Welcome back to the AGF Blog! Today, we dive into the art of fabric pairing in the world of textiles, where colors and textures come alive, and possibilities are endless. Discover how different fabrics complement one another, especially when blending various collections. This has become a wellspring of inspiration for sewists and quilters everywhere. 

Join me as we explore our Checkered Elements Blenders, which offer the perfect texture and pop of color. They are a classic yet trendy blender that can be used in countless ways! To inspire your creativity, I'd like to share three different ways you can incorporate this blender to cater to your style. Whether you prefer a modern, low-volume aesthetic or a more traditional look, our Houndstooth and Tweed prints are sure to bring your projects together.⁠

Here we Go!

1. Modern: Embracing the Contemporary Aesthetic

Let's begin with the modern style. We envision geometric patterns, shapes, and straight lines when we think of modernism. Sleek curves and a bold color palette are also key elements. I have chosen eight exquisite Art Gallery Fabrics that perfectly embody the modern look. Each fabric has been meticulously selected to inspire your creativity and elevate your projects to new heights. Before starting any project, it’s important to pinpoint our color scheme. I’ve incorporated teal, black, and a touch of gold, adding vibrancy and sophistication. 

Next are your main prints, Visions Woodblock and Tinted Blooms from our  Luna & Laurel collection; these larger-scaled prints bring boldness. To complement these fabrics, we have included our Checkered Elements Blenders, which are the ideal companions, creating a striking contrast and adding texture that captures the eye. 

Lastly, our PURE Solids bring balance and harmony to our group of fabrics. This curated assortment is now ready for creating unique quilts, fashion-forward garments, or edgy accessories. Let your imagination run wild as you infuse your projects with a modern flair that is bound to turn heads.

2. Low Volume: Subtle Elegance 

Low volume fabrics have gained immense popularity, particularly amongst the modern quilt movement. This style can be described as basically in subtle white, cream, neutral, or pale-colored print fabrics, often with a delicate self-colored pattern or subtle design, and they are selected to offset the much brighter color palettes. If you appreciate refined, soft, and tonal aesthetics, the low volume style is for you! I have chosen eight beautiful Art Gallery Fabrics that perfectly embody the low-volume look. I went with a warm color scheme in this fabric pull and added my main small-scaled prints: Brushed Fibers from our collection Soften the Volume, Castle Keys from the Willow Collection, and Sashiko Mending Tan from our All is Well Collection. You could use low volume prints where the effect of using a solid fabric is desired, particularly in modern quilts. 

Next are our blenders, this is where they shine! Featured blenders are Checkered Elements & Oval Elements. These blenders add sophistication and texture that magically blends together without overpowering each other.

Finally, I’ve added a touch of our PURE Solids, and Voilà! Your Low Volume Fabric selection is ready for creating dreamy quilts, soft and flowing garments, or refined home decor.

3. Traditional: Embracing Classic Charm 

The Traditional style stands the test of time, remaining beautiful year after year, making them timeless. If you're drawn to the timeless charm of traditional designs, I have curated a special fabric assortment just for you. The color scheme I've chosen embraces nostalgic hues of red and blue with a touch of gold.

Next, I wanted to go with classic florals and some geometrics for our main prints to stay with the nostalgia theme - Fabrics are Botanist’s Essay Two & French Sampler Two from Garden of Opulence. Let’s add some Checkered Elements, Oval Elements, and Floral Elements blenders to add texture and redefine this group. This fabric pull is perfect for traditional quilt projects, apparel, or crafting unique accessories. These blenders will beautifully tie your projects together.

We hope these three different approaches to using our Checkered Elements Blenders have sparked your inspiration and ignited a desire to experiment with fabric pairing. Let us know your favorite by leaving a comment below! 

To view the full collection, click here: Checkered Elements 

Let’s make the most of your fabric pulls! Unleash your creativity with these FREE Projects from our Checkered Elements Lookbook:

Flora Blocks

Checkered Pillows 

Our AGF Blog is your go-to resource for all things fabric-related, so stay tuned for more exciting tips, tutorials, and inspiration. Stay connected by following us on Instagram! Get the inside scoop on our latest AGF News and interact with fellow makers. 

Happy sewing and quilting!

Until next time, 

-Juana

Greetings to all fabric enthusiasts and aficionados! My name is Juana, and I'm thrilled to introduce myself as the newest member of the amazing AGF Team. As a fellow lover of all things fabric, I'm delighted to be a part of this wonderful community.

Having the opportunity to work with talented and kind individuals has been amazing. Access to a diverse selection of prints from the AGF warehouse will spark inspiration for a fresh selection of fabrics for your next project.
AGF has given me insight into the process of creating a collection from start to finish. Through “Auditioning Fabrics,” I’ve learned valuable tips and tricks about how fabrics can complement each other, especially when it comes to mixing various collections. When making a fabric pull, it’s important to consider color palettes, scale, blenders, and solids to achieve a perfect balance in sewing projects. I’m thrilled to introduce our new collection of Blenders, ‘Checkered Elements’ and demonstrate how to incorporate them into your fabric pull. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to create something beautiful the next time you dive into your fabric stash.

Let's Get Started!

1. Start with one collection of prints. 

Begin by selecting one print collection to guide your next steps. For this fabric pull, we will use prints from Hazelwood, featuring beautiful trendy greens and terracotta colors that complement any project. From the collection, I've chosen three prints that balance in scale.

*Featuring fabrics: Wild Flora Sunlight, Hidden Land Moss, Underwood Sprouts Pale from Hazelwood by AGF Studio

2. Select your blenders, in this case, it’s Checkered Elements. 

Next comes our favorite fabric category, BLENDERS, featuring our latest collection, Checkered Elements. These classic yet modern designs will blend effortlessly into your next sewing project. The Houndstooth and Tweed Editions come in various colors and add a textured look. When selecting the "blending" fabrics, I chose neutral and golden tones to complement the main prints. I looked for these common tones and then chose the blenders that best matched those hues.

*Featuring Fabrics: Tweed Vanilla, Tweed Saffron, Houndstooth Solar from Checkered Elements by AGF Studio

3. Add Solids to Give a Pop of Color and Balance. 

Our Pure Solids collection is the perfect way to add a pop of color and balance to your sewing projects. Adding solids can make your project more visually appealing by breaking up patterns and prints. By using a solid color that complements the main prints, you can create a balanced and cohesive look in your creation. Our solids collection offers a wide variety of hues to choose from, ensuring that you will find the perfect color to enhance your project. 

*Featuring Fabrics: Pure Solids

4. You have prepared a selection of fabrics for your next project. 

Now that you have assembled a fabric collection, it is time to let your creative juices flow and start creating something unique. You can use these steps to assemble a group of fabrics to create something beautiful and unique that will stand out from the crowd. Whether you are making a beautiful quilt, apparel, home decor items, or something else entirely, you can use these steps to make sure that your project is one of a kind. Let your creativity guide you as you take your project to the next level!

That is all I have for you today! I hope that these tips will be of great help to you as you search for fabrics to bring your creations to life. These can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your finished product, so it's important to choose them wisely. 

Let us know what you would create with this stunning fabric pull by leaving a comment below!

Until next time,

Happy sewing! 

-Juana

Good times are always better when they’re shared, and we have sew much to share with you all today! And as an added bonus we have 12 marvelous quilt blocks to share, designed by the very gifted Quilterpreneurs!

Who are the Quilterpreneurs?  They are 12 talented designers and creatives led by their inspiring leader Elizabeth Chappell of Quilter’s Candy. Elizabeth is an author, a fabric designer for AGF, a quilt pattern designer, as well as the host of the popular podcast Craft to Career. When Elizabeth saw the enormous talent and enthusiasm in the students from her Quilt Pattern Writing Course she wanted to create an opportunity for them to gather together. And what better place than here at our home, Art Gallery Fabrics, in beautiful sunny Florida! She decided to gather these artistic and enthusiastic students together to make connections, share ideas and “discover the magic” of their favorite fabric company at our headquarters.

The Quilterpreneurs of AGF are:

Elizabeth Chappell @quilters_candy

Belle Brunner @seams_sew_me

Erin Grogan @LoveSewModern

Maude MacDonald @theretroquilter

Shereece Spain @sewhookedontreasures

Kiley Ferons @kileysquiltroom and @modishquilter

Sandy Saengsuk @Thaicharmllc

Becca Plymale @sunflowerseams and @becca.plymale.creative

Jennie @cloverandviolet

Mary Davis @marygoroundquilts

Julia Wachs @juliawachs.designs

Jen Levin @jenlevin

We had an amazing visit with these accomplished designers and enjoyed spending time with these extremely talented makers. It was a true collaboration where they learned about everything AGF and we got a glimpse into each of their creative businesses. The Quilterpreneurs got a tour of our offices and Warehouse space, participated in some fun Lives and Giveaways on Instagram, and got some behind the scenes tips on styling and photographing their blocks and quilts. Plus they all received a fun AGF Gift bag full of goodies! We all learned something new during this incredible visit and feel like they’re a part of our AGF family!

In addition, each Quilterpreneur created an exclusive block just for this event that can be combined to create a gorgeous quilt. They choose prints from Elizabeth’s soon to be released collection, Gayle Loraine, as well as beautiful coordinating blenders and fresh PURE Solids. Then it was on to cutting and sewing up their individually designed blocks in our AGF sewing studio.  It was so interesting seeing all these creative and innovative blocks come together! Each one is unique but they all coordinate to make a lovely quilt designed just for you. 

Each designer’s free pattern is linked in this post. You’ll be able to work at your own pace and create each fresh block that will combine into an awe-inspiring quilt. 

So let’s get started on showing off these fresh and fun quilt blocks. Each of these blocks was designed exclusively for the Quilterpreneurs at AGF Event and we’re so excited to be able to share all of these beautiful FREE patterns with you!  First up, we have the Quilterpreneurs’ amazing leader, Elizabeth Chappell of Quilter’s Candy, and her Log Cabin Block:

 Log Cabin Quilt Block

click to download

  Elizabeth Chappell @quilters_candy

This blooming Log cabin block sampler offers a bold display of Elizabeth’s first fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics, Gayle Loraine. This collection is on its way- so stay tuned for the official release! The use of these complimentary pastel florals and bold graphic prints is a fresh take on simple design.  

Breezeway Quilt Block

click to download

Mary Davis @marygoroundquilts 

Next up is the Breezeway Quilt Block by Mary of Mary Go Round Quilts. Beautiful triangles rotate and spin in this modern block.

Ribbon & Lace Quilt Block

click to download

Becca Plymale @becca.plymale.creative

Soft dreamy pastels set the stage for the Ribbon and Lace Quilt Block by Becca of Becca Plymale Creative. This beautiful geometric design in subtle colors is sure to inspire!

Double Sawtooth Star Quilt Block

click to download

Belle Brunner @seams_sew_me

Then we have this boldly traditional Double Sawtooth Star Block created by Belle of Seams Sew Me. This star within a star in vibrant navy accented by soft botanicals is a showstopper!

Lilly Bloom Quilt Block

click to download

Erin Grogan @lovesewmodern

Lilly’s are in full bloom in the Lilly Bloom Quilt Block designed by Erin at Love Sew Modern. This large graphic seems to block bursts into life in this fun design.

Scenic Route Quilt Block 

click to download

Jen Levin @jenlevin

Intricate piecing in romantic florals are sure to please in the Scenic Route Quilt Block by Jen Levin. Take your time creating this beautiful design and wow your friends!

Luminous Quilt Block

click to download

Jennie Pickett @cloverandviolet

Perfect piecing is the star of this show with the Luminous Quilt Block by Jennie at Clover and Violet. HST’s and Flying Geese add a dash of style to this lovely block.

Nightshade Quilt Block

click to download

 Julia Wachs @juliawachs.designs

Geometric prints and ditsy botanicals make the Nightshade Quilt Block by Julia Wachs look fresh and modern. This fun design with its rotated log cabin center makes it sew creative!

Introvert Quilt Block

click to download

Kiley Ferons @kileysquiltroom

The Introvert Quilt Block by Kiley of Kiley’s Quilt Room is a tranquil beauty. We love the circular motif with simple strip piecing- so clever!

Drunkard’s Star Quilt Block

click to download

Maude MacDonald @theretroquilter

Add a dash of style with a simple bold graphic with the Drunkard’s Star Quilt Block by Mary of The Retro Quilter. This modern take on a star design is whimsical and fun.

Barn Star Quilt Block

click to download

Sandy Saengsuk @thaicharmllc

The stars have aligned with this perfectly pieced Barn Star Block by Sandy at Thai Charm. Her 4 at a time HST method and easy to sew designs create this charming classic motif. 

 In Check Quilt Block

click to download

Shereece Nicole @sewhookedontreasures

And last, but never least we have a cleverly modern design, the In Check Quilt Block by Shereece of Sew Hooked on Treasures. Get inspired by this simple graphic design in enchanting florals.

It was so exciting seeing all these very different blocks come together! They’re all very different designs and styles, but in these lovely botanical prints in soft pastels and cool blues, creams and blushing pinks they all look beautiful together.

And don't miss the Podcast: Quilterpreneurs at Art Gallery Fabrics on Elizabeth's Podcast, Craft to Career. 

Click to listen to the podcast.

We have sew many amazing creations in store for you! Stay tuned as we get ready to combine these blocks together to complete The Quilterpreneurs at AGF Block Sampler Quilt …. coming Soon!

Hello makers and fabric lovers!

With a new season upon us, what better way to honor the bright colors of spring with new shades of a couple of our most popular blenders: Floral and Decostitch Elements! These six new colors of each are perfect to add to your stash of AGF blenders since they make up a few missing shades between some, and they work well with others. 

If you’re unsure what blenders are and how to use them, check out this previous blog post that gives you great ideas on how to use these non-directional fabrics. 

Introducing our new Floral Elements in Sweet Peach, Victorian Brick, Antique Rose, Chalk, Washed Denim, and Storm Winds.

Introducing our new Decostitch Elements in Topiary, Airy, Timber Wolf, Desert Rose, Abyss, and Rosebud. 

In addition to our new prints, we have also revamped a few of our patterns using the new colors. First up, we have our checkered bucket hat using a variety of different Florals and Decostitch to create this soft statement piece that is perfect to add to your wardrobe. For this hat we used our Florals in Washed Denim, Storm Winds, Antique Rose, Sweet Peach, Victorian Brick, and Chalk, and our Decostitch in Abyss, Timber Wolf, Airy, Rosebud, and Desert Rose. 

To view the video tutorial for this hat, click here. 

We also have a PDF version of this hat pattern that we created with flannel if you would like to download that as well. You can find that here. 

For strip set 1, we used Floral Victorian Brick for fabric A, Decostitch Rosebud for fabric B, Floral Antique Rose for fabric C, Floral Sweet Peach for Fabric D, and Decostitch Timber Wolf for fabric E. For strip set 2, we used Floral Storm Winds for fabric F, Floral Chalk for fabric G, Floral Washed Denim for fabric H, Decostitch Airy for fabric I, and Decostitch Abyss for fabric J. We used Decostitch Desert Rose for fabric K, which is the lining. 

Next up I have another statement piece for your wardrobe, this Artsy Tote that we made using a combination of new and timeless Decostitch colors in Cloud, Caffe Latte, Blue Minerale, Indigo Sky, Skyline Blue, Granite, Timber Wolf, and Abyss, in addition to our linen blend in Soft Sand. This tote has a combination of rectangles, squares, and half and quarter circles to form a trendy catch-all that can be taken anywhere you go; the beach, farmers market, the coffee shop…anywhere! 

To view the PDF pattern for this tote, click here. 

Last up are two new combinations of our Florals to make our favored Alegria computer cover. The first one includes Antique Rose, Sweet Peach, and Victorian Brick and the second one includes Washed Denim, Storm Winds, and Chalk. We used high loft batting to make this computer case perfect to protect what’s inside while also adding velcro to keep the flap closed. 

To view the PDF pattern for this laptop cover, click here. 

The excitement to sew with these fabrics was growing and I was so happy when I finally got to cut into these beauties. With spring upon us and summer coming quickly, I know that I will get a ton of use out of the bucket hat and tote bag, and I can’t wait to show these projects off to friends and family. 

I want to see what you make with our new Florals and Decostitch! Share your photos on social media and use the #ArtGalleryFabrics so I can share the love! 

Happy sewing everyone! 

It’s an exciting day, my fabric loving friends!

Shannon here, popping in again from Shannon Fraser Designs to share the design evolution of the original Cloud Surfing quilt I posted last week (click here if you missed it). 

When I designed the Cloud Surfing baby quilt, I fell immediately and madly in love with it. But I wasn’t sure whether other quilters would get as fired up by it as I did – ha! An occupational hazard of being a quilt pattern designer 😉

But you’ve blown me away with your love for this modern design!

I didn’t really have any intention of offering her as a pattern, but then there was a delay in my guest post here and I found myself with extra time to sneak in a new version. This time, I was eager to expand on the original design and take it a step further. I played around, but I kept coming back to this final layout. It had all the movement I love in a quilt pattern and meant it was now large enough so you can snuggle with her on the sofa. Which is key, right? The quilty snuggle factor plays into my quilt design all the time!

What I particularly love about this version is that the colorway is a true collaboration with the AGF team. They had visions of retro surfboards / tropical vacation in Hawaii – the cozy sand with pops of orange and soothing blues. Yummy!

I took this theme up a level by featuring the "Laki Island Daylight" print from Mister Domestics’ Aura collection, which is designed based on his trips to Hawaii with his daughter – aw. I also added in a little retro pop with the "Hula Dolphins Vog" print. It’s a riff on a polka dot, but with the added dimension with the subtle dolphin silhouette design around the dots. It’s like it was made for the Cloud Surfing quilt 😉

Did you know that AGF has linen? I didn’t have a clue and I ADORE linen. It even made its way into my very first quilt!

So, I was super excited to dive in and start cutting up this textural and soft beauty. Here’s a close-up so you can see what I’m talking about!

I always like to know what fabrics have been used in a quilt I love, so here’s a full rundown of the fabrics featured in this retro Cloud Surfing quilt:

• AGF PURE Solids in Tiger Lily
• AGF PURE Solids in Dried Carrot
• AGF PURE Solids in Maldives
• AGF Premium Linen Blend in Sand
• Denim Fabric by AGF in Indigo Shadow
• Laki Island Daylight from Mister Domestics’ Aura collection
• Hula Dolphins Vog from Mister Domestics’ Aura collection

I especially love the combo of the textured linen, with the silky soft PURE Solids and then a little pop of their denim!

Quilting cotton + linen + denim – all in one quilt?

Say, whaaa?

Yup! I did it!

I threw in all the different fabric substrates to create the most quiltalicious texture.

And did you know their denim is the same weight as their PURE Solids? Cool, right? No need to worry about whipping out a denim specific needle or wrangling with tension issues because you’ve got different weighted fabrics. Plus, if you’re looking to add in some hand quilting details there will be way less strain on your hands compared to traditional denim.

Proof that mixing textures, solids, and prints can lead to a quilt with lots of visual and tactile interest without feeling overdone.

What are you waiting for? Stock up on all the amazing Art Gallery Fabric substrates and then head to Shannon Fraser Designs to grab the Cloud Surfing quilt pattern and get ready to get your quilty curves on 😊

To celebrate the launch of the Cloud Surfing quilt pattern, Jenny from Papper Sax Sten, the team at Art Gallery Fabrics and myself have joined forces to bring you an epic giveaway including:

• A full set of Jenny’s amazing Oval Drunkard’s Path rulers – which include all 3 sizes featured in the pattern.
• All the fabrics I used to create this lap quilt, including the backing and binding – yassss, which means you’ll get to totally recreate this retro beauty!
• And 2 free PDF copies (one for you + one for a friend you tag) of the newly launched Cloud Surfing pattern from me.

To enter – head over to my Instagram feed and follow the instructions to join the fun!

I’ll be back again next week sharing a fun home décor project! You’re not going to want to miss it!

xo,

Shannon

Hello, my fellow fabric lovers!

It’s Shannon, from Shannon Fraser Designs, popping in again to share some creative inspiration with you. 😊

In case you missed my post last week, you can read my Introduction post here.

Where does your quilty inspiration come from?

Is it the fabric? A specific color? An idea that came to you while you were driving? Or maybe even a pattern you’ve seen that you just had to make?

All of these fit the bill for why I create, and I could enumerate a bunch more. It’s amazing the plethora of sources for creative inspiration.

I’m always curious to know what sparked a fellow maker to come up with a new design idea, so I thought I’d share with you a little about my creative inspiration.

Today’s project all stemmed from having the opportunity to work with my quilty friend’s range of oval drunkard’s path templates. I do love a good curve design and I was particularly curious to explore the design options featuring these unique rulers designed by the talented Jenny Hayes of Papper Sax Sten.

I got the templates back in the summer and spent a few days during my summer vacation playing around with different ideas. I got about 14 designs in and then changed tracks.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you know I have a soft spot for improv quilting. I call them my ‘freedom sessions’ and they satisfy a creative need like no other technique has.

Normally I approach improv quilting on the mat – without any idea of where the design will end up. It’s a piecing adventure that always leads to a fun result – whether I love the end product or not. That’s not the point, the point is to not question myself, just trust that what I need to create is being created in that moment. It’s seriously awesome! If you’ve never tried improv, I highly recommend giving it a go.

But this was my first time using that technique on the computer. What surprised me was that I got that same feeling from letting loose at the computer as I do at the mat, just quicker!

And it left me fired up to bring her to life.

You know that feeling.

It’s like a light goes off inside of you where every fiber of your being is yearning to bring the idea to life. It’s the one that gets you out of bed early (on a weekend, no less) and raring to get slicing and stitching!

And that fired up feeling is exactly what I’m seeking in my makes. I don’t want to just make to make (although there is merit in that), but I’m always seeking that “must make this” feeling. It’s the best feeling that calls to you no matter what you’re doing, beckoning you to dive in and start quilting.

That’s what this design did for me – even though my hubz didn’t get the design.

Which brings me to another key point, quilting is not about what others need, want, see, understand – it’s about YOU! Unless of course, the quilt is for that person 😉 Otherwise, it doesn’t matter what others think. All that matters is that you have a vision, an idea, a need to make. That’s what matters most.

At the very moment that I was on the hunt for the perfect colors to match my digital mock-up, the AGF team and I connected about collaborating featuring their PURE Solids. I’d worked with them before in my Modern Heart baby quilt and I knew how fabulous these solids were. So, I jumped at the chance to stitch with them again. After perusing their solids collection, I found my ideal matches:

*PURE Solids in Burnt Orange, Quartz Pink, Weathered Pink, Mauvelous, and Peach Sherbet.

I do have a soft spot for coral (so much so, it even sneaks its way into my wardrobe!) and have found it to be such a versatile color. Nowadays, I actually consider it as part of my neutral repertoire. I’ve yet to find a color it doesn’t pair nicely with. Here I focused on pairing coral with a soft peach and deep burnt orange, a touch of mauve and then this dramatic burgundy that I feel makes the design.

To really up the quilty texture, I opted to hand quilt her using a combination of 12wt Aurifil Thread and pearl cotton thread in size 8. I love the chunkiness of those threads. They stand out and have the most amazing hand feel when you run your hand over your quilt. I especially love the juxtaposition with the silky softness of the PURE Solids. It’s seriously heavenly! If you haven’t tried this combo, I highly recommend giving it a go.

I hope this curvy abstract and the story of how she came to inspire you to look beyond your current quilting practice and seek out fun new quilty adventures – you never know where they may take you 😉

I’ll be popping in again next week to share another take on the Cloud Surfing quilt design and will also be releasing the pattern so you too can make your very own!

Happy quilting!

xo

Shannon