Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hello, Makers! 

Coming back this week with another tutorial, if you missed what we spoke about last time, make sure to check out my Reverse Applique Flower Patch tutorial! As many of you may or may not know, my quilting journey started pretty recently as I dove headfirst into this industry and fell in love with fabrics! As I progressed my skills in the quilting world, my research was always intense as I was craving to learn more about it every week. One of my favorite things I learned about was Fussy Cutting! Which is a technique of choosing a bit of a print to highlight when you cut around it and place your patchwork project. 

When I first learned about it, the concept seemed so easy! Just cut out your design on the fabric, right? It wasn't until I finally brought the fabrics to the cutting board that I realized there is more to it than meets the eye. 

Using Maureen Cracknell's "Autumn Vibes" fabric collection in the print "Foxes in Fall" and Bonnie Christine "Lambkin" fabric collection in the print "Little Entomologist" was the perfect example for me to demonstrate this technique.

Also, please note that if you plan to do a lot of fussy cutting, it may require to use of more fabric since you are only cutting out one design at a time. 

In order to have your desired piece of print on your block, you first need to measure the size of the square you need to cut. 

For example, on the print "Foxes in Fall", the fox print measures about 3¼’’ x 2½’’, so if you want to fussy cut this print, I would suggest measuring with a ruler and cutting it at 4½’’ x 4½’’ square. This way, when you sew your project at a ¼’’ seam allowance, you’ll still have your fox print intact. 

You can also use the fussy cut technique with any EPP projects. For example, to cut Bonnie Christine’s print in "Little Entomologist" you can fussy cut the insects with hexies templates. 

The fun thing about this print is that you can play around with the insect’s direction when constructing your project.  Make sure to center your hexie template and cut ¼’’ bigger than the template so you can have enough fabric to fold over with working your EPP project.

When they say "Measure twice, cut once" they couldn't be any more accurate for this technique, and it's the quote you have to live by when fussing cutting! Practice always makes perfect, so I gathered some of my favorite free sewing patterns from AGF's website where you can take this skill and apply it to other projects. 

Have fun cutting your favorite elements in our "Luna & Laurel" fabrics to create these coasters! 

Here some bonus patterns like this cradle arranger where you can fussy cut our Pine Lullaby Rediscovered PANEL print or enjoy some English Paper Piecing to create our Buttercup Necklace! 

Download Pattern Here

Download Pattern Here

I hope you enjoyed my brief breakdown, and if you have any other tips for this technique, please share them in the comments below! As a beginner, I am always shocked by the tips I find every day, so If you have anything to share, I'd love to read it. 

Until next time,

Happy sewing!

- Jannelle 

Hi, Makers!

As of lately, I've been getting urges to work on some handmade items that are filled with details! I don't know about you, but sometimes I don't want to create something large, but focus on a project that I can dedicate time to pack as much texture and details as possible. This brings to today's tutorial that I'm really excited to share, these Reverse Applique Flowers that just hit the mark for me creatively. Reverse Applique is the process of stitching fabric on top of each other, cutting the layer above to reveal the fabric underneath. Have fun sewing with the pretty and bright PURE Solids fabric, lots of stitching, cutting with small scissors, and most importantly the creative freedom to add whatever you want to it! 

Let's get started!

Fabric requirements:

You can use either fat eighths or scraps of fabrics for this project, customize your flower to your liking or just follow our suggestions to have the same results as in this tutorial.

If you decide to follow our suggestions you’ll need six (6) different fabrics for each flower (DOWNLOAD FLOWER TEMPLATE HERE):

• Three (3) different hues of the same color for the petal.
• One (1) color for the stigma.
• One (1) color for the leaves.
• One (1) contrasting color or black for the stroke.

EXTRA MATERIALS

• Different colors of thread go together with your fabric choices.
• Small scissors.
• Steam-A-Seam.
• Tweezers.
• Hand needle.
• Fabric marker.

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS:

• One (1) Template circle from each fabric.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Feel free to draw your own pattern or use ours.
• Take the six circles needed for the blue flower, each circle will be one layer of the flower.
• Start placing and aligning the circles together in the order ABFCDE.

• Topstitch all the way around the circle as close to the edge as possible to keep all the fabrics together, no further than ¼” from the edge.

• Place the template flower on the top of the layers of circles, align it to its best position and then sew on both sides of the darker green as shown in the diagram below.

• Cut the sewn template and carefully remove the paper after.

• Now, it’s time to start carefully cutting the layers of fabric using small scissors to reveal your flower.
• Every time you are cutting a layer of fabric you want to make sure that you are cutting just that layer and that you are not grabbing any other layers underneath, I used my tweezers and hand needle to make sure I wasn’t grabbing any layers I wasn't supposed to.
• Start cutting fabric A inside the stigma, leaves, and petals, to reveal fabric B underneath.
• Since fabric B is the one we are using for the leaves, you don't want to go further with it.

• Move on with the stigma and petals.
• Again, make sure that you are cutting just the next layer.
• Use your small scissors to cut fabric B inside the stigma and petals, to reveal fabric F underneath.
• Since fabric F is the one we are using for the leaves, you don't want to go further with it.

• Move on with the petals.
• Use your small scissors to cut fabric F inside the petals, to reveal fabric C underneath.

• To create some highlights to your flower, use your fabric marker to free-hand draw where you’ll like to expose the color underneath to create some highlights.
• Stitch on top of the drawn line with a blue contrasting thread.

• Use your small scissors to cut fabric C inside the petals, to reveal fabric D underneath.

• Draw one more time inside the petals the last layer (fabric E)
• Stitch on top of the drawn line with a blue contrasting thread.

• This time you’ll need to cut two layers of fabrics (C&D) one by one to reveal fabric E.
• Use your small scissors to cut fabric C inside the petals, to reveal fabric D underneath.
• Then cut fabric D to reveal fabric E underneath.

• If you'd like, you can just leave the flower as it is now, or if you feel like taking an extra step add details like beads and sequins, or also you can draw details with your sewing machine or hand stitching.

• To finish your patch, trim the excess fabric around the flower patch and leave the raw edges exposed.
• Voila! Your patch is ready to be pasted on any fabric surface that you’d like (backpack, jeans, jacket, tote, pillow, etc..)
• You can hand stich or machine stitch it.

The options with this technique can be applied to any template you create! Have fun with it and play around with the different colors, and applying it to any patchwork project! 

Since quilted coats have been trending on Instagram, I got the idea to add them to my coat. I thought it would be perfect since my coat neutral and these flowers would really pop! But I also can see these applied to your quilts, table runners, and quilted pillows as well, especially since spring is around the corner.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and if you make this project, please tag us on social media under the hashtag #artgalleryfabrics, the AGF team and I would love to see it. 

Until next time,

Happy sewing!

-Jannelle

Happy Friday, makers! 

The weekend is almost here and if you haven’t already, this is a friendly reminder to take a moment and breathe. Life can get a little crazy sometimes, and I believe it’s really important to find time for yourself and have some quality time with your sewing machine. Today, I’m excited to show you something new on the table, that brings me right into my happy place- low volume fabrics. If you’re not sure what that is, let me explain… they are usually white, cream, neutral fabrics that have subtle designs. You may have seen some before, but you’ve never seen Soften The Volume fabrics, a collection giving low volume prints a whole new twist with warm and cozy caramel tones! 

*Available in 10 quilting cotton prints

Modern prints meet sophisticated neutrals, where every individual print has a unique pattern! These fabrics are extremely versatile and beginner-friendly because it takes out all the thinking from deciding on what prints you should pick, as they all work together. 

Immediately when I saw this collection, it provoked a feeling that is easier to put in pictures than into words. Above, I made a mood board and tried to grasp some pictures that made me feel as cozy, and warm as the fabrics did. As a fabric lover, I’m sure you encountered some lovely fabric bundles on Instagram and instantly thought, “This quilt pattern would be perfect for this bundle!” or “These fabrics would be a beautiful addition to my home!” and for me, I thought of both when I saw this collection, haha! There is nothing in the world that makes your house feel like home like handmade items. I want to surround myself with calming neutral colors, soft textures from all kinds of patchwork projects that I can make with this collection. Also, if you are like me, I need to visually see how a project will turn out to start, so I hope you find this mood board helpful, to allow you to visualize what these fabrics can look like in your home. 

*Featuring prints: Sashiko Mending, Petal Trellis, and Brushed Fibers.

I wanted to show you a close-up of these fabrics too because that’s part of the magic! Together, the prints blend seamlessly, making your projects come together, but once you step a little closer, you’ll see all the beautiful details. Enjoy these fabrics with other bright collections too because they serve as great blenders which allow your other prints to stand out! 

If you’re looking to add more texture or you have a couple of AGF Elements (blenders) in your stash that you’d like to incorporate, check out these picks: 

*Featuring AGF Denim in Nectarine sunrise and adobe clay, Floral Elements in Khaki, or the Decostich Element in Cafe Latte.  

More matching Elements not pictured:

PURE Solids: Creme da la Creme, Sandstone, Vanilla Custard, Toasty Walnut, Gentle Feather, and Mink.

Decostitch Elements: Cloud

Floral Elements: Winter Wheat & Sand

Nature Elements: Natural 

Discover more sewing inspiration in our Soften The Volume Fabric Lookbook, linked below!

Experience our latest collection, Soften The Volume, as if the fabrics were right in front of you in our YouTube segment “Let’s Talk Fabric”! Featuring close-ups of every print like if you had the fabrics in your hands, on your sewing table, taking in all the beautiful details of this collection. Find tons of projects that you can create in this video from comfy eye-masks, sweet home-decor, and more. Just click play, relax, and prepare to be inspired! 

Enjoy creating our “Woven Rattan” free quilt pattern below that will transport your favorite cozy room in your home while reading a book by a freshly lit candle!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Get your hands on this essential collection and enter for a chance to win a Fat Quarter bundle of  Soften The Volume by CLICKING HERE! It’s so simple to enter, all you need is an email that you can fill in. The giveaway ends on Friday, March 12, and the winner will be emailed and announced right here on the blog. 

Please reply within 7 days to claim your prize (check your email on March 12!) If we don’t receive a reply, we will have to choose another winner as we’d like to be fair with all participants, and pass the opportunity to another contestant. Thank you! 

THE WINNER IS LISA PARK! PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO REDEEM YOUR PRIZE! 

If you have this collection and you want to share your creations, make sure to tag us on social media and use the hashtag #AGFSoftenTheVolume, so we can share the love! I hope you get the chance to take a breather and enjoy your sewing session. Thank you for coming along on this journey with me, and let me know what you’re looking forward to sewing with this collection in the comments below. 

Until next time,

Happy Sewing!

-Jannelle 

Hello my fellow makers!

Today we will talk about the Flat Felled Seam, a seam that lays flat on the right and wrong sides of your project. It is famously known for its strength and beauty. You can find it in your daily life on the sides of your jeans, in men’s shirts, and even in outdoor gear like camping tents. Also, you can find it in a more sacred place like the Pojagi patchwork, a Korean artform that uses improvisational piecing joined by hand sewn flat felled seams. Pojagi pieces are used to wrap special presents, protect sacred writings, and even carry important possessions on a journey. Depending on the size it could be used as a table cloth or a curtain. Wrapping a gift in a Pojagi piece communicates respect towards the object and good will towards the recipient.

I decided to make a 24” x 24” machine sewn Pojagi inspired piece using Pure Solids, Floral Elements, Deco Stitch Elements, and Rayon. I love that it looks like stained glass in front of my window, and how it changes colors depending on how the light hits it as the sun moves during the day. The funniest part is that subconsciously I chose the colors that perfectly match Kobi, my furry assistant.

Pojagi Inspired Piece & Kobi

Top Left Corner

Bottom Right Corner

Whole Piece

Lets begin:

• Lay your pieces flat on the table:

• Align them wrong sides together and stitch at ⅝” from the edge:

• Trim one seam allowance (fabric B) to ¼” from the stitched line:

• Open your fabric and press the seam allowances towards fabric A:

• Fold and press the seam allowance from fabric A (⅝”) towards the stitch line covering the seam allowance from fabric B:

• Press the seam allowances towards fabric B:

• Edge-stitch the seam allowance in place:

• The wrong side of your seam should look like this:

Here I am sharing with you one last picture but this time is not with my furry assistant, but with the boss of the house who seems to approve and like my project ;) Once again my piece also matches my daughter's PJs. It seems we have a color trend in this house, now that I think about it my husband has red hair, but he wouldn't pose for my post lol.

Get on the Flat Felled Seam making bandwagon! Whether it is making cool jeans or exploring your Pojagi improvisational abilities. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and please share your thoughts with me!

Laucara

Hello Makers, 

Are you staying warm? With Minnesota reaching well into the negative degrees Fahrenheit, having to go outside is chilling to the bone. Anytime it's winter, I always take the opportunity to use Art Gallery Fabrics substrates, because they are just the best to sew with. While I was looking through my fabric stash, I saw these lovely rayon prints in “Manhattan’s Foliage” by Bari J., “Honey”, and “Soleil Stripes” that I had to use! I was inspired by all the puffy accessories being created that I thought it would be a great idea to create my own version of a puffy scarf. This luxurious substrate is super soft against the skin yet durable and perfect for creating accessories and apparel!

With an amazing drape, incredible colors, and prints to choose from, the hardest part will be choosing a favorite. I couldn't just choose one either, so I choose to use up all of the rayon I had to make one for myself, my sister, and her husband! 

I am so happy about the end result! There were people walking by us while filming asking about where we got our scarves from, and what a good feeling it was to say that it was HANDMADE! This puffy scarf is super easy to make, and you'll have fun sewing it. 

Here are the materials Needed: 

-One Yard of Art Gallery Fabrics Rayon

-Poly-fil 

-Woven Interfacing

-Matching Thread

 Enjoy my video tutorial below, and if you have any questions, please let them in the comments below.

Happy Sewing, 

Melissa 

Is anyone else a Spring baby? My birthday is at the end of March, and of course, Springtime is one of my favorite times of the year! Last year during spring, the world turned upside down and we can all admit it has been a wild ride, but I’m so thankful to have found a new hobby that brought me joy to my life- Gardening! I started my gardening journey 6 months ago, by creating my own little raised bed in my backyard, and as soon as my first tomato seed sprouted, I fell in love. Now that spring season is around the corner, I am so excited to share that I should be harvesting some juicy tomatoes soon. The reason I brought this up today is that as soon as I saw Jessica Swift’s POLLINATE fabric collection, it brought me to a special place of happiness. Pollinate is enriched in bold colors, singing birds, and cheerful florals, signifying everything I have to look forward to in the upcoming season. 

Today couldn’t be any more perfect, as we share the details and beauty of this collection. Wait till you see all the amazing quilts and talented makers involved in this lookbook, and you’ll be looking forward to something too! Now with these fabrics, you can bring the wonders of nature right into your sewing room.

*Available in 12 quilting cotton prints

In our lookbooks, we love to give our designer’s a questionnaire, so we can know the lovely story about their collection. When I received Jessica Swift’s answers back, It was such a joy to find out that she was inspired by the gardens magically sprouting through this season. It’s always nice to hear where others get their inspiration from, especially since she lives on the (Pacific Northwest) opposite side of the country than me! 

*Featuring prints: Springbloom, Windscatter, and Planted Perfection.

Did you know that the first print created in this collection was “Springbloom”? It’s one of my favorites, the deep blue background and the pops of pink and orange are so eye-catching! One of the best parts of these fabrics is the variety of prints offered, from large-scaled florals like “Abundant Meadow” and the small & playful blenders like “Windscatter” and “Planted Perfection” make every print work amazing together. 

*Windsong Joy in Knit

*Seedmap Dim in Rayon

Use these refreshing prints for any patchwork project to bring out the season’s bliss. Not only do you have 12 quilting cotton prints to play with, but there is also 1 knit & rayon print to create an endless amount of home decor, DIY accessories, and apparel!  

Here are some of our matching Elements (blenders) suggestions that pairs perfectly with Pollinate fabrics: 

*Featuring Pure Solids in Ocean Waves & Tigerlilly, Oval Elements in Crocus, Squared Elements in Kings Road Lemon.

More matching Elements not pictured:

PURE Solids: Lemonade, Apricot Crepe, Nocturnal, Raspberry Rose, Peach Sherbet, Sweet Pink, and Crystalline.

Oval Elements: Chartreuse

Take a look at all the projects made with this collection by checking out the lookbook below for tons of sewing content! 

View our blooming “Wild Flowers” free quilt pattern below!

DOWNLOAD HERE

Get your hands on the perfect spring collection and enter for a chance to win a Fat Quarter bundle of Pollinate by CLICKING HERE! It’s so simple to enter, all you need is an email that you can fill in. The giveaway ends on Friday, February 19, and the winner will be emailed and announced right here on the blog. 

THE WINNER IS SUZ GREEN! CONGRATS! PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO REDEEM YOUR PRIZE

For every collection, we have a hashtag, so if you are ever wondering what other makers are creating with a fabric collection, you can always search for the hashtag on social media! All you have to do is look up #AGF + the collection name, for example, Pollinate’s hashtag is #AGFPollinate. So, make sure you share with us what you’re up to with this collection, and you never know, you might be even featured on our #AGFMakerMonday spotlight! Thank you for coming along on this journey with me, and let me know what you’re looking forward to sewing with this collection in the comments below. 

Until next time,

Happy Sewing!

-Jannelle