well and was being brought to the hospital and that I should fly home to Minnesota immediately. My Dad was diagnosed with stage four Pancreatic cancer four and a half weeks prior to this. With my heart in my throat, I packed a quick bag and made sure to pack my Lugu fabrics. That same day I got to Minnesota and was able to talk to my Dad for the last time. The very next morning he passed away. We didn’t think that this was going to be the end but it was. That same day we came home from the hospital after his passing I went straight to my Mom’s basement where the sewing machine resides. Shocked and filled with about every single emotion you can think of I start to sew this quilt. I sewed for hours and hours, with tears running down my face. The only thing holding me together was the sewing machine and the fabric running through my hands. Sewing brings me so much joy and even in the time of just about the worst heartbreak you can endure sewing was the only thing could console me.  

Me and Lugu Block

Here I am my last night in Minnesota holding up one of the blocks of the quilt. This quilt and fabric collection will always remind me of my Dad. I can’t thank Jessica Swift enough for making such inspiring fabrics and I am beyond thankful for the art of sewing, this creative outlet has saved me in so many ways.  To see the finished quilt make sure to check out our new Fabric Lookbook!

Lugu Quilt

I know many of you have stories to share both sad and happy and everything in between. I would love to hear them if you are willing to tell. I just felt like my story needed to be told because even as devastating as my experience was I know everyone has or will go through something like this in their life. Sewing/ quilting is more than just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle, it feeds your soul and changes you in ways you wouldn't have expected. I will leave you all with this find out what makes you happy and do it every day, love with all your heart and have no regrets. It’s how my Dad lived and it’s how I plan to live the rest of mine.

Happy Sewing,

Melissa