Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Are you a fabric fanatic? Can you remember the first time you were introduced to the magic of fabric and creating something out of it? How did you feel?

I don’t know about you but I don’t think I could be without fabric or give up the process of making something out of this precious material. Creating with fabric for me is just as important as food, fresh water, and shelter. It has become a basic necessity in my life and I know many of you feel the same way.  Which is why I am so excited to introduce AGF Fabric Haul Videos to our YOUTUBE channel!

If you have missed out on my very first Fabric Hauls here are three videos to check out!

Summer Side Fabrics by Dana Willard

Mystical Land by Maureen Cracknell

Everlasting by Sharon Holland

In these videos, you get an up close and personal look at all the prints offered in each collection with a wide variety of quilting cotton, knits, and rayon.

Ever have troubles finding the right solid colors to mix and match back with your sewing projects? In these videos, we also go through hand-selected  AGF PURE SOLIDS that match the prints in each collection perfectly to add just the right amount of contrast to your quilting and sewing projects!

Learn about free quilt patterns and get ideas on what to make by checking out our NEW Fabric Haul videos! To get you even more excited each Fabric Haul video has a special surprise at the end of each video. To join in on the fun head to our Youtube Channel!

Stay tuned for our next Fabric Haul video featuring Bloomsbury by Bari J.

Happy Sewing,

Meli

Hello my friends,

Do you love to show off complex looking projects that are truly easy to make? If so, me too! For the romantic and delicate Everlasting collection, we will be making an 18" pillow top combining the improvisational and the strip piecing techniques.

Just so you know, the reason this tutorial is called "Striped Landscape" is because once I finished it, it reminded me of the vacation I want to take in a quiet beach with beautiful sunsets! ;)

The featured fabrics are Something Blue (Fabric A), Creme de la Creme (Fabric B), Snow (Fabric C), and Cherished Wishes (Fabric D).

Start by creating two simple blocks that measure at least 21" x 21". Since you will be trimming a lot, it is better to start with bigger pieces and have room for error.

Improvisational Piecing:

Align both fabrics facing you, and using the rotary cutter make an improvised curve.

Remove excess fabric and mark strategic points to use as guides while joining your pieces.

The edges won't match after sewing, so don't worry, just trim the imperfections.

Strip Piecing:

Once you have made both blocks, square them to the same size.

Start cutting each block into 1" strips, keeping them in order.

Intercalate one strip from block 1 and one strip from block 2 and place them to one side.

You will start seeing how both blocks come together into one beautiful pillow top.

After all your strips are joined, press and square.

The fun thing about strip piecing is that it can be used with many piecing methods. Do you enjoy improvising, or do you prefer accurate techniques?

Happy landscape making!

- Laucara

Hello makers,

The last few days, I’ve decided to tackle something I never thought I would try (at least by myself)... sewing on the sewing machine. As a kid, my grandma loved to sew but she never used a sewing machine, everything she ever did was by hand, and she passed those skills down to me. Growing up, she would have me sit next to her on her bed, set down a pile of socks, shirts, pants, anything with holes, and have me sew up the holes to practice. I really enjoyed that time with my grandma, it was more than just sewing but it was all the stories she would share with me. Thanks to her, I could really appreciate the industry I work in and it gave me that extra courage to try to learn more than just stitching up holes on socks.

When I first started working here, “Meli” from our Production Team suggested a great idea to have everyone in the office to join the Community Sampler Sew-a-long, and with her assistance, I used a sewing machine for the first time and made a pretty good, half quilt block (if I say so myself!) This past weekend, while the girls went to Quilt Market, I was taking some lovely pictures of Sharon Holland’s latest collection “Everlasting,” and I thought it would be a great idea to have some pieces cut and laid out for a picture. My first extinct was, let me watch a YouTube video of our  #AGFQuiltBlockCollection, so I know what sizes to cut out for this picture. As I cut the pieces I said to myself, “I’ve gotten this far, let me just try to sew the pieces together!” I checked the sewing machine and luckily it was already set up...I knew this was a sign to just go for it.

Here’s what began as a quick 30-minute project, to a 3-hour project. I cut out all my pieces keeping in mind what Meli told me the first time I did a quilt block with her, that I need to square up my pieces before I start. Then the part I was dreading, sewing the pieces together… I sewed my first HST and I was pretty proud of it! Perfect ¼ inch seam allowance- I gained some confidence!

Sewing straight lines were clearly my downfall, but the more I did it, the better I was getting at it. At this point, I was really happy with what I had on the table. I even did some chain piecing!!

Things started to get a little wonky when I had larger pieces, as my ¼ seam allowance started to become a little more than it should have been. Let’s just say the seam ripper and I had a lot of time to get to know each other!

By the time I started laying out my pieces, my mistakes were really showing but I was impressed at myself that I had gotten this far. One really important thing I realized while putting the pieces together was that I found myself really trying to match the edges instead of matching the seams.

Unfortunately, I noticed this a little too late, as you see above, my first attempt at sewing the rows together...nothing seemed to be lining up. The second attempt, I matched the seams, and it looked much better! Before I knew it, I was done and I was really excited to show the girls my first attempt on sewing a quilt block by myself.

Yes, it took forever, but I learned a lot! Here some key points I learned from this experience:

• Take the time to cut your pieces accurately
• ¼ seam allowance is very important
• Press your seams after every stitch
• Match your seams, not the edges of your pieces
• Label your fabrics, things can get a little disorganized
• Pin. Pin. Pin.
• Layout your fabrics before sewing them together
• Accurately square up your blocks

Lastly, be proud of your mistakes because they only make you better! I know this wasn’t exactly the easiest block (found this out afterward) to sew for the first time but it made me realize what I’m capable of. If you have any tips that I didn’t mention above, please let me know in the comments below. I am happy I did this and I can’t wait to try more things, as I dive into this sewing world. If you’re a beginner sewist like me, I hope this encouraged you to be brave too!

Good luck and happy sewing,

Jannelle

"The story behind my new collection is definitely a love story inspired by my daughter,  Anna. She reminds me, in so many ways, of all the joys of summer. A large part of this collection celebrates her June wedding, so you'll discover several of the fabrics aptly reference marriage, but you'll also find some special memories from my childhood woven in as well. For example, the print called 'Summer’s Dream' plays tribute to my favorite bird—the swallow. I have sweet memories of watching the swallows follow and swoop around my father as he mowed the lawn on a summer’s evening." - Sharon Holland. 

Our designer Sharon Holland always creates a collection that's the perfect mix of modern meets vintage. Combining her talents in photography, drawing, painting, and designing...she consistently creates fabrics that are delicate and timeless. For her latest collection "Everlasting," she was inspired by her daughter Anna's wedding and celebrates love, family traditions, and all the joys of summer.

Comprised of sweet and ethereal prints and grounded in a color palette of true red, ivory, and of course...something blue, these fabrics can be used for wedding quilts, home decor, unique accessories, dresses, skirts, and bridal robes!

Ranging in several substrates to choose from, you’ll discover gorgeous bouquets, fluttering birds, and ditsy details like hearts and polka dots. This collection offers three, different knits that come in a bold blue floral, little flowers with a red background, and buzzing dragonflies which can pair greatly with summery dresses, tees, tanks, and even quilts! 

For rayon, it comes in this gorgeous, dainty flowers that are perfect for vintage meets modern inspired silhouettes! 

Sharon even designed this "Lily Pond Quilt" using her fabrics!

Lily Pond Quilt - Download Free Pattern

Enter a chance to win this fabulous, fabric bundle by signing up to our giveaway:

Congratulations to our winner Sharon Aurora! Please check your email. :)

*Once you have entered the giveaway it's normal for your information to disappear. To confirm your entry check your email for a confirmation and approve it. By entering our giveaway you'll be automatically signed up for our newsletters. Don't worry, we don't spam!*

Hello my friends!

How about mixing and matching traditional techniques with the dreamy and mythological fabrics from Mystical Land?! Today, we will be using 2 1/2" strips to create an Irish Chain look using the Bargello technique.

The featured fabrics are Magical Fauna Mystique (Fabric A), Secret Seeds Whisper (Fabric B), Secret Seeds Solar (Fabric C), Enchanted Flora Ablush (Fabric D), and Snow (Fabric E).

To make this 20" x 20" block you will need 1/6 of a yard of each fabric.

Cut width of fabric x 2 1/2" strips from each fabric, then join the strips into a strip set: E-D-C-B-A

Join the unsewn edge from fabric A to the unsewn edge from fabric E creating a fabric tube. 

Bargello Technique

Subdivide the fabric tube in 2 1/2" tube strips, and do the following:

For strip 1, rip the seam between fabrics A and B

For strip 2, rip the seam between fabrics B and C

For strip 3, rip the seam between fabrics C and D

For strip 4, rip the seam between fabrics D and E

For strip 5, rip the seam between fabrics E and A

Each block will be composed of two equal rows: 2 x (1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1)

Join both rows making sure fabric A meets in the center of the block, and enjoy your Irish Chain looking block using the Bargello technique <3.

Each block will have a finished size of 20" x 20" so to make an amazing 80" x 80" quilt top, all you have to do is make the block sixteen (16) times and join them into four (4) rows of four (4). You would need 1 3/8 yard of each fabric.

Who would you make this mystical quilt for?

Happy Irish Chain making :)

Laucara

"Scatter Wood" print in cotton // April Rhodes' Arizona After Collection 

Hi Jessica! Congratulations on being our May "AGF Maker Monday" feature! Can you please tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into sewing?

Hi, I’m very excited to be here! I actually come from a Fine Arts background. I’m a painter who was finding it hard to fit painting into my new life when we first started our family. Those erratic and random length naps were not great for paint drying and bursts of inspiration. I was used to having big blocks of time to work and this new schedule wasn’t working for me. Mothering came first, but I still needed and craved that daily creative outlet, so I started teaching myself to sew at this time. I found it was easy to set down and pick back up without frustration, whenever I had the time, even if just for a few minutes at a time. I was working with my hands and that’s what I needed.

What are you inspired by?

I’m constantly inspired by the world around me. Nature and all its intricacies have always been a huge inspiration to me. The way its ceaseless color, textures, and shapes play together never bores me. I’ve always been drawn to the relationships of color and texture. Instagram has been amazing for pattern inspiration. I love having the ability to see a pattern on many people of all shapes, sizes, and color right at my fingertips. It’s a priceless tool when forming wardrobe plans.

Describe your personal style.

I’d say my personal style is a bit eclectic, playful, low key maximalism. I’m always drawn to garment patterns with clean, simple lines which really let the fabrics shine. My fabric choices are typically very textural with saturated, bold color. I really enjoy monochromatic pairings, when layering. You’ll rarely find any solid colors or neutrals in my closet or stash.

When did you begin creating garments?

I was sewing for several years before turning to garments for myself. I had been running a handmade children’s clothing and accessories business I created. This is where my Instagram name actually came from. When my fifth child arrived, I knew I needed to scale some things back due to family needs and made the hard choice to stop my children’s line. That decision has morphed into making myself the “wardrobe of my dreams,” piece by piece, and then teaching. It’s opened up lots of opportunities for me, and I’ve never ever regretted the change of direction.

You're a mother to five, an artist, instructor, and a maker..how do balance home and creative life?

To me, the two have always been intertwined together. I could not be a good mother if I were not creating. Creativity is a part of who I am so I can feel settled and fulfilled. I’m lucky to have an expressive family of makers, so we are often found working on projects in tandem. Learning to work around the needs of my family, at this stage of our lives, honestly means I probably sleep less than I maybe should. In the end, all of life is a trade-off of finding the best way to live and do the things that fuel and inspire us, this is no different.

What substrates do you usually prefer to sew with?

Oh, I LOVE rayon. It’s a little tricky to cut, but once you’re past that, it’s an absolute dream to wear. It may sound silly, but I feel extra good about myself when wearing rayon, somehow fancier and more elegant. I’m forever drawn to linen. I love the texture and shapes it holds, you can easily print on it, with age it just keeps getting softer and better. I’m also keen to sew garments from quilting cotton. I often choose Art Gallery’s because of the nice weight of the quilting cotton. When paired with an appropriate pattern, they turn out splendid, are easy to care for, and have all the fun prints.

What does "slow living" mean to you?

Slow living to me would be seeing all the good you have in your life day to day. Enjoying the simple thing, while still taking time to dream and putting in the effort to cultivate them. Appreciating the things you might miss if you’re rushing through life - a new flower bud opening, the way shadows dance, your favorite color in nature. I think it’s slowly building a wardrobe because you’ve taken the time to plan and chose what you’ll use and wear most, rather than jumping on every trend or making, just to make.

If you had to wear one outfit forever, it would be...

This is the hardest question. Ahh! It would obviously be a dress.... and a pair of leggings because those two staples can carry me through an entire year of layered dressing. It would be a pretty shade of blue in maybe a botanical or graphic print. I never get bored of blue, it’s my favorite color.

5 things you can't live without.

My family, sunshine, fresh paints, plants...gimme all the plants and pizza!

Where can other makers' find your work?

You can follow along with me on instagram.com/kunklebaby

"Aura Fletchings" print in knit // Maureen Cracknell's Nightfall Collection 

"Treasured Kermes" print in rayon // April Rhodes' Heritage Collection 

"Lunation Bright" print in knit // Maureen Cracknell's Nightfall Collection

"Floral Universe Turquoise" print in rayon // Maureen Cracknell's Soulful Collection

 Indigo Window Crystal print in voile // April Rhodes' Observer Collection

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Since we wanted to thank Jessica and she told us that she LOVES "blue tones and rayon," we're sending her 3 yards of "Meadow Dim" print in rayon from Pat Bravo's collection, "Indie Folk!" :)

Next month, we'll be picking another talented maker and announcing them via our blog/social media. For a chance to be featured, keep posting and sharing your beautiful handmade makes with us using the hashtag #AGFMakerMonday or #artgalleryfabrics.

Good luck and keep creating!