Stitch samplers with Scanfil organic threads, American Made Brand solids, and 2.5” Edition binding

Have you stitched with the 100% organic long staple Pima cotton thread from Scanfil? I’m making improv patchwork stitch samplers—using American Made Brand cotton solids [from Clothworks]—to show the versatility of stitch techniques that can be achieved with Scanfil threads, and how lovely and effortless these organic cotton threads are to work with.

Scanfil organic cotton threads and improv patchwork with American Made Brand (AMB) cottons.

Improv Patchwork with AMB solids

I chose solid fabrics—from the American Made Brand (AMB)—to show the thread and stitch qualities of the organic cotton thread. Solid fabrics provide a non-distracting background for the samplers. 

I also like to use solids when doing improvisational patchwork, as the essence of the patchwork and seam lines are more defined. The freehand cut, organic shapes—inherent with improv patchwork—also complement the ‘organic’ characteristic of the thread. AMB cotton is also grown, spun, woven, and dyed in the USA. Here's a video on the back story.

Improvisational patchwork with American Made Brand solids.

Thread versatility

The stitch samplers include a variety of stitch techniques: 

• free-motion quilting, 
• decorative machine stitching, 
• hand quilting, and 
• hand stitching/embroidery. 

I like the 50 wt. for piecing and free-motion quilting. For hand quilting, hand stitching, and hand embroidery, I use the 30 wt.

Using 50 wt thread for free-motion quilting and 30 wt for hand stitching.

2.5” Edition binding

And no mini-quilt would be complete without a binding, right? So, I’m using the 2.5 Edition collection (binding on a bolt) from Art Gallery Fabrics. This binding print is called Magic Bound. (Gotta love the words!)

Quilted stitch sample.

A few more quilt sandwiches await stitching…

Improv patchwork quilt sandwiches await quilting.

If you want to try any of these three products for your next project, ask your local quilt shop or sewing machine center about Scanfil 100% organic cotton thread, made-in-the-USA AMB solids, and 2.5” Edition binding fabrics. 

You’ll score a “hat trick!” (If we were talking hockey, anyway.)

Mended and renewed! A new quilt binding and a Make Nine finish

My 1990s quilt has a lovely, new, contemporary binding! It’s my 7th Make Nine finish for 2024—fulfilling the Mend/Upcycle prompt.

A scrappy 4-patch Sawtooth Star quilt from the 1990s with its new binding.

The original scrappy binding

The original binding on this quilt was a wider binding (about 1” wide) and very scrappy. Over the years, the edges became frayed. It was due for mending and an upcycling.

Frayed binding in need of repair.

The binding also had areas of fabric fading—likely because I used fabrics that were not “quilt shop quality.” In my defense, as a new quilter, I had not yet been introduced and exposed to quilt shops, quilt guilds, and larger quilt shows with their variety of fabric vendors that attend them.

The front and back of a section of the binding shows a faded fabric.

But this quilt is well loved and worth a repair! I chose “Stitched and Bound,” one of the new 2.5” Edition bindings from Art Gallery Fabrics for the mend.

"Stitched and Bound" 2.5" binding strips.

The new binding for this 1990s quilt was cut, attached, and the frayed edges were covered. Here is my tutorial for piecing the binding strips on the bias with a glue basting method.

The new binding will cover and conceal the original frayed binding.

Four-patch Sawtooth Star blocks

As a new quilter, I was (and still am) enamored with scrappy quilts. The 4-patch Sawtooth Star block pattern has infinite possibilities for “scrappiness” and I can still remember how fun it was to choose fabric colors and values and arrange the units of these blocks. I used a variety of fabrics—wovens, prints, novelty prints, plaids, checks, florals, reproduction prints… whatever fabrics I had collected... they are all here.

Yarn-dyed wovens (small plaids) are mixed with various prints.

The quilt is also a sampling of other techniques I was learning as a new quiltmaker—machine quilting (with a walking foot), and a little hand quilting as well. 

A mix of walking-foot quilting and hand quilting.

The Challenge of mitered corners with two bindings attached

With the old and new bindings both attached, there was a lot of bulk at the corners. So the miters of the new binding are a little “soft” [read: rounded]. But this is part of the mend and upcycle process. I had to remind myself that this is not a new quilt. But the new binding is a double fold, fully filled, and firm! I consider it a quite well-done mend.

Mitered corners with the new binding attached.

With this mend, you can see the new binding as well as the original binding—a feature of my “time span” quilt that I really like! 

Both the original and new bindings can be seen on this time-span quilt.

I chose the X pattern on the binding to be on the front side of the quilt. A reminder that this is a hand-made quilt. I discovered that the original binding was secured by machine. The new binding was stitched on the back by hand.

The 2.5 Edition bindings have design options. The Xs are on the front side. 
The hash marks are on the back side.  

The 7th finish for Make Nine 2024

This fulfills the “Mend/Upcycle” project for Make Nine 2024. 

"Mend/Upcycle" prompt for Make Nine 2024 is complete.

Just two more projects to complete for 2024.

Make Nine 2024 tracker, July 2024.

Piecing AGF 2.5” Edition binding strips on the bias to preserve the design

I prefer to piece together my binding strips on the bias. Piecing on the bias insures the seam allowances are distributed, the bulk is minimized, and the binding lies as flat as possible at the joins. 

“Stitched and Bound” [BIN 25411] design 
from Art Gallery Fabrics 2.5” Edition collection.

On this quilt that needed a new binding, I chose one of the Art Gallery Fabrics 2.5” Edition binding fabrics. The 2.5" Edition bindings have distinct designs—designs whose continuity I wanted to preserve at the joins. How do you line up the designs so they are continuous? A little prep and basting glue does the trick!

Prepping AGF 2.5" Edition binding strips so the design stays continuous.

Binding prep for bias piecing

This is how I prepped the binding strips so the fabric design would be continuous across the seams.

1. Fold the end of one of the binding strips on the 45-degree angle (wrong sides together). For this design, I positioned the fold so it was between the “Xs.” With an iron, press the fold to make a nice crease.

Fold one end at 45-degrees (bias).

2. Using Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It, dab a few dots of the glue close to the fold. A little glue is all that is needed! The glue is tacky, and too much of it could seep through the fabric.

Place glue dots near the folded edge.
“A little dab will do ya.”

3. Position the glued strip on top of the other strip, lining up the pattern so it is continuous. With the iron, press the binding flat to dry the glue. (Your binding strips are now basted together.)

Position the two pieces so the design is continuous.

4. Open the pieces. The diagonal crease is now your sewing line. If necessary, you can draw a line on the fold with a white or graphite pencil to make it more visible for sewing.

Draw a pencil line on the sewing line.

5. Sew on the drawn line or slightly to one side to accommodate the ‘turn of cloth.’

Sew the bias seam.

6. With right sides up, press the newly joined binding flat. Trim the seam allowance to 1/4” and trim off the dog ears. Continue joining additional strips as needed to get the desired length of binding.

Trim, press and the binding is ready to attach.

The design is continuous, the join is nearly invisible, and the binding is ready to attach to the quilt.

The binding on this quilt’s front features the Xs and the back side has a string of dash marks. The extra effort was so worth it!

Completed binding using the “Stitched and Bound” [BIN 25411] design
from Art Gallery Fabrics 2.5” Edition collection.

A timespan quilt repair with AGF 2.5 Edition binding strips

I have a quilt from the mid-1990s that I made when I was a very new quilter. This scrappy quilt—which has been used frequently and is currently on a bed—was inspired by a quilt design from the Fons and Porter “For the Love of Quilting” TV program. After decades of use, several areas of the binding have become frayed and the quilt has been on the mending list for at least 2 years.

Scrappy quilt with frayed binding.

2.5 Edition binding strips

With the introduction of the 2.5 Edition binding strips by Art Gallery Fabrics, this quilt repair has bubbled up to the top of the mending list. Wanting to try this new product, I purchased the “Stitched and Bound” design and I now have the strips cut, pieced (on the bias), pressed in half, and ready to attach to my 1990s quilt.

Stitched and Bound 2.5 Edition binding strips by Art Gallery Fabrics.

I have to decide which side of the binding will be visible.

The 2.5 Edition binding strips have two design options for a binding.

More 2.5 Edition fabrics for future bindings

There is a large variety of designs in the 2.5 Edition collection. The ones with words—“Handmade Bound,” “Magic Bound,” and “Good Day Bound”—are especially fun and unique. Where else have you seen a quilt binding with words running around the quilt’s perimeter on the binding???

Sew and Sews Place, a quilt shop in the Chattanooga area, has a selection of 2.5 Edition bindings. I bought four other binding prints online and got a cute “I Sew and I Know Things” sticker, a Thank You card with a coupon, and two bobbin clips in with the package. A lovely surprise!

AGF binding fabrics and the goodies that came with my order from
Sew and Sews Place.

This quilt will become a timespan quilt

By adding a new binding to this quilt, it will no long be classified as a 1990s quilt… but will become a 2024 quilt once a new binding is attached. I’ve done the patchwork, machine quilting, and everything else to create this quilt. Through the use of it, it has become the point in its lifecycle to mend it. This is part of keeping it as a sustainable textile and continue its usefulness.

Another Bristol knit top: Make Nine project #4

Can you have too much of a good thing? In the case of the Bristol Top pattern paired with Art Gallery knits... I think not.

The  Bristol Top with cotton knits from Art Gallery Fabrics.
My Make Nine 2023 Wild Card prompt.

When you're faced with the comment, "wear something green in honor of St. Patrick's Day," you quickly rummage through your closet to see what you have. Hmmm... not much. However, the luck of the Irish must have been in the air as I found two AGF knits on an "end of the bolt" sale. The prints were from two different collections, but with Art Gallery's fabrics, you can mix across collections and still come up with a pot of gold at the end of any garment sewing rainbow.

Make Nine 2023: the Wild Card prompt

This Bristol is fulfilling one of my Wild Card prompts for Make Nine 2023. This is my second Bristol this year and the sixth make from this pattern. See all previous versions in this blog post. 

Bristol Top #6. Pattern from The Sewing Workshop.

My Make Nine 2023 tracker has been updated.

Wild Card prompt on the Make Nine 2023 tracker.

Four projects completed this year with five more to go.

Make Nine 2023 tracker, April 1, 2023

Remaking the Bristol Top—third Make Nine finish for 2023

I love a good re-make! One of my Make Nine 2023 prompts is "Make it Again" and I've used the Bristol Top pattern [from The Sewing Workshop] to make my fifth version of this knit top.

The Bristol Top: Make Nine 2023 Make it Again prompt.

For Bristol #5, I used two knits from Art Gallery Fabrics—a solid and a print. The Bristol has several options for mixing and matching fabric prints and/or solids—yoke, cuffs, bottom bands, collar band. This version has a contrasting yoke.

Imparting happiness with hand stitching

The Bristol pattern instructions call for top stitching at the seam where the yoke meets the bodice. Influenced by a recent presentation on Bojagi by Youngmin Lee, I decided to hand stitch this with a variegated cotton sashiko thread in a similar color palette. The hand stitching of bojagi is not only a design element, says Youngmin, but a way to impart wishes for happiness into the piece and to the recipient or wearer. With that in mind, my plan is to topstitch wishes of happiness into this new Bristol top. 

Bristol Top with a cotton sashiko thread for hand stitching.

The many benefits of Re-makes

The last time I made the Bristol, I made two at once! One has long sleeves (as the pattern indicates) and the other is a pattern hack for a short sleeve version.

Long sleeve and short sleeve versions of the Bristol Top.

Shortly after these two, I was thinking about zero waste so I made another long sleeve Bristol with leftover knit fabrics from other garments. 

Bristol Top made with leftover fabrics from other knit garments.

The first Bristol was a Make Nine project in 2020. 

My first Bristol Top, 2020.

Reasons I like re-makes?

• The more you make, the quicker and easier they go!
• The pattern is already fitted and modified to your body and style. It's one less BIG step in the garment-making process.
• You have your notes about the pattern to resolve the quirky/confusing parts, clarify any instructions, and the tips and shortcuts you've discovered along the way. (Yes, write these things right on the pattern pieces or the instruction sheets!)
• Different fabrics/colors/prints make every version different. (Besides, you don't wear all of them at the same time anyway, right?)
• Reusing a pattern is a wise investment in money, resources and time.
• If it feels good, do it again!

Completed Bristol top #5.

This is my third Make Nine finish for 2023. Full steam ahead!

Using Art Gallery free patterns to make a Trunk Show

This summer, several Tennessee quilt shops curated a selection of fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics for their annual Shop Hop event. Using fabric combinations from this curated collection, I decided to explore the free patterns from Art Gallery to make projects. 

Ruffle Tote (center) and the Atacama Clutch.

Inspiration, project ideas, patterns, and tutorials

Art Gallery has several resources for inspirational ideas and instructions to make things with their fabric collections: 

• Free quilt pattern downloads
• AGF fabric LookBooks
• the AGF blog
• AGF TV video tutorials on YouTube
• Free sewing patterns—bags/totes, pillows, wall art, hats, home decor items, holiday projects, items for kids and pets, etc.
• sewing tutorials
• and the AGF website to view the fabric collections.

Also check your favorite social media sites to see what other makers are creating with #artgalleryfabrics. 

Making projects with the Meriwether fabric collection.

Projects and patterns

Several of the fabrics in this curated selection came from the Meriwether fabric collection, so I checked the Meriwether LookBook for inspiration. Then I poked around the AGF website and discovered additional projects and ideas. Here's what I made... 

Clockwise from upper left: Blooming Garden pillow, Bunny Bag, Alamo Tote and hand towels.

I found the Blooming Garden pillow in the LookBook, the Bunny Bag was featured in an e-newsletter and is from the sewing pattern section, the Alamo Tote is a great scrap buster, and the hand towels were inspired by the Check pattern.

A hexie pillow with the I See Kittens pattern.

The I See Kittens pillow pattern inspired the long pillow above and the square pillow below.

EPP hexie pillow.

The Ruffle Tote Bag pattern was perfect to showcase a large motif. A short video accompanies this pattern.

Ruffle Tote Bag.

Take a closer look at The Bunny Bag...

The Bunny Bag.

Patterns: use just the parts you want

Patterns are a jumping off place for your projects! Don't want to make a full quilt? Use one block, or just the center section from a quilt pattern for a smaller project. Use whatever part you please. 

The star block from the Wistful quilt pattern made a simple table topper. 

One block from a pattern can make a table topper.

The Petal Trails quilt was in the Meriwether LookBook and I used the center section to make a runner.

Free-motion quilting on a Petal Trails table runner.

Table runner made with a portion of the Petal Trails pattern.

A pattern piece from the Petal Trails quilt pattern was used for the flanged pillow (below). Fussy cut the Meriwether rabbit for the center. 

Flanged pillow inspired by the Petal Trails quilt pattern.

Smaller scraps? Smaller projects

The Atacama Clutch, from Adina LookBook, was so fun, I made two! Make and add a fluffy pom-pom to the zipper pull for a whimsical accent. 

Atacama Clutch zipper pouch.

After completing all the projects, I took remaining scraps and did improv patchwork to make a project bag for myself.

Zippered project bag. Improvisationally pieced with fabric scraps.

Hand quilting and hand embroidery embellish this bag. 

Detail of hand quilting around the rabbit motif.

Embellished with an appliquéd flower and embroidery stitches.

A Make Nine finish

I'm counting these 11 projects—a Trunk Show, if you will—for my Make Nine 2022 Wild Card prompt.

It was a wild and fun process using free patterns from Art Gallery Fabrics. I hope this inspires you to investigate and give them a try.