It’s All About the Love

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Penny Haren

It is all about fabric placement. Lovey combines five different color combinations of a courthouse steps block to spell out LOVE. Since each round of logs is trimmed before the next round is added, perfection is guaranteed. Why not spread some love this year?

American Sweetheart from Cut Loose Press™ combines traditional log cabins with courthouse steps blocks made with the Creative Grids® Log Cabin Trim Tool for 4-inch finished blocks. This 40-inch square quilt is the perfect centerpiece for all the patriotic holidays, but wouldn’t it be a darling baby quilt or Valentine gift as well? Depending on the colors, a name could be embroidered on the center of the heart. Now THAT is an awe factor!

This table runner from Cut Loose Press™ includes everything a girl loves – diamonds, chocolate, and romance! Why not embroider the names of the ones you love on the hearts to add that awe factor

I Love America definitely has a patriotic feel but that big heart screams Valentine’s Day or weddings! It is the perfect door decoration and goes together quickly since it is made with the Creative Grids® Log Cabin and Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tools for 8-inch finished blocks.

Yes, this is the perfect Valentine decoration but why not make it in the wedding colors for a bridal shower? The wedding party can sign the hearts and the guests can sign around them. What a great memory of the day! Crazy Hearts is made with the Creative Grids® Spiderweb Tool.

Why not schedule a class (or classes) today!

Skinny Pineapple not a Diet

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Penny Haren

Create perfect 6, 9, or 12-inch finished Pineapple blocks by squaring up each round of strips as they are sewn. Since each round is squared up before the next set is added, the blocks are perfectly square. The cutting requirements for the strips and center square are printed right on the tool.

The widths of the logs finish to 3/4-inch so even a six-inch block looks impressive. Add two more rounds to complete a 9-inch finished pineapple. Add two more rounds to complete a 12-inch finished block. It really is that easy, and accurate.

Creative Grids 12in Skinny Pineapple Trim Tool

There are five new Cut Loose Press™ patterns to support this tool.

Pineapple Pinwheel combines two favorite blocks, pinwheels and pineapples The pinwheels are created by piecing the corner triangles before the final block trim. When four blocks are sewn together, the secondary pinwheel pattern is formed. Magic!

Pineapple Puzzle utilizes this Tool to its full potential. This pattern combines 6-inch and 12-inch finished blocks to create the puzzle design. There are special markings on the tool to guarantee that the 6-inch finished block is trimmed to the exact right size. What a great way to learn how to use the tool!

Gumdrops uses the Tool to make 6-inch finished blocks with 3/4-inch finished logs. The proportions of this baby quilt are perfect. Cut a variety of pastel strips from fat quarters to achieve a scrappy look. Then sew just twenty-four 6-inch blocks together to complete the center.

Pineapple Smoothies is an oversized throw that accentuates the pineapple pattern by using the same fabric for odd-numbered rounds. The even-numbered rounds are cut from a variety of fat quarters to achieve that rainbow sherbet look.

The Skinny Pineapple from Creative Grids® joins the other tools in the Pineapple family. The original Pineapple Trim Tool makes 6, 8, and 10-inch blocks with 1″ finished logs.

Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool for 6, 8 or 10in Finished Blocks

The Pineapple Trim Tool Mini makes 4, 5, or 6-inch finished blocks with 1/2-inch logs.

Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool Mini Quilt Ruler

All are in stock now.

Just Slap & Wrap

Posted on December 17, 2021 by Penny Haren

I know these have a lot of uses in my sewing room, but right now I wish I would have bought another set for holiday wrapping paper!

The Gypsy Quilter Slap & Wrap Peels 12ct

Wrap your large spools and cones of thread to avoid tangles and thread trails. Keep your stabilizer neat and tidy! Roll up your cork in style!

Also includes 1 black heat erasable pen- label the Slap and Wrap Peel as desired and wipe away when finished. This is very handy to label your stabilizer, thread color, or to make project notes!

Also, wear it as a bracelet and keep measurements readily available.

The come in a tube of 12 peels with multiple colors: purple, pink, and blue as well as a black heat erasable marker for labeling.

These are in stock now, so place your orders!

Quilt Block Markers

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Penny Haren

These new Gypsy Quilter® quilt block markets designed by Purple Hobbies include an entire set of letters and numbers from 0 through 9 in every package. To watch a video demonstration, click here.

These Pinnable Quilt Block Markers allow you to keep your quilt pieces and blocks organized. Use your own pins with a Block Marker to pin a letter or number to your pieces. Use them to keep track of your blocks for your Block of the Month projects. Each letter and number was custom designed to make them easy to read at a glance.

They are also available in white.

These items are in stock now and would make great stocking stuffers.

Fresh Fruit from Krista Moser

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Penny Haren

When we have those January blahs and the sun never seems to shine, this would be the perfect project to bring a little “happy” into our lives!

I was lucky enough to audit the first class for this quilt and the ladies loved it. Every fruit teaches a new technique so it is the perfect class.

In Krista’s words: Fresh Fruit is a fun sampler quilt with each block teaching a new way to use the Large Creative Grids®, 60-degree diamond ruler. There are six different fruit blocks: lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries, watermelons, and grapes. This quilt is so fun to put together and a great way to build skills in piecing each block’s combination of shapes. The Fresh Fruit pattern comes with two layouts: a lap quilt size that includes the striped background blocks and a wall-hanging size made up of the fruit blocks only. This pattern is fully-illustrated, with step-by-step directions, for easy assembly with no Y seams! Lap: 53″ x 56″, Wall Hanging 36″ X 35 1/2″.

This pattern is due to arrive any day and features the Creative Grids® 60 Degree Diamond Ruler.

Stitchy Sticks

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Penny Haren

The Stitchy Sticks 3-piece Set from The Gypsy Quilter® has 6 main features to aid in general sewing and quilting, hand and machine appliqué, fabric turning, English paper-piecing and vinyl crafting, stuffing and more.

1. Stiletto: Use it to guide fabric while at the sewing machine- to keep fingers a safe distance away from the sewing machine needle. Gently guide fabric through the presser foot when sewing both straight and curved seams. Keep fingers safe from the heat of a hot iron. Poke out corners of sewn fabric. Push stuffing into tiny spaces. Hold small seam allowances in place while under-stitching. Precisely place layers of fabric and line up edges.

2. Blunted Ball Tip: Use to position template pieces or small pieces of fabric at the iron, rather than using your finger. Use in combination with the turning tube to turn fabric. Use to turn straight sides of appliques.

3. Tapered Finger: Use to assist in opening seams. Use to finger press seams. Use to wrap fabric around templates. Assists in specific placement of applique. Use to hold glued pieces in place.

4. Spatula: Use to pry starched fabric or fused fabric off the pressing surface. Use to score release papers when working with Fusible interfacing and stabilizers. Use to remove English Paper- Piecing papers, foundation papers or other backing papers after stitching is complete.

5. Turning Tube- To assist in turning fabric when paired with the blunt ball tip.

6. Body of the tools- the squared handle measures 1/4 inch on each side. Use a pencil to draw a 1/4 inch seam allowance beyond the edge of the template. The flat sides stop the tools from rolling off the working surface.

These are the perfect tools to use to give your sewing and quilting projects that professional look. They are in stock now and would make a great gift! Watch a video here: //www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO3sQk_BAcs

The Zipper Jig

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Penny Haren

What is a zipper jig? It acts as a third hand when adding a pull, or changing a pull, on zipper tape or an existing zipper.

Use The Zipper Jig from The Gypsy Quilter® to easily add a custom zipper pull onto zipper tape. The Zipper Jig will accommodate size 3, 4.5 and 5 zipper pulls and tape. Available in Bohemian Blue and Gypsy Purple.

If you are like me, and didn’t know the what those numbers mean, they are the width in mm of the teeth in the zipper. The traditional zippers that we grew up with are usually 3. Zippers that are 4.5 and 5 have become increasing popular, especially in bag making.

Zippers have become a fashion statement. Most companies, including Atkinson Designs, By Annie, and Sassafras Lane (just to name a few), offer zipper pulls in assorted colors that can be switched out to add that awe factor.

These zipper jigs are also the perfect companion to zippers by the roll and makes a great demo! Both colors are in stock and available now.

A Fall Feast

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Penny Haren

Hank and Harriet combine courthouse-steps log cabin blocks and curvy log cabin blocks in a variety of colorways to create these adorable pumpkins. They are a part of a trio of patterns that, when combined, showcase Fall in all its glory!

Since the templates for Hank and Harriet are oversized, they are not printed on the pattern. Instead, you can download them from the Cut Loose Press™ website. Since they are formatted on 8-½ by 11-inch paper, the templates can be printed directly onto any fusible available in sheets such as EZ Print Featherlite, no tracing required! Or add your own personality and draw your own.

Both of these patterns require the Creative Grids® log cabin and curvy log cabin trim tools for 4″ finished blocks.

Creative Grids 4in Log Cabin Trim Tool Quilt Ruler

Creative Grids 4in Curvy Log Cabin Trim Tool

EZ Print Featherlite 8-1/2in x 11in 10pk

Cornelius is the third member of this trio.

Cornelius combines courthouse-steps log cabin blocks in a variety of colorways to create this cornstalk that was definitely knee-high by the 4th of July. This one is made with just the Creative Grids® Log Cabin Trim Tool for 4″ finished blocks.

Since the blocks are all trimmed with the Creative Grids® Tools, they are all exactly the same size so these projects go together like magic. They are like putting together jigsaw puzzles. Once you do one, you will want to do them all!

New from GE Designs

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Penny Haren

June was first done as a Quilt along in the month of June, 2021, it is now available in a printed format. It is categorized as a Stripology Mixer pattern as you can either use a combination of 10″ squares and 2-1/2″ strips or Fat Quarters. You can use the Stripology XL or Squared ruler but instructions for using regular rulers are included. The pattern comes with multiple layout options and 4 different size options: Crib, lap, full, and king.

Creative Grids Stripology XL

Or Creative Grids Stripology Squared

Creative Grids Stripology Squared Quilt Ruler

This striking, geometric pattern is much easier to make than it looks. Make it with assorted 10″ squares or a single background option, we recommend using the Stripology Squared or the Stripology XL ruler by GE Designs. Instructions for using regular rulers are included. The pattern comes with 5 different size options: crib, lap, twin, full, queen/king.

Perfect gift for the cocktail lover! 12 more laminated cocktail recipe cards from the book Stripology Mixology 2. Each of these spill proof cards feature a recipe on one side and a beautiful photo of a quilt on the back. The cards come with a cover on a ball chain containing a Hurricane glass charm, cut from acrylic. Perfect stocking stuffer.

All three items will be available early next month so order now!

New from Cut Loose Press

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Penny Haren

While it looks like these blocks are set on point, it is an illusion. Susan Nelson makes this oh sew simple! Then, it is all about color placement to create the secondary pattern. What a fun way to use her Creative Grids® Folded Corner Clipper XL. The pattern includes fabric requirements and cutting instructions for two sizes.

Creative Grids Folded Corner Clipper Tool XL

5 Stack by Leigh Headington is a charming beginner quilt. Sewing strips together and then sub-cutting makes this quilt fun and easy project. These units are then alternated with large rectangles, the perfect place to show off your favorite fabrics.

Create the center star points with the Creative Grids® Ultimate Flying Geese Tool or insert your favorite four-inch block. Then add two rounds of logs with the Log Cabin Trim Tool. The corner triangles are trimmed evenly thanks to the diagonal line that is printed on the Folded Corner Clipped XL. Each round is trimmed after the oversized triangles are added so they are perfect every time!

Don’t you love the secondary block design that is created when corner posts are added to the sashings? What a great way to learn new techniques with your favorite rulers.

Creative Grids® Ultimate Flying Geese Tool by Deb Heatherly

Creative Grids® 8″ Log Cabin Trim Tool by Jean Ann Wright

Creative Grids Log Cabin Trim Tool for 8in Finished Blocks Quilt Ruler

Or Creative Grids® 10″ Log Cabin Trim Tool Duo also b Jean Ann Wright

Creative Grids 10in Log Cabin Trim Tool Duo

Creative Grids® Folded Corner Clipper XL by Susan Nelson

And, since they are Cut Loose Press™ and printed on demand, they are all available and in stock now!

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