Twelve Days of Christmas – Part One

Not only were all of these items hot at Market, but I also worked Festival and the Novi show in Michigan – and the consumers agree!

The Creative Grids® Stripology Squared Mini is a definite hit. Everyone loves the size and maneuverability of this baby! Designed to square up blocks up to 6 1/2″, I immediately learned that it is my go-to tool when sub-cutting strip sets. (The acrylic raises over the seams so there is no teeter-tottering like your experience with a traditional ruler.) Plus there are five patterns that support it. Offer it for Christmas and offer classes or demos featuring the patterns the first of the year.

Stripology Mixology is the perfect companion to ALL of the Creative Grids® stripology rulers. The book features 13 quilts made from pre-cuts – and tells you how to cut your own. And who doesn’t want a cocktail over the holidays – recipes included!

The portable Reliable Iron is amazing! It is not only an iron, but it is also a steamer. It gets to a temperature of over 300 degrees in a short amount of time. The bag is insulated so you can leave class before the iron is entirely cool – just leave the long cord on the outside of the bag. Another feature – the outside of the bag has a silicone side to use as a rest when in use. This one is a winner!

What good is an iron without a great ironing mat? These Gypsy Quilter mats come in a variety of sizes. The 13 1/2″ mat is one of the most popular sizes since it is big enough to press a 12 1/2″ block!

Stay Tuned for Part Two….

Cat Lover’s Delight

I am thrilled to announce that one of my favorite designers created a line of fabric for Timeless! This batik line features Deb Heatherly’s favorite – cats!

This 96-inch square block of the month features two of her highly successful Creative Grids® rulers – the Ultimate Flying Geese and the Cat’s Cradle tool.

The fabric batik line includes her favorite things – cats and catnip! Just look at the colors!

There is also a shop kit available that includes the pattern, fabric and tips to share when teaching the class. Who could ask for anything more???

The fabric and shop kits are due to arrive in January so order it now!

Diamonds ARE a girl’s best friend!

Going to Market? Be sure to go to Krista Moser’s school house:

Room 342D at 3:45:

Come learn about all the ‘bells and whistles’ on the NEW Creative Grids® 60 Degree Diamond Ruler… including a trunk show of BRAND NEW patterns, and a Block of the Month!

Check out the dramatic way she uses these stripes!

Made with 2-1/2in strips, the Semaphore Stripes quilt is the perfect way to use striped fabric to make a secondary design without all the complicated piecing stripes typically require, and it’s jelly roll friendly! This quilt combines strip-piecing with a few well-placed Y seams to get the most dramatic effect. The pieces are large and uncomplicated, letting the fabric do the talking.

The Big Sky Bloom quilt is perfect for a little girls room, or as a cheerful answer to any room’s dreary decor. This pattern uses several features of the Creative Grids 60 degree Diamond ruler and has beautifully illustrated easy to follow instructions. Strip piece, then cut diamonds and triangles in different sizes to get the full effect.

This is just a sneak peak of the new releases at Market! Bring your calendar because you are going to want to book a class!

Perfect Ten

You asked for it so we delivered! Not only did we deliver, but we also partnered with one of the top pre-cut designers – It’s Sew Emma!

Our motto? Keep it simple! The square is a true 10″ square – not 10 1/2″. There are additional markings for five inch and two and a half inch squares, as well as the most popular strip widths. Trim half square triangles by placing the diagonal on the seam line. The black and white markings show up on both light and dark fabrics.

Grab a layer cake – or cut your own – and start one of these quilts today.

Square One and Acadia are both Cut Loose Press patterns – a perfect combination.

These creative and colorful It Sew Emma Patterns include yardage requirements for multiple sizes.

Perfect 10 Quilts is due to arrive next month and includes 16 quilts cut from ten-inch squares. If the cover is any indication, this is going to be a best seller!

Crazy Christmas Tree Farm

I love the Crazy Christmas Tree! It has three of my favorite things – it is fast, fun, and the perfect gift! I have made and taught this multiple times in a multitude of fabrics. Use two backgrounds, two tree colors, the same tree color, or eight different colors. The truth is I never saw a tree that I didn’t like!

Therefore, I was thrilled to see that Karla Alexander has expanded on this technique to make an entire quilt! The Tree Farm uses groups of color to create a stunning quilt. The backgrounds of one tree create a tree in another block! The lights and darks are simply stunning!

This quilt measures 52″ x 66″ so a Shannon Cuddle at 60″ wide is the perfect backing!

Both patterns take the Creative Grids Spiderweb tool so you get more bang for your buck! Order them now so you can start your quilt as soon as the pattern arrives and have it done in plenty of time for Christmas! The really is a day project!

Block of the Month or a Weekend

I love everything this gal does! Krista Moser has so much talent and personality – she is destined to be a rock star in our industry! Just look at what she has created with her new Creative Grids®  60 Degree Diamond Ruler!

This quilt combines the techniques that are featured in many of her patterns and removes the intimidation factor. Each diamond pattern is repeated twice and takes just a few hours.

Why not feature this at your next retreat? Share a technique, give them a few hours to sew….repeat! Better yet – invite Krista to teach at your shop or guild. Contact her at The Quilted Life. Her personality lights up a room. And, she loves to share her knowledge of quilting and longarming. What a combination! The pattern is due to arrive in September so order now!

Cats Cradle Magnified

You asked – we listened. Everyone loves the original Creative Grids® Cats Cradle Tool. You can make 1 1/2″ to 4″ and every half inch in between.

The XL size increases the options up to 8 inches – and once again, you never cut a triangle!

Deb Heatherly, the creator of this crowd-pleaser, is releasing a book of eight different designs later this month.

In the meantime, enjoy these Cut Loose Press patterns that she designed as well:

Illusionary Runner

Blue Skies and Sunshine

Big Cats Little Cats

Its Sew Easy

Raspberry Stars

Cornucopia

Lavender Fields is a full-size pattern by Christine Van Buskirk which includes multiple sizes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With all of these possibilities, the question is which one to do first???

Poppins Bag could hold Mary!

I have seen the actual bag – and couldn’t believe how big it is. It literally will hold a queen size quilt AFTER quilting! It is a great weekender bag, a retreat bag, a beach bag (with enough room for towels, sunscreen, and books for the entire family) or anything you want!

The pattern comes with structural stays so the top pops open – and stays open until you want to close it!

The sides of the bag are stabilized with In-R-Form so it will maintain its shape. It uses a 30″ zipper By Annie which comes in a multitude of colors and has two zipper pulls.

Carol uses a placemat to stabilize the base – which is 12″ x 18″.

 

 

 

Start with quilted fabric or quilt your own – which is another great class. This was quilted in straight lines – a great use for the Creative Grids Slim quilting tool designed by Angela Walters.

I talked to several people who have made the bag and many said that it went together so easy that they were making more! Now that is a testament to a great bag!

Atkinson Designs Has a Point!

There is a reason that Terry Atkinson is a legend in our industry! She dots all of her “i’s” and crosses all of her “t’s”. When she releases a pattern, you know she has looked at it from every angle and doesn’t release it until she has a winner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case in point: Hat Trick Runners. The runner takes only three fat quarters and an accent fabric. Kitting is so easy! Make the individual 60 degree triangles with the Creative Grids 60 degree ruler and choose the layout you like best. Talk about a great class! Who will be able to make just one – especially when they are inspired by their classmates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sugar Sand Beach is so clean and crisp – and is made with 2 1/2″ strips. The instructions include four different sizes so you don’t have to do the math. There are also fabric requirements for fat quarters if that works better for you. This quilt is made with the Creative Grids Spiderweb ruler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t you love the names? These patterns will be arriving soon so add them to your class schedule.

A Flock of Flying Geese

The Creative Grids Ultimate Flying Geese ruler is one of our top selling tools. This little beauty, designed by Deb Heatherly, creates flying geese in eight different sizes. Deb has used it in a multitude of ways to create thirteen different patterns in her new book – The Ultimate Flying Geese book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you find the flying geese units in these quilts???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The design possibilities are endless!