Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hi Quilters,

Welcome to week 6 (and the final week!) of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along.

This is your week!  All the hard work is done, and you should have a finished quilt top.  I know this is such a busy time of year, so please don't worry if you are behind or haven't finished.  You can finish your quilt when it is the right time, or take next week to catch up!

If you are ready to finish your quilt, here are some helpful tips and tutorials to guide you through quilting your quilt top and adding the final touch—binding!

For my cover version, I didn't have time to get it long-armed. But I created a simple "wave" template using an 18" x 4" piece of cardboard.  I simply drew a wavy line with a marker and then cut out the template. 

Agnes is enjoying the quilt marking process and sitting on my template!

The beauty of wavy lines is that you can be as organic or precise as you want.  I've even made quilts where I just quilt as I go, making the waves imperfectly.  That is the best when you want to have a very organic, unique look!

If I'm trying to be precise, I like to use a Hera marker to mark my quilts.  This little piece of plastic creases the fabric and ensures no lines will be left behind.  If you prefer to use an air or heat-erasable pen, I do recommend testing it on scrap fabric first.  I've had instances where residue will stay behind, and it's better to be safe than sorry.

If you are going to be sending in your quilt for long-arming services (and have never done that before), I've linked a blog post on how to best prepare your quilt.  You can read the blog post here.

One of the final steps before quilting your quilt is preparing the backing. For mine, I chose the stunning 'Floral Universe Midnight' print from the True Blue collection by AGF designer Maureen Cracknell.

And if you need help with binding, don't worry---I've got you!  I recommend this binding tutorial by Suzy Williams, one of the talented AGF designers!  It's how I first learned to bind a quilt, and I found it so helpful.  You can watch the video here.

Thank you so much for being part of Art Gallery Fabrics' first sew-along.  I hope you have enjoyed making this quilt and maybe even learned something new along the way.  The best part of quilting is growing in confidence.

**Now for the FINAL PRIZE**

This week we will have TWO prizes and TWO winners!  Yes, that's right!  Two lucky quilters will win a prize.

The first prize is to have your quilt long-armed professionally by Joyce of Eva Mae Custom Quilts.  I send almost all my quilts to Joyce and am never disappointed with her beautiful work.

And another winner will win the grand prize of an Arrow Sewing Chair!  I'm so proud to be an ambassador for Arrow and was so grateful when they agreed to be a sponsor.

You will love this sewing chair and wonder how you ever got along without it!  I'm so excited for one of you to win this amazing prize.

To enter the giveaway:

Sign up to the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here
If you're on Instagram - Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics
If you're on Facebook - Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Leave the comment: "Summer Jubilee Sewalong" right here in the comment section of the blog.

I'll be drawing a winner first thing on Monday, June 9th. Entries close at midnight, June 8th.

Come join our public Facebook group! It’s the perfect place to share your fabric pulls, introduce yourself, and ask any questions along the way. Click below to join.

Join the Facebook Group

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

Thank you and Happy Quilting, 

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics

Hi Quilters!

Welcome to week 5 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

We are almost to the finish line.  By now, you have made all of the blocks, and now it is time to assemble your quilt top!

This will be an easy and fun week.

If you didn't press your blocks as you were making them, now is the time to do that.  Pressed blocks sew together better. 

I recommend pressing the seams open as indicated in the pattern, but if you press your seams to the side, you can get flatter seams by placing the blocks under a heavy book to really set the seams.

Another tip I learned about is to sew your first three rows together, then use a safety pin to mark the top.  Set it aside and then sew your bottom three rows together.  Your final seam will be sewing the two halves together.

Doing this makes sewing the top more manageable.  When I was first learning to quilt, I would just sew row to row until I got to the bottom.  But my quilt top would pull from all the weight on one side and get so wrinkled as I crunched it under the neck of the machine.  

Sewing the top in two halves is so much easier, and your quilt top gets less wrinkled.

Once your top is made, I do recommend cutting any loose threads on the back--especially if you are using a white background and darker colors for your blocks.  This step will help eliminate any rogue threads showing through after it is quilted.

And that's it!  Like I mentioned--an easy week.  And don't worry if you are a little behind, next week is just a chance to catch up and show your work if you did finish.

I would love to see your progress.  If you share photos on Instagram, please be sure to tag me @midlife_quilter and use #SummerJubileeSAL.

***Ready to See This Week’s Prizes?***

This week's prize is batting from Hobbs Batting and an Aurifil thread set that matches the Summer Jubilee Cover Quilt!

I use Hobbs batting in all my quilts and am so happy to share that they donated a Queen Size (90" x 108") Bleached Cotton Batting for one lucky winner.  

The Aurifil Thread set has 5 spools of 28 weight thread that can be used for adding some hand quilting touches to your quilt or for hand binding.

To enter the giveaway:

Sign up to the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here
If you're on Instagram - Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics
If you're on Facebook - Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Leave the comment: "Summer Jubilee Sewalong" right here in the comment section of the blog.

I'll be drawing a winner first thing on Monday, May 26th. Entries close at midnight, May 25th.

Come join our public Facebook group! It’s the perfect place to share your fabric pulls, introduce yourself, and ask any questions along the way. Click below to join.

Join the Facebook Group

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

See you next week, 

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics

Hi Quilters, 

Welcome to Week 4 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

Don’t have your kit yet? No problem — get yours here,  and jump into the fun!

You've done all the heavy lifting.  You've made all the units and are ready to begin assembling the Rosette Blocks.  Hip hip hooray!

From here on out, it's just sewing.  That's the best part, am I right?

The only thing you really need to watch for now is making sure you don't flip around any pieces.

Keep reading, I have a couple of easy, quick tips to help with this.

First, I like to make an entire block first to use as a guide for my other blocks. Once I've assembled the whole block, I snap a quick photo with my phone.  For some reason, I find that I'm much better able to identify any turned around pieces when I see a block in a phone.  I've heard the same from many of my quilting friends.

Once I have confirmed that everything is in the right place, I hang it up over my sewing machine and use it as a guide for organizing all the pieces in my block.

Next, I like to use a tray to lay out all my pieces in the right order and with the right orientation.  I still use my first block as a guide as I go, but it makes the process go faster than if I were grabbing from piles.

If you hadn't used the coloring page on page 11 of the pattern, now would be a good time to go ahead and color that in.  This will help you be sure the blocks turn out exactly as you had in mind.

I hope you enjoy this week.  I find this to be one of the most satisfying weeks.  You have worked so hard, and now you will begin to see some real progress.

Please share pics of your blocks on the Facebook page or on Instagram.  Be sure to use hashtag #SummerJubileeSAL and tag me @midlife_quilter so I don't miss it.  If you have a private page, those tags don't work, but you can always send me pics in messages.  Seeing your work come to life is such a joy for me!

***Now to this week's prize!***

This week's prize is a 22" x 60" wool pressing mat by Novodon.  I received one of these mats earlier this year, and it has been a game changer.  You can put it on a table, and it makes pressing tops so much easier.

To enter the giveaway:

Sign up to the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here
If you're on Instagram - Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics
If you're on Facebook - Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Leave the comment: "Summer Jubilee Sewalong" right here in the comment section of the blog.

I'll be drawing a winner first thing on Monday, May 26th. Entries close at midnight, May 25th.

Come join our public Facebook group! It’s the perfect place to share your fabric pulls, introduce yourself, and ask any questions along the way. Click below to join.

Join the Facebook Group

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

See you again, 

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics

Hi Quilters,

Welcome to Week 3 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

By now, you have made your Starburst blocks, and now we are ready to dive into the Rosette Blocks!

Chain piecing will be your friend this week as we make all the little units that will become the Rosette blocks.

These blocks may feel complicated, but they consist of blocks you are probably already really familiar with:  half square triangles (HSTs) and Flying Geese (FGs).

The HSTs are made 8 at a time, and the FGs are made 4 at a time so you can create the units faster.

This video tutorial by Art Gallery Fabrics is one of the best I've seen on explaining how to make 8 at a time HSTs.  Give it a watch here if you need a refresher or are new to making HSTs with this method.

All the HSTs in this pattern are oversized so you can trim them down to get an accurate HST.  There are many ways to trim HSTs, and I encourage you to share your favorite method for trimming in our Facebook group.

I personally like to press all my HSTs open, then use a square ruler to trim them to the right size.  However, use whichever method you prefer and settle in because there are quite a few to trim.  The extra time will be worth it when all your HSTs are neat and perfect.

There are two types of FGs in this pattern:  a two-color FG and a three-color FG.

The pattern has diagrams to walk you through how to make each, but I have included a video tutorial here on making the three-color FGs, as that is a unique method you may not have tried yet.

Watch the tutorial here.

Don't worry about assembling the Rosette blocks yet.  This week is all about making the units, and next week, we will start the fun of putting our Rosette blocks together.

If you just joined, check out the Week 2 blog post here!

***Now to this week's prize!***

This week's prize is a beautiful tailor's clapper from Modern American Vintage!  I met the owner, Chris, at Quilt Market this year, and he is the nicest man. His whole family helps with his business, and his work is top notch.  He donated this lovely tailor's clapper with a stars & stripes motif for our sew along.  What a great guy!

To enter the giveaway:

Sign up to the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here
If you're on Instagram - Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics
If you're on Facebook - Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Leave the comment: "Summer Jubilee Sewalong" right here in the comment section of the blog.

I'll be drawing a winner first thing on Monday, May 19th. Entries close at midnight, May 18th.

And don't forget to join the public Facebook group. It will be a great place to show your fabric pulls, introduce yourself, and ask any questions that may pop up.  Click the link below to join.

Join the Facebook Group

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

See you soon, 

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics

Hi Quilters,

Welcome to Week 2 of the Summer Jubilee Sew Along!

If you are just joining or haven't chosen fabrics yet, kits are still available HERE.  Grab one while they last!

This week we are cutting our fabrics and will begin assembling the units to make our Starburst blocks.

I love to start with a fresh blade and usually begin with cutting the background first since this usually has the most cuts (and honestly, it keeps me motivated to keep cutting since the prints are the most fun to cut, right?

There are fabric labels provided for you on page 9 of the pattern to keep your cuts organized.  I highly recommend using these labels.  It will make assembling your blocks later so much easier!  I like to use large paperclips or binder clips to keep my pieces together.

Once everything is cut, you can begin sewing your half rectangle triangles and your snowball blocks.

If you are new to making half rectangle triangles (HRTs), I've included a video link below to help guide you through that process.

Watch the Video Tutorial

There are two important things to keep in mind when making HRTs.

1.  You need to be sure to orient the pieces the right way to make the units have the color on the correct side of the block.
2. Make sure to trim them so you have a 1/4" seam allowance.  That's what will get you the sharp points in your Starburst blocks.

The snowball blocks are easy peasy, and the diagrams in the pattern will guide you through those simple blocks.

As always, you can contact me at [email protected] or drop your questions in the Facebook group.

If you just joined, check out the Week 1 blog post here!

***Now to this week's prize!***

This week's sponsor is Omnigrid.  I've been using Omnigrid rulers since I first began quilting.  They have a permanent place on my cutting table.

Omnigrid is providing a 1/4" ruler set and a rotating mat.  This prize will make some of the future sewing so much easier! 

-
To enter the giveaway:

Sign up for the Summer Jubilee Sew Along: Click Here! 

If you're on Instagram - Follow me @midlife_quilter & @artgalleryfabrics

If you're on Facebook - Follow me Midlife Quilter & Art Gallery Fabrics

Comment "Summer Sewalong" in the comments below to be entered.  The winner will be drawn on Monday, May 12th.  Entries close at midnight on May 11th.

Don't forget there is still time to order a kit!  You can shop here.

We can't wait to see you next week!

Victoria Newmyer & Art Gallery Fabrics

***ASTRODELIC CHALLENGE CLOSED***

Calling all quilting enthusiasts! Have you ever wanted to showcase your quilting skills while diving into a fun and creative challenge? Our Astrodelic Quilt Challenge is here to offer you just that! 

The Astrodelic Challenge isn't just about making beautiful quilts; it's also about the excitement of competition and the joy of creativity. Our most popular beginner-friendly pattern uses the strip piecing technique, making it easy to create blocks as a canvas for your imagination. It's perfect for a relaxing weekend project or anytime you want to add your personal style to each stitch and seam. You'll have the chance to experiment with the colors, textures, and motifs that Art Gallery Fabrics offers.

This exciting event invites quilters from all corners of the U.S. to participate by using our most popular Free Quilt Pattern, creating unique and mesmerizing quilts that capture the essence of the stars. Whether you're a seasoned quilter or just starting, this challenge is the perfect opportunity to push your boundaries, showcase your talent, and connect with a vibrant community of fellow quilters.

To get you inspired, check out the photos below! We’re obsessed with how our fabrics from Abode by Maureen Cracknell and Sunrise Sunset by Jessica Swift collections look in our beloved Astrodelic quilt.

Astrodelic Quilt featuring Abode by Maureen Cracknell

Astrodelic Quilt featuring Sunrise Sunset by Jessica Swift

Let these vibrant fabrics, complemented with our dazzling Sparkle Elements blender collection and finished off with our game-changing 2.5 edition binding, ignite your imagination! 

Another Astrodelic inspiration! We've created a PURE Solids version in cool blues with a lava rock background (click here for the instructions). This shows the endless possibilities of our Astrodelic Quilt. It's fun and easy to make and a real showstopper. We can't wait to see yours!

Astrodelic Quilt in PURE Solids by AGF Studio

At the heart of the Astrodelic Challenge, We're giving away a Mystery box full of fabrics & other goodies to 5 lucky winners!

After all entries are submitted, AGF will select the most outstanding quilts to be showcased. Winners will receive a mystery box packed with goodies and beautiful, high-quality FABRICS that any quilter would love!

The winners will be officially contacted by email. Please reply within 7 days to claim your prize. 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!

This challenge offers more than just a prize; it provides an opportunity to gain recognition within the quilting community and celebrate the creativity and dedication of our ever-growing quilting community. 

Show us your Finished Astrodelic Quilt with Art Gallery Fabrics to Participate!

***ASTRODELIC CHALLENGE CLOSED ***

A huge congratulations to the five winners of our challenge:
@daisitoegel
@aokseworiginals
@quiltlookingatme
@rosewoodthread
@quilting_stitch_by_stitch

The fine print:

Rules

1. This challenge is exclusive to Instagram entries only.
2. For this challenge participants must use Art Gallery Fabrics.
3. Astrodelic Challenge starts on 10/03/2024 and ends on 11/04/2024 at 3 pm EST. 
4. Entries after this date will not be accepted for participation.
5. Make sure your Instagram account is set to public, not private, so we can see your beautiful quilts using the #AGFAstrodelicChallenge hashtag. 
6. Entries MUST use #AGFAstrodelicChallenge to be considered! We will announce 5 lucky winners on 11/05/24 at 3 pm EST.

How To Enter

1. Use the Free Astrodelic Pattern provided in this blog post (see below).
2. Follow us on Instagram. 
3. Like our quilt challenge release post.
4. Tag us @ArtGalleryFabrics in your quilt photos & Use the hashtag #AGFAstrodelicChallenge.

Prizes:

1. We can't reveal too much since it’s a mystery box, but let's just say it’s packed with goodies and plenty of FABRICS!

Below are links for the Astrodelic Quilt Pattern to get you started: 

Astrodelic Pattern featuring Abode Collection.
Astrodelic Pattern featuring Sunrise Sunset Collection.

Ready to join the fun? Get ready to meet fellow quilting enthusiasts, share your progress along the way, and maybe even win big! We're excited to see your one-of-a-kind Astrodelic quilts. So, grab your favorite Art Gallery Fabrics, let your imagination soar, and get ready to blast off! 

Happy Sewing!

-Your friends from Art Gallery Fabrics