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

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Penny Haren

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.

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!

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?

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!

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.

Friendship Bracelets

Posted on November 15, 2022 by Penny Haren

Friendship bracelets are popular with a whole new generation. Clover has just made the process easier. Check out this frame:

The frame is adjustable and can do bracelets up to a length of 10 inches.

The frame includes instructions for multiple styles. They are inn stock so order now. I already ordered one for my granddaughter for Christmas!

New from Cut Loose Press!

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Penny Haren

Welcome our newest designer, Cheri Beatty! Her first submission is the perfect beginner class or project! Every inch of the fabric is used in this quilt. Grab forty-two 10-inch squares and you are ready to go. Kitting not required!

The name of the quilt says it all, Barcode Quilt. This is the perfect name for a quilt with a modern look that can truly be completed in an afternoon. Cheri recommends the Creative Grids® 6 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ Rectangle (CGR612) but any 6 1/2″ wide ruler in the line will make cutting a breeze.

Deb Heatherly submitted this gem! Gracie’s Star (CLPDHE047) is the perfect choice for a beginning quilter or anyone who wants to make a stunning quilt with a lot of impact. It makes a great Quilts of Valor, just adjust the borders as needed. An assortment of squares and half-square triangles never looked so good!

Deb recommends the Creative Grids® 5 1/2″ Square (CGR5) for this one since it is the perfect tool to trim those half-square triangles. Everything is in stock so you have time to get a sample done for your Fall class offerings!

Pineapple Popouts

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Penny Haren

The pineapple popout series showcases a new technique. The center pineapple block is made with the Creative Grids® Mini Pineapple Trim Tool (#CGRJAW3MINI) with rounds that finish at ½-inch. Additional rounds are added and trimmed with the Creative Grids® Pineapple Trim Tool (#CGRJAW3) to create 1-inch finished rounds. Click here to see a video showing this technique.

In this table runner from Cut Loose Press™, (Pineapple Popout #CLPJAW085) the colors are reversed in alternate blocks to enhance the dimensional effect. Since the corners of the block are pieced from the same fabric as the borders, the pineapples seem to float across the table. Since each round is trimmed after cutting, sewing and pressing, the results are perfect every time.

In this quilt from Cut Loose Press™, (Pineapple Popout Spice #CLPJAW079) the colors are reversed in each set of coordinated prints to enhance the dimensional effect. The scrappy border and binding add a modern feel to this stunning quilt. And since each round is trimmed after cutting, sewing and pressing, the results are perfect every time.

In this tote from Cut Loose Press (Pineapple Popout Totte #CLPJAW086), the colors are reversed in alternate blocks to enhance the dimensional effect. One block is bound and added as a pocket on one side. The fabrics and handle are reversed on the other side. Since each round is trimmed after cutting, sewing and pressing, the results are perfect every time.

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

Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool Mini Quilt Ruler

Tip: Eliminate the math by cutting the strips using the line down the center of any of the Creative Grids® 2-1/2-inch wide rectangles. This white line is at the 1-1/4-inch mark, the width of the strips needed to make the mini-block. Use the line down the center of any of the Creative Grids® 3-1/2 inch wide rectangles to cut the strips for the outer rounds.

Whimsical Mug Rugs

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Penny Haren

Wouldn’t an Easter basket look darling sitting on these rugs? The hard part will be choosing which one to make first! The pattern includes all four designs.

The laser cut shapes are available as a kit which includes the pattern and instructions.

Or they are available individually as pre-cut packs.

Easter is late this year so even though these are due to arrive the middle of this month, you have plenty of time to make them for the holiday. Place your order now!

Amy Barickman

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Penny Haren

Amy Barickman is back with this adorable Fold & Go Folio:

In her own words:

Create cases for tools, jewels, or tech essentials! Choose from two sizes and several options for jewelry or sewing notions storage. Large folio makes a perfect jewelry or sewing travel case. Drawstring pockets store necklaces, bracelets & broaches or thimbles, clips & buttons. The small folio works well as a petite jewelry or needle case, with a single pocket for earrings or collapsible scissors. The Fold & Go Folio can also be used for tech essentials like cords and memory cards. A perfect project for quilt blocks or hand embroidery. Fussy cut your favorite designer fabric. Finished size: 5in x 9in (large) & 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 (small). A QR code/link inside the pattern will lead to bonus content to enhance the maker’s experience. The printed format is an 8 page full color fold-out portfolio with 11 full color photos.

Isn’t it amazing what you can do with a few fat quarters? This pattern is due to arrive next month so place your orders now.

Crazy Love

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Penny Haren

Don’t you love the name?

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.

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

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!

Trick or Treat Bags

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Penny Haren

Wouldn’t this be a great parent/child class? I’m sure they would want to make a different version for every trick or treater in the family! With four choices, they will have a hard time choosing! If you have any glow in the dark fabric, that would certainly add that awe factor!

The designs are created with 2 1/2″ strips so they go together very quickly. Each bag finished at approximately 13 inches square. The patterns for these ghoulish delights will be available early next month!

Gift Card Ornaments

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Penny Haren

Gift-giving has never been easier! These delightful ornament bags, designed by Rachel’s of Greenfield, are just the right size for gift cards or other treasures of your choice. Each envelope-style ornament bag has a different decoration on the front and fastens on the back with an old-fashioned figure-eight closure. The kit includes woolfelt®, embroidery floss, and gold string plus precise patterns, and complete instructions to make 6 gift bags.

There are lots of kits to choose from.

These kits are a great way to keep those mask makers engaged. This is my plan:

This year I made GALLONS of Chex mix, filled quart jars, and put them in gift bags. My children and grandchildren had a ball leaving these gifts on the doorsteps of friends and on the desks of their favorite teachers. Hopefully, we will be able to celebrate the holidays this year up close and personal, but we want to continue the tradition. I drew squares the size of each woolfelt piece onto freezer paper. Then, I traced the templates for that color within the square. Since my family and friends are making multitudes of these, we can run as many copies of the template sheets as we have kits – and only have to trace them once. Now, the instructions say to trace the templates right onto the wool felt, but ironing the freezer paper onto the woolfelt with a warm iron was much faster. Why not provide a template sheet to your customers as that “value-added” bonus with the purchase of each kit?

This Gypsy Quilter Appliqué Freezer Paper is over-sized and worked well!

Gypsy Quilter Freezer Paper 12in x 15in Heavy Weight 40ct

And, what great handwork while sitting in front of a fire…..

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