Machine Quilting Help

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Penny Haren

Whether you are on a longarm or domestic machine, quilting is all about muscle memory! This new fabric panel by RGA Designs has printed quilting designs so you can practice the motions – with guidance – until you are ready to step out on your own!

The Skillbuilder Filler Finesse Fabric Panel measures 36″ x 45″ so 15 panels come on a bolt. These 100% Cotton Printed panels feature 27 colorful designs for free motion quilting (FMQ) practice. Hooks, lines, swirls, arcs, s-curves, loops, and feathers are included in a variety of patterns. Subtle directional arrows – printed right on the fabric – will have you quilting like a pro in no time.

This newest panel is the perfect companion to the two other Skillbuilder panels available through RGA Designs:

Machine Quilting Skillbuilder 1 15 Panels Per Bolt

Machine Quilting Skillbuilder 2 15 Panels Per Bolt

January is the month when everyone resolves to finish their UFO’s so why not offer a class. This would be a great zoom class! All of the participants could order the book and panel. Then they could quilt along at home where they have plenty of room while you share helpful tips and tricks with them.

Skillbuilder Companion for Machine Quilters

Why not offer different battings as well? Who wouldn’t love to try different battings and see which ones are truly their favorites? Most of these are in stock – the new panel is due to arrive this month.

A Galactic Fabric Explosion

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Penny Haren

Galactic Explosion

Galactic Explosion 12-Part BOM Pattern Booklet #NRDGEBOM is a sampler in two colorways: VENUS (brights) and MARS (earth tones). Nine stars in the center are surrounded by a piano key border and a dancing star border.

From Marcus Fabrics the Galactic Explosion BOM fabric by Nancy Rink Collection are featured and include a mix of tone-on-tone brights for the VENUS version and semi-solid textures for the MARS version. The full color, saddle-stitched, 52-page booklet includes complete separate instructions for BOTH colorways. 91 x 91″ finished size. Perfect for a Block of the Month or Saturday Sampler program.

There are two 60″ wide coordinating fabrics.

Contact Nancy for a shop cutting guide and program information: nancy@nancyrinkdesigns.com

Everything is due to arrive next month so place your orders now.

The Jellies Have It!

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Penny Haren

All you need is ONE jelly roll along with background and accent fabric to create this stunning oversized throw. The pattern Jelly Roll Log Cabins #CLPCAM022 from Cut Loose Press™ includes cutting instructions for the logs so every inch of fabric is utilized. Since the log cabin blocks finish to 12 inches, you only need to make 16 blocks so you can finish the entire project in an afternoon.

All you need is TWO jelly rolls along with background and accent fabric to create this stunning full/queen-sized quilt. The pattern Jelly Roll Blues #CLPCAM023 from Cut Loose Press™ includes cutting instructions for the logs to best utilize the fabric. The center square is pieced from 2-1/2 inch strips as well to add to the courthouse steps effect. Since the log cabin blocks finish to 12 inches, you only need to make 42 blocks so you can finish the entire project in a weekend.

Make either quilt with the Creative Grids® Log Cabin Trim Tool Two Quilt Ruler #CGRJAW2 designed by Jean Ann Wright.

Creative Grids Log Cabin Trim Tool Two 6in & 12in Blocks Quilt Ruler

Robin Pickens Style

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Penny Haren

Robin’s quilts are instantly recognizable – the signature of a true artist. I’m not sure if it is the crisp, clean lines….her color choices….or the way she explodes a block to make it new. Whatever it is it works – and here are three of her newest!

Celebrate the sunny side with Simple Solstice. Use a Charm Pack for the small Lap sized 35 x 45 inch quilt or a Layer Cake for the Twin sized 69 x 90 inch quilt. This quilt uses flying geese, half square triangles and stitch and flip corners with minimal matching of points, making it more novice-friendly. Large sun centers are good to show off bigger prints.

Forward slashes, backslashes, rectangles and half square triangles move around this lively, geometric quilt. Tell a color story, using 11 cuts of coordinating fabrics with added background sashing. You can also make this in a scrappier look using layer cake squares since pieces cut to 9.5 inches. Pattern includes sizes of Lap which uses 1/3 yard cuts, Twin using 1/2 yard cuts and Queen using 3/4 yard cuts.

This 71 inch square quilt uses half square triangles and patchwork pieces to make blocks with an added thin sashing for accents. Pattern uses a layer cake or you can use at least 24 squares sized 10 inches each. Pattern is revised and improved from earlier Fair and Square pattern.

Any of these would be great choices for kits – and all are in stock so order them now!

A Sew Kind of Wonderful Nativity

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Penny Haren

I just love this! Helen Robinson of Sew Kind of Wonderful has a created modern look with simple piecing using the Sew Kind of Wonderful tool A Starry Night is wonderful in every way!

She has created a bonus block which can be substituted for the camel block in the quilt or made into a pillow as an accent.

She has even created a coordinating coloring book! Talk about adding that awe factor to a gift!

Why not feature this quilt as a block of the month starting in January so it will be done in time for the next holiday season? The quilt finished to 75″ x 78″. The pattern comes with multiple layouts so you can adjust the size to fit your needs. The quilt pattern is due to arrive this week. The bonus block, coloring book and ruler are already in stock. Wouldn’t this be a great gift – especially if they know it will be featured in upcoming classes????

A Gandiegow Christmas

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Penny Haren

For those of you who are fans of Patience Griffin and read her series on Scotland, this pattern is sure to make you smile. It is featured in It Happened in Scotland, the sixth novel in the series.

The quilt measures 53″ x 86″ so it is the perfect size for a twin bed. You can add borders if necessary! Don’t you love the addition of orange and purple in the branches? But if you are more traditional – like me – it is cute in shades of green as well. The plaids and checks give it texture.

Bundle the pattern with the book and you have a winner! What quilter doesn’t like to read as well. And the books don’t HAVE to be read in order!

Add a fat quarter bundle of greens to add that awe factor to the gift! Visit our website to see all of the books and patterns by Patience Griffin. Who knows – it may inspire you to stare a book club next year. It could be the perfect zoom class!

The Gnomes Have It!

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Penny Haren

These Holly Jolly Gnomes designed by The Whole Country Caboodle are simply adorable! The pattern features four different gnomes: Reindeer Gnome, Snowflake Gnome, Santa Gnome, and Papa Gnome. With names like that, they could move right in with the Smurfs and feel right at home!

The booklet includes instructions for a mug rug, pillow, pillow wrap, and canister wrap. Many feature homespun towels as a base.

These fellows also come in laser cut kits which Include precut fused applique & finished drawing for assembling applique.

”

Reindeer Gnome Precut Fused Applique Pack

Snowflake Gnome Precut Fused Applique Pack

Preview in new tab(opens in a new tab)

I can already see these as the basis of gifts for next year. Why not start a holiday club in January? Feature projects like this that make great gifts for everyone on your list – including the pets! Can’t you just picture a canister filled with cat or dog treats wrapped with a reindeer gnome? Decorated kitchen towels for hostess gifts? Mug rugs for the folks at work? Wouldn’t it be nice to have an assortment of gifts on hand next year?

These items are due to arrive the end of December so they would be a great way to kick off a new program! And don’t forget to check out Leann’s fabric with Henry Glass. Her basic lines are great wardrobe choices for these guys!

A Pattern Basket Holiday

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Penny Haren

These newest quilts from The Pattern Basket are simply adorable! Tis the Season is made with 2 1/2″ strips.

Ribbons and Bows is layer cake friendly.

Silent Night is fat quarter friendly.

These newest patterns are due to arrive this week. Why not combine them with other favorites? Cardinals is layer cake friendly.

Merry Little Christmas is fat quarter and fat eighth friendly.

Tree Farm uses an assortment of 2 1/2″ strips.

And Christmas in a Jar uses an assortment of different widths of strips.

Order several! They would make a great holiday display along with some adorable fabrics.

Half Rects with Brenda Henning

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Penny Haren

It is hard to believe that all four of these quilts were made with half rectangle units!

It’s hard to pick a favorite – or a first project! There is a template in the patterns or the units can be easily trimmed with her Half Rect Ruler. This tool trims seven different sizes from 1 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ to 4 1/2″ x 8 1/2″. All of the individual pieces are cut from rectangles. Sewing bias edges is not a problem since the half rectangle units are trimmed to the perfect size after sewing.

The ruler and patterns are due to arrive the beginning of December so place your orders now!

Noah’s Journey Block of the Month

Posted on November 14, 2020 by Penny Haren

Meg Hawkey of Crabapple Hill Studio has released the next two installments of her 12 month BOM ark series which will finish to 66 1/2″ x 78 1/2″. Meg releases these as a mystery quilt – you have to trust that you will love the final quilt as you stitch each month – and we ALWAYS do!

I love Meg’s descriptions of the blocks and will incorporate them into the story I tell my grandchildren:

The pigs were a little bit leery about getting out on the water! Noah’s crew has outfitted them with floatation rings, so they’re happy now, and hopefully they’ll take them off at some point during the journey! The Canada Geese can’t wait for the rains to start, and the turtles and snails are bringing up the rear…slowly! Three blocks in this single pattern!

Noah's Journey #3 Pigs Geese and Turtles

The monkeys decided to hitch a ride to the ark, and the camels were happy to oblige! They’re expecting rain, but it’s sunny right now, so this pretty lady is wearing her favorite hat so that her cheeks don’t get overly pink.

These two additions will be released in the next few weeks. The original blocks follow:

Let’s all get started with the large 24”x 24” Ark block! Almost every floss and colored pencil used in the quilt are used in this block! The colored pencil tinting is easy and fun, and the stitching isn’t anything a confident beginner couldn’t easily handle. Jump on board, we’re almost ready to sail!

A lovely little Kangaroo couple with baby in tow! The bunnies have had to wait in line quite a while… so here are a few more!

It is the perfect season for handwork! Who doesn’t love to pick up a needle and thread and sit in front of a fire! Order your patterns today!

Checker News Blog

Resource for Independent Quilt, Sewing, and Needlearts Retailers

Category Archives: Patterns