Decibels x AGF Linen Blend
Some say your daily source of fiber should come from fruits and vegetables, but I say it should be linen.
When I learned about their new collection of linen blends, the lovely peeps at Art Gallery Fabrics generously provided this stack of pretties. It may be hard to see the texture from these photos (capturing fabric texture isn’t easy, nor is doing so one-handed 😅), but gosh, these feel good. Goldilocks would undoubtedly approve: not too coarse and not too smooth. Made of 55% linen and 45% cotton, the blend is juuust right.
Fabrics from top to bottom: soft sand, sunkissed, vintage denim, ashen, caviar, white linen
As a huge fan of linen blends, I was excited to cut these up! However, the Decibels pattern (available here!) uses narrow strips, so I was still a little hesitant to make a linen version. After all, linen has a tendency to fray. Will the back of my quilt top look like a beautifully frayed disaster? Will I be picking pieces of thread off my pants for the rest of the day? Should I be worried the loose threads will inevitably show up on my finished quilt? Am I going to need some bread to ease my discomforts?
Luckily, none of those happened! Except that last part, because freshly baked bread? A solid 11/10. These linens? Also, 11/10. And like the bread, these did not fray, or go to waste. For comparison, here’s a photo of the AGF Linen Blends (top) and other linens I had in my stash (bottom):
Below is another photo that shows the lack of fraying when I cut my yardage into narrow strips. The width of fabric for these linen blends is about 57”, so my only advice is to go slow when you’re cutting them. Since your standard ruler for cutting yardage will be shorter, take your time to ensure accurate cuts.
The Decibels pattern provides step-by-step instructions for maximum efficiency, but bonus instructions are included, perfect for those who prefer to take things slow. While I don’t rush the cutting process, I do prefer to go at high speed when I’m sewing pieces together. Here’s one more photo to show you how the edges hold up while chain piecing:
For the backing, I chose Rainbrella in Mist, an oldie but a goodie quilting cotton by Amy Sinibaldi for AGF. I’ve had this print for some time, but I’m happy I had enough for this baby quilt! As soon as I pieced the quilt top, I mailed it to the talented Sterling at Sterling Qulit Co and selected the heatwave pantograph.
I used the same background fabric for the binding and friends; I can’t tell you how much I’ve been touching this quilt since I finished it. Had I magically grown another arm while taking this photo, rest assured you’d see my hands on this baby.
If you’d like to make your own, be sure to click on the button below to get the Decibels pattern! Thanks for stopping by and please tag me @xoxsew on Instagram so I can see your make!
Special Sample Sale
(Posted in January 2025 and will be updated as needed due to the time-sensitive info)
This ready-to-ship quilt is available for purchase at 50% off. Your total will go directly to CCF Pledge Wildfire Fund, which provides monetary support for my fellow Angelenos who were displaced by the recent wildfires.
