AGF Quilt Block Collection Blog Tour

You all know how much I love Art Gallery Fabrics, right? Well, of course I do, I'm one of their designers but I loved them even before I was designing for them. They are leaders in the industry for sewing inspiration, fabric quality, and fresh, modern prints. Their website and blog is stocked full of free projects, giveaways, and ideas for your next sewing adventure.

For some time now AGF has been building a quilt block library for you with Youtube demonstration videos for making each block. Art Gallery Fabrics has asked Sharon McConnell of Color Girl Quilts to host a AGF Quilt Block Collection Blog Tour so you can get even more ideas on how to sew with all these fun traditional quilt blocks. I jumped on the chance to be part of the tour and today is my turn to show you what I made.

Nov 13 - Sharon McConnell | colorgirlquilts.com/blog | @colorgirlquilts

Nov 14 - Karen O'Connor | ladykquiltsdesigns.com | @ladykquilts

Nov 16 - Amy Friend | www.duringquiettime.com | @duringquiettime

Nov 17 - Kate Basti | www.quiltwithkate.com | @katebasti

Nov 18 - Yvonne Fuchs | quiltingjetgirl.com | @quiltingjetgirl

Nov 19 - AnneMarie Chany | www.genxquilters.com | @genxquilters

Nov 20 - Maureen Cracknell | maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.com | @maureencracknell

Nov 21 - Sharon Holland | sharonhollanddesigns.com | @sharonhollanddesigns

Nov 22 - Lucy Brennan | www.charmaboutyou.com |  @charmaboutyou

I knew right away I wanted to make a table runner from the Aztec block. This block makes me think of pine boughs and perfect for all the pretty Art Gallery Fabrics I have in spruce, mint, teal, silver, and wintery-white mixes. 

To make a runner like mine you will need:

• Six 10'' square light prints

• Six 10'' square dark/medium prints

• (1) 20'' x 60" rectangle backing and batting

• (4) 2-1/4'' x 42'' strips for binding

I mixed my own AFG prints with fabrics designed by other AGF designers for the perfect winter-greens look. Here's a list of the Art Gallery Fabrics collections these prints came from:

Bountiful prints by me Sharon Holland (me)

Coastline print by Sharon Holland

Bachelorette Fusions with prints by Sharon Holland and Pat Bravo

Floralia Fusions with prints by Sharon Holland and Bari J.

Woodland Fusions print by Maureen Cracknell

Spices Fusions print by Bonnie Christine

I always like a physical print out when I'm working with a new pattern. You can download the free Aztec block here. The AGF instructions are well illustrated and easy to follow. I did jot down a few notes for myself when I was making this block and I'd like to share those tips with you. 

First off, I made you a downloadable coloring page for this runner. It's three Aztec blocks sewn short sides together to make a runner that finishes around 15'' x 54'' in size. If you'd like a longer runner, then simply add more blocks. The reason I suggest working out your fabric placement before you begin has to do with the sub cutting and the direction of the points. Click on the coloring page image (below) for the download to pop-up. 

When you first are sewing your half-square triangle (HST) units, use a short stitch length to keep your pieces from unraveling after sub cutting the strips. Be sure to use an accurate seam allowance and square your HSTs to 9-1/2". 

Audition Before SUB Cutting

My original idea for fabric placement ended up changing once my sections for the blocks were all assembled but for this tip you can see how I reference my colored page before I made the sub cut strips. Notice I kept my HST seams running the same direction (like in the AGF instructions) BUT the light and dark placement of the HST have been flipped in my cutting so the points are correctly oriented when I put the blocks together. My suggestion is to have your coloring page by you and flip the HST before cutting to see if everything matches up with your colored page. When you're ready to sub cut, cut the strips into 2-3/8'' segments. 

Pairs of A/B sections ready to assemble into blocks. After I had my block sections sewn I played with the placement and decided to make my blocks so the green prints meet in the center of the block. 

Now here's a runner perfect to leave out all winter long. Dress it up with sparkling silver and metallic accents or create a snowy lodge-look with rustic elements. The quarter inch straight-line machine quilting accentuates the needle-like quilt block pattern and was a fast way to finish this table topper.

What AGF quilt block would you make from their quilt block collection? I hope you've been inspired by the tour makes and if you have, Art Gallery Fabrics wants to see your blocks and block inspired projects and they have an Instagram contest to help celebrate all your quilty creations! 

Here's how to enter: 

-Sew up a block from the AGF Quilt Block Collection with AGF fabrics

-Share them on your public Instagram account using the #agfquiltblockcollection hashtag

-Every month AGF will be choosing two lucky winners who will receive a fat quarter bundle of AGF fabric featured in the AGF Quilt Block Collection!!!!!!