Prepping for Valentine’s and St. Paddy’s Day

Yes, this is the perfect Valentine decoration but why not make it in 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 #CLPKAL011 from Cut Loose Press by Karla Alexander.

Crazy Hearts
Crazy Hearts

Don’t you love the name? In Crazy Love #CLPKAL014 from Cut Loose Press the angles doesn’t matter. The sashing strips can be adjusted by trimming them after the letters are pieced so they are all the same height.

What a great shower or wedding gift. At 18 x 53 inches it would make a statement hanging above a bed!

Crazy Love
Creative Grids Spider Web Quilt Ruler


It is all about fabric placement. Lovey #CLPDLB018 by Lisa DeBord 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?

Lovey
Creative Grids 4in Log Cabin Trim Tool Quilt Ruler

There is a little bit of Irish in all of us so why not celebrate it? The leaves of these Tumbling Shamrocks #CLPQIN001 are cut from a variety of 2-1/2in strips. The variety of prints adds depth and texture to the design by creating another design element. Adjust the size accordingly to make it fit your table or gift it to your favorite bloke as a throw! Either way, it will be treasured!

Tumbling Shamrocks

Cut Loose Press® patterns are a Checker Exclusive and printed on demand so they are always in stock and available for your next kit or class.

Crazy Love

Don’t you love the name?

Crazy Love

This Cut Loose Press™ pattern #CLPKAL014 features four letters that are all pieced individually after the angles are cut with the Creative Grids® Spiderweb Ruler #CGRKA6. The width of each letter doesn’t matter. Each letter can be trimmed after the sashing strips are added so that the height of each block is exactly the same before they are sewn together.

Karla Alexander is one of my favorite designers because she thinks WAY outside of the box. In this case, she created all of the cutting instructions to work with directional fabrics. And, the pieces are oversized so they are trimmed to size after piecing the angles. With big pieces and built-in fudge factors, even beginners will be successful. The angled pieces are all cut with her Creative Grids® Spiderweb Ruler.

Creative Grids Spider Web Quilt Ruler

What a great shower or wedding gift. The guests could sign the backing fabric.

At 18 x 53 inches, it would make a statement hanging above a bed! I’m thinking about framing each letter individually and hanging them as a headboard.

If you are a visual learner, a video tutorial will be available soon. Everything is in stock so place your orders now.

It’s All About the Love

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?

Lovey


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!

American Sweetheart


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

Hearts & Chocolate Diamonds

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.

I Love America

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.

Crazy Hearts

Why not schedule a class (or classes) today!

A Fitted Mask

This mask pattern from Cut Loose Press™ #CLKAL013 includes three sizes: small for a child or petite adult; medium for most women; and large for most men and will even accommodate their beard.

The Cover Up!

The angled nose and chin pieces are cut with the Creative Grids® Spider Web Quilt Ruler #CGRKA6 to ensure a form fit. And wait until you see how she sews the pleat – pure genius! Pattern includes instructions on how to add an additional filter and a mask bar. Be sure to visit the Checker YouTube channel and watch the video before you start.

Many of you already have the Creative Grids® Spiderweb Quilt Ruler since Karla Alexander used it in the Cut Loose Press™ Crazy Christmas Tree, Crazy Hearts, and Coffee Break patterns.

Creative Grids Spider Web Quilt Ruler

Add an optional mask bar from The Gypsy Quilter.

The Gypsy Quilter Mask Bar 100ct

And, the adjustable elastics also from The Gypsy Quilter come in a variety of colors – and ensure a perfect fit.

Drawstring Mask Elastic Black 60ct

Let’s face it – pun intended – masks are going to be a part of life for a long time so find the best fit for your family and friends!

Coffee for Christmas

Coffee Break from Cut Loose Press™ by Karla Alexander is so much fun to make! I got out my Fiestaware and started throwing out fabrics that coordinated. It turns out, I couldn’t stop at a table runner. They are just way too much fun – and I am a little OCD…

Coffee Break

So what is a gal to do? Make 35 more and turn them into mug rugs for gifts for coaches, teachers, principals….you get the picture. And, if you have a good relationship with your machine quilter, she may even add their names.

But, I live in Ohio – and they are #1 so…..

These individual cups measure approximately 8″ so I cut an 8″ square of fabric, folded it in half, and used it as a pocket on the back. I’ll put coffee gift cards in the pocket as a homage to Karla. After all, she lives in the Pacific Northwest and KNOWS good coffee!

You still have time to finish six or six dozen by Christmas so get started!

Time for a Coffee Break

Karla Alexander of Saginaw Street Quilts has a new Cut Loose Press™ pattern #CLPKAL012 that is going to fly off the shelves like her Crazy Christmas Tree #CLPKAL009! Look how cute this is …

I can’t wait to make it! Actually, I want to design my dinette around this. Can you imagine covering a cornice board with these and framing individual ones for the wall? Of course, I’ll make the table runner too – but who can stop there when they are so darn cute?????

Just like the Crazy Christmas Tree and Crazy Hearts #CLPKAL011 – they all use the Creative Grids® Spider Web Quilt Ruler #CGRKA6.

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Crazy Christmas Tree is the #1 selling Cut Loose Press™ of all time!

Crazy Hearts uses the same ruler and same technique. Why not start a series of classes? These are great classes and demos!



There are TONS of companions for this ruler so check out the patterns shown on the website under the ruler for more possibilities. Why not demonstrate those techniques in class? Everyone loves getting more bang for their buck – but make sure you have THOSE patterns in stock as well.

Heartfelt with Creative Grids® Rulers

The latest pattern by Krista Moser is due to arrive any day. It can be made as a table runner as well as a quilt. In fact, wouldn’t this make the perfect baby quilt??? Her fabric choices are stunning and the strip piecing makes this project a piece of cake!

These projects feature her 60-degree Diamond Ruler by Creative Grids®.

Many of you have paid your rent with the Crazy Christmas Tree pattern from Cut Loose Press™ and ruler. Same ruler – different season: Crazy Hearts pattern by Cut Loose Press. Don’t you love these fabrics???

Made with the Creative Grids® Spiderweb ruler – both the patterns and ruler are designed by Karla Alexander.

Hens and Hearts is a pieced version created by Pam and Nicky Lintott – and features the Creative Grids® Multi-Sized Triangle Tool.

Don’t you love it when you find new patterns for your favorite tools? And these are ALL winners!

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!

Drunkard’s Path Blocks Made Easy

Karla Alexander, one of the designers of the Creative Grids Circle Savvy ruler, has come up with a way to cut the two units most commonly used in Drunkard’s Paths – with very little waste! Watch this Equal Exchange Tutorial:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgowwTaWjlo

In the Cut Loose Press pattern, Equal Exchange, Karla uses this technique to create a beautiful table runner from a charm pack with very little waste. One charm pack – one table runner – who could ask for an easier project to kit! But this technique can be used with any size squares up to 15″.

This 16 x 40 inch table runner can be the foundation of a perfect demo – especially when they know there is a video to refresh their memory when they get home!

Have a sewing machine set up as well so they can actually sew a curve. For tips on how to do that, watch her video on sewing curves:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4WFZIU-vyw

Remove the intimidation factor so you can introduce them to a whole new world of quilting! The Circle Savvy tool has tons of companions – just scroll down to the bottom of the page!

The Latest from Saginaw Street Quilts

Karla Alexander of Saginaw Street Quilts has a quirky style that is instantly recognizable. Her newest patterns are no exception. Whether she is working in curves, angles, or straight lines – her influence shines through!

I love her own descriptions for her patterns. She has a way of removing the intimidation factor and make me believe that I can do it too!

If you’re feeling a little rebellious and on the run from the Quilt Police, this is the perfect quilt for you! You can break a few rules and make up some new ones along the way with this “go to method” for making blocks that you’ll use again and again. Create blocks that weave over and under one another in ribbons of different colors and explore different ways to manipulate your block. Follow the pattern instructions step by step or change it up along the way – it’s your call.

Inversion is based on a variety of light and dark 10 inch squares. I used white and gray prints for my light and a mix of green, turquoise and dark gray for my dark. Fabric requirements are listed for yardage as well as “By the Square” (IF you have a stash).

The twirling swirling blocks for this quilt are made from a mix of two contrasting prints. I used a light background with orange arcs, however a dark background with light arcs would also work. The arcs are long and gentle which makes them very easy to sew. You could also work from your stash (if you have one) and make each block a different color.

This quilt was created with Karla’s Oval Always ruler by Creative Grids.

If this name – and style – sound familiar, this is the same gal that brought us the Crazy Christmas Tree:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karla has a way of removing the intimidation factor so order these patterns today!