Newest Release From Creative Grids

Posted on June 26, 2020 by Penny Haren

The newest Creative Grids® tool, Kitty Cornered, developed by Deb Heatherly is simply brilliant! It is one of those blocks that I always paper-pieced in the past because I just couldn’t sew those odd angles accurately. Well, not anymore!

Make eleven different sizes of the Kitty Cornered block – two at a time! Cut the odd angles with the tool, then trim them down to size after sewing. Fast, easy and accurate! Make two Kitty Cornered blocks at one time – the printed cutting chart is right on the tool! Create eleven sizes from 1 to 6 inches – and every half inch in between. The ruler comes with fully illustrated step by step instructions or watch the YouTube video to see a demonstration.

And, of course, there are sooo many companions. Daddy’s Ties is a Cut Loose Press™ pattern and is the perfect choice for a memory quilt. I am making this one with a friend who lost her husband a few years ago. We are using his ties – and oxford cloth shirts for the background squares. What an heirloom!

Combining four of the blocks – and sewing them together like a nine-patch creates this stunning quilt – Kitty Cornered Chained. Don’t you love the larger units as accents in the middle border?

Evergreen Runner is a fast, easy project combining half-square triangles and Kitty Cornered blocks.

By reversing the lights and darks in the block, a whole new design is created in Happy N Blessed.

Nostalgia combined Kitty Cornered blocks with three inch log cabins – created with the four inch log cabin trim tool.

Need a patriotic table runner this summer? Liberty Runner is just the ticket and you can finish it in an afternoon!

I love this Maple Leaf table runner that is cut from 10 – 10″ squares so it is easy to kit for classes! I cut kits for this yesterday and am using a gray background – can’t wait to start sewing!

Aptitude is a full pattern that includes instructions for a lap as well as a queen sized quilt. This pattern uses the Creative Grids® CGRDH2 Strippy Stars Tool and the CGRDH5 Kitty Cornered Tool. Fabric selection is easy! Just choose a background and two additional contrasting colors.

Catagonia also features lap and queen sizes and combines the Cat’s Cradle tool by Deb with the Kitty Cornered tool. The pattern calls for a variety of fabrics in the cat’s cradle units so pull out your scraps!

Sassafras combines the Ultimate Flying Geese tool with the Kitty Cornered Tool for maximum effect. With just three colors, it is oh so simple to choose fabrics.

Pick out 9 Fat Quarters and a background fabric, and use the Creative Grids® CGRDH5 Kitty Cornered tool to make this fun 55″ x 70″ quilt designed by Christine Van Buskirk. Don’t you love the dark background???

Flurry is a 64″ x 80″ Fat Quarter friendly quilt is stunning in blues. Using CGRFCC (6″ Folded Corner Clipper) is also featured in the instructions as an optional tool for the diamond in a square assembly.

The tool and Cut Loose Press™ patterns are in stock. The full-sized patterns are due in any day so place your orders now!

Grids Girls Take Note

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Penny Haren

This new book by Deb Heatherly is flying off the shelves but don’t worry – more are on the way! Her newest book – Creatively Yours – features 10 quilts in a multitude of sizes and four table runners.

This book is a must-have for all of you gadget gurus! These quilts combine several different Creative Grids® tools with stunning results.

This book is a perfect companion to any Creative Grids® or Grids Girl program. Demonstrate a different ruler each month and build as they learn to show how they all work together to create the quilts of your dreams!

New Patterns Featuring your Favorite Creative Grids® Tools

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Penny Haren

Deb Heatherly has created several of your favorite Creative Grids® tools including the Strippy Star and is always figuring out new ways to use them. In Caribbean Stars, she creates secondary stars in the sashings! Simply stunning!

In Teal We Meet Again, the stars are created with the CGR Strippy Star with a secondary design of Shooflies. She includes a ribbon border that creates the perfect ending for this quilt.

Purrsnickity features the Creative Grids® Cat’s Cradle XL tool. What a quick and easy quilt with striking results!

Scrap Dance Stars is the perfect setting for fussy cut pieces or photographs. Once again, the Cat’s Cradle XL makes this a quick and easy quilt!

Deb makes quick work of this separated star with the Creative Grids® Folded Corner Cutter, 2-1/2 inch strips and five-inch squares.

All are due to arrive just in time for Market.

Cat Lover’s Delight

Posted on November 11, 2018 by Penny Haren

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!

Cats Cradle Magnified

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Penny Haren

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???

A Flock of Flying Geese

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Penny Haren

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!

Celebrate the Holidays with Creative Grids

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Penny Haren

Need demos for that holiday open house? We’ve got you covered. There are excellent Cut Loose Press™ patterns that feature Creative Grids® rulers that will have your customers making multiples for gifts as well.

Capiz Lanterns looks like a modern version of our favorite tree ornament. It is oh so simple to make with the Oval Always tool by Karla Alexander.

Deb Heatherly creates these ornaments with the 4″ version of the Log Cabin Curvy tool.

And just look at the variety of trees….

Jean Ann created this tree by combining the 8″ log cabin trim tool with the curvy version of the same size.

These trees were all made with a 30-degree angle.

Karla Alexander’s Crazy Christmas Trees has been in the top 10 patterns since its release!

This snowman table runner is a great choice for the entire winter!

Best news? Everything is in stock and ready for your holiday events!

Creative Grids Girls Program

Posted on October 4, 2017 by Penny Haren

Deb Heatherly will be offering a Take and Teach at this Market explaining her popular Grids Girl program which has two new offerings!

All About the Grids is a darling 47-inch square quilt gives you an opportunity to teach a different ruler every month – and share the additional books and patterns that support the tools! This quilt features the Creative Grids®Cat’s Cradle; Strippy Star; Turbo 4-Patch; Ultimate Flying Geese; 6″ Log Cabin and 8″ Square on Square.

Grid-dle Me is a 48-inch square that features the Creative Grids® Cat’s Cradle, Turbo 4-Patch, and Ultimate Flying Geese Tool featured above PLUS two sizes of the Pineapple Trim Tool and a 6″ Curvy Log Cabin. Deb has created a whole new way to use the Pineapple Tools that will have your students wanting more!

Both could be taught in a series of three or six classes or are the perfect projects for a retreat! The patterns will be arriving this month. The rulers are available now!

Courthouse Steps Inspiration

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Penny Haren

Deb Heatherly and I are not only Creative Grids® designers, we are also friends. She has designed four of our most popular tools – Cat’s Cradle; Strippy Star, Turbo Four-Patch and the Ultimate Flying Geese.

We both travel and teach – and love to demonstrate Creative Grids®. My latest Cut Loose Press™ pattern, Log Cabin Nights, was inspired by one of her quilts – Steps to the Stars.

Here is the story. I was working on a king sized quilt and needed a final border. I loved the way Deb combined Strippy Stars and Courthouse Steps blocks in her pattern. As a border, however, I needed a darker look that would frame the quilt and be striking when it was hanging off the side of a bed.

I completed the quilt – and loved the border. There was a long dresser in the room that was scratched on the top. What is a quilter to do? Make a dresser scarf of course – and Log Cabin Nights was born. Look at your patterns as inspiration and see what happens!

I just noticed a white spot on the top of the buffet….back to the sewing room.

Turbo 4-Patch combines speed and accuracy

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Penny Haren

Deb Heatherly, designer of the Cat’s Cradle and Strippy Star, created the Turbo 4-Patch when she was teaching a class and the quilt required HUNDREDS of mini 4-Patches. She knew her students would baulk at making these units the traditional way so a new trim tool was born!

Create four-patch blocks in 16 different sizes ranging from ½” to 4″ finished sizes in a matter of minutes. Simply place the markings on the ruler directly on the seam line and trim. Since the blocks are trimmed after cutting, sewing, and pressing, any distortion caused by these steps is corrected and each four-patch will be the perfect size every time!

This trim tool is the perfect companion for the 2-½” and 5″ pre-cuts that are on the market. We know that they aren’t always cut the exact same size so cutting from the seam line guarantees accuracy.

Deb has created several patterns that showcase this tool. These three Cut Loose Press™ patterns are great class options.

This tool can also be combined with Deb’s other Trim Tools such as the Strippy Star.
She has also created several full sized patterns that are striking. My Radiant Star combines four-patches and half-square triangles to maximum effect.
Or make this darling basket quilt called Addison:

Or teach all three tools in Ella’s Attic:

Whether used individually or in tandem, these tools are a delight!