Zhuzh ‘em Up!

Not everybody is familiar with the term ‘Zhuzh’ so let me explain. To zhuzh it up is to make it more attractive, interesting, or stylish.  It is always fun to see the most zhuzhed up quilter in the class, or at the retreat. Who doesn’t want a little style added to their quilting stockpile?

So let me introduce you to the newest counter displays of MATCHING pincushions, scissors, pattern weights, and tape measures. They are the bee’s knees! By the way, if you want to hang with the cool kids, use zhuzh and NOT bee’s knees.

First, these amazing Fabric Pincushions with Wood Base from HTL. I love those beautiful fabric tops, and those bees?!!! I would buy them all.  So, grab the one you like best and then notice (in a sing songy voice) the scissors!

To have a pair of matching Embroidery Scissors from HTL to use with your pincushion sitting right there next to them will make you a BOSS for sure. You’re already the envy of the group and then you show up with a Retractable Tape Measure from HTL that also matches! I mean, who IS this woman? She is so zhuzhy.

And just to throw them over the edge, you bring out your Cotton Fabric Weights from HTL. Not because you’re cutting out a fabulous dress (heck you’ve never even made a dress), but because you need them to hold your fabric pieces down to keep them from blowing away when everyone walks by and blows a heavy sigh because they aren’t as zhuzhy as you are!

Have I convinced you yet that you MUST have these on your counter?! Come on- show them your zhuzh.

Extra! Extra! Sewing Machine Feet Revealed!

Finally! A book that we can all use. Who doesn’t have a box of feet that came with their sewing machine, and you have no idea what to do with them?

Well, lookie lookie!  Bernie Tobisch (who might be a genius) came up with a book that explains ALL THOSE FEET! Learn how to do more than you ever imagined with sewing machine feet you probably already own! This 160-page book from C & T Publishing will get you sewing fantastic things because now you know how.

So, get those feet out from that ugly brown box you’ve been storing them in, and put them in a new, pretty one like this Tote Trivet from Gypsy Quilter.

or these Lori Holt Baked With Love Enamel Tins.

There, now don’t you feel inspired? Pretty AND useful. Start experimenting TODAY!

New from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts

This traditional quilt pattern is perfect for any level quilter! The finished quilt size is 60-½” x 53-½”. The unfinished block size is 8-½” x 14-½”.


This pieced quilt pattern features the gorgeous Dahlia fabric collection by Edyta Sitar for Andover. Perfect for any level quilter! The finished quilt size is 63-½” X 63-½”.


The Pennsylvania – Dahlia pattern is for any level quilter. The finished quilt size is 54″ x 54″.

The acrylic templates for cutting and sewing the shapes for the Laundry Basket Quilt pattern – Dahlia Star, are sold separately. Templates are marked with a ¼” seam allowance for easy marking and matching of pieces.

Beach House is a traditional pieced pattern. This beautiful quilt looks wonderful in any color combination. The finished quilt size is 48-½” x 54-½”. Finished blocks are 12″ and 6″.

These patterns are due to arrive the middle of next month.

New Renaissance Ribbon Collections

Add a touch of class to your next project with these beautiful ribbons.

Introducing the Mythical collection by Stacy Peterson, available exclusively from FreeSpirit Fabrics! This enchanting collection draws inspiration from ancient myths and celestial wonders, featuring stunning prints like Powerhouse, which showcases the strength and majesty of Greek Gods. Complementing this are the breathtaking Sunsets, offered in two vibrant colorways, and It’s a Phase, a captivating moon phase design available in two elegant hues. Perfect for adding a mystical, otherworldly touch to your quilts, fashion, and home décor projects, Mythical brings timeless beauty and wonder to your creative endeavors.

Discover the whimsical world of Catnap, the third enchanting ribbon collection by designer Alexia Abegg. Featuring six playful and fun designs, this collection captures the charm Alexia brings to all her designs.

This collection from Alexia Marcel Abegg is a mashup of all of her favorite things! Alexia also added things like sardines (which are having an insane moment right now), moons and stars, snakes, butterflies, her famous mini dots, and a design dedicated to all things lucky.

Salutations – Designer Pack The Salutations ribbon collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale of Ruby Star Society features seven stunning designs that perfectly coordinate with the Salutations fabric collection. With Rashida’s signature modern and playful style, these ribbons add a bold and stylish touch to any project, making them perfect for sewing, crafting, and gift wrapping.This pack includes 5 perfectly coordinated ribbons!


The Home Sweet Haunt ribbon collection by Stacy Iest Hsu is a delightful addition to your Halloween crafting toolkit. Featuring a range of Halloween-themed designs, these ribbons are perfectly coordinated to complement Stacy’s matching fabric collection. Whether you’re embellishing sewing projects, creating festive decorations, or wrapping spooky gifts, this collection offers the perfect finishing touch for all your seasonal creations.

All ribbons in these collections are available individually on our website, www.checkerdist.com. They will arrive in March and April, so place your orders now.

New Zippers from Sassafras Lane

Get the professional look of a metal zipper without the hassle. You can cut and sew easily through the nylon zipper teeth. The zippers are 3 yards long and 1-1/4″ wide. The pulls are sold separately.

Mix and match these zipper pulls with the zippers above:

Each kit contains 4 heavy duty skull zipper pulls in an iridescent rainbow finish. Use these zipper pulls with Sassafras Lane Zippers-by-the-Yard or any size #5 nylon zipper. These zipper pulls are best used on handbags, backpacks, totes, craft projects and more! Make single or double slide zippers with these fun novelty pulls.

These are all due to arrive this month. Why not add that awe factor to your next project?

Heart Cookies by Krista Moser

This festive Heart Cookies Quilt is simple and so quick to make. It will make the most out of your stash or that collection of Valentine prints you’ve been eyeing. This pattern uses the Creative Grids® 60 Degree Diamond TINY Ruler to easily cut the shapes and sizes that are needed. This pattern includes full-color directions and layouts for a baby/wall quilt and a lap/throw size.

Check out these other patterns that feature her mini diamind tool:

Everything is in stock so place your orders now.

Paper Hearts by Sew Mariana

Bring back the childlike delight of cutting out Valentines and picking out candies with Paper Hearts, a traditionally pieced quilt pattern that makes the most of the Creative Grids® 4-in-1 Hexie. Fat quarter and fat eighth friendly, this pattern encourages creativity by having quilters pair up their fabrics in each heart: will they use complimentary prints, a print, and a solid? They’ll have as much fun picking as adding glitter glue to a handmade note. Paper Hearts comes in three sizes and is a solid intermediate, using hexagons and triangles.

This 4-1/2″ Hexie cuts four different shapes, all from strips, and all easy to follow. Shapes include a 4-1/2″ hexagon, a 4-1/2″ half hexagon, a 2-1/2″ triangle, and a 2-1/2″ diamond shape.

Here are all of the patterns that feature Mariana and Creative Grids® 4-in-1 Hexie which makes cutting these quilts a breeze!

The new pattern Paper Hearts will be in stock this month.

Linda’s Electric Quilters Premium Batting Scissors by Famoré!

Don’t you hate it when batting gets snagged on the pointed end of your scissors? Well, not anymore!

Linda’s and Famore teamed together to bring you the best shears starting from a fine grade steel which is hot forged, then inspected by cutlery artisans to meet exact quality standards. The result is a scissor of uncompromised quality and craftsmanship that will last a lifetime.

SCISSOR CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Famoré scissors and shears are precision instruments that will last for generations with simple care. Wipe blades with a soft, dry cloth after each use. Once a month, apply a small amount of oil like sewing machine oil on the screw of the scissors on both sides. Run a small bead of oil up each blade. Open and close the scissors several times, wiping the scissors clean with a soft, dry cotton cloth. This allows the scissor ride to be free of debris and will ensure a sharper blade longer.

These scissors are due to arrive next month so place your orders now.

New Machine Quilting Gloves by Bohin

Our BOHIN gripping gloves provide ultimate comfort while quilting. They are specially designed for machine quilting. Thanks to their unique design, these gloves reduce hand and shoulder strain, enabling a pleasant, fatigue-free sewing experience.

Those looking for extra comfort will find these gloves a real ally for their patchwork and sewing creations. These pairs of 100% nylon 3-finger gloves don’t stick and prevent sweating. Their thinness gives them a second-skin effect for maximum dexterity and optimized grip. Available in 3 sizes: S – M and L. To choose the correct size, measure the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the beginning of the wrist. Use the size correspondences to help you choose the right pair of gloves.

Size S 6’’ to 6 3/4’’
Size M 6 3/4’’ to 7 3/4’’
Size L 7 3/4’’ to 8 3/4’’

These are due to arrive early next month so place your orders now!

New Kaffe Fassett Inspired Products

Introducing the Oliso + Kaffe Smart Iron, beautifully wrapped in Kaffe Fassett’s vibrant Celebration pattern with his iconic signature blue hues.

This limited-edition iron is designed not only for performance but also as a standout piece in your creative space. It’s part of an exclusive collection of pressing tools, all crafted to bring Kaffe’s artistry and color to your quilting and sewing projects.

The TG1600Pro Plus features Oliso’s patented iTouch® technology. Simply touch the handle and the iron lowers, ready to work. Take your hand off and the iron lifts off the board preventing scorches, burns, and tipping. It’s not only safer, but it also saves time as well as your wrists!

This item features:

Enhanced iTouch technology: lifts and lowers with the touch of your hand, preventing burns, saving your wrists, and saving time.
Diamond Ceramic Flow™ soleplate: superior heat, durability, and non-stick properties is easy to clean even in the stickiest situations.
2-inch Detailer Tip: perfect for seams, bias tape, + tight corners. Press under and over pleats, pockets, cuffs, and collars easily.
Extended auto shut-off: extended 30-min standby while working for your convenience, 30-second safety auto shut-off if tipped over.
Triple play® steam: powerful vertical and horizontal steam removes the toughest wrinkles.
Fabric Selector: for accurate temperature control for synthetic, wool, cotton, and linen.
Built-in spray: Stubborn wrinkles? No problem. The built-in spray is a powerful wrinkle buster.
Anti-drip system: Prevents spitting and leaking while the iron is hot.

Specifications:
The longest cord in the class is a 12-foot cord with a 360° pivot.
Largest water tank in class: (12.7 oz/375ml) with easy side-fill door for extended steaming times.
1800 watts power: for quick and even heating.
3-year warranty: You’re part of the family with Oliso’s friendly customer service.

Meet the new Oliso M3Pro Project Iron – tailor-made for sewing, quilting, and crafting, with the performance of a full-size iron in a sleek, compact design.

FEATURES
ProLight: Patented LED light makes it easier to see and work even on intricate details.
Diamond Ceramic-Flow soleplate glides effortlessly over the fabric, providing quick, easy clean-up when using fusible interfacing.
2-inch Detailer Tip: Perfect for seams, bias tape, + tight corners. Press under and over pleats, pockets, cuffs, and collars easily


Pro-Auto-Off: 30-minute on-heel and 10-minute horizontal stand-by for convenience and 30-second safety shut-off if tipped over.
Dual-zone steam burst: Independent front and rear steam zones; use them separately for precision pressing or both together for maximum pressing power and wrinkle removal.
Automatic universal voltage: Perfect for international travel, works on120 or 220V without switching.
Fabric selector: For accurate temperature control for synthetic, wool, cotton, and linen.
Solemate™: High-temperature silicone iron rest allows you to place it face down while ironing and safely store it away, with an integrated loop for hanging.
Comfortable: Fits snugly into the palm of your hand for precision control and minimal strain on your wrist.
Easy-view fill tank: Top filling water tank with a visible water level.

SPECIFICATIONS
1000 watt power. 220/240V + 110/120V Automatic universal voltage
Fabric selector: synthetic, wool, cotton+Linen
8-foot, 2.4m cord for US-Canada. Other markets 6.25-feet, 1.9m cord.
1.7 fl oz., 50 ml water tank
2.0lbs, 0.9kg
Solemate included
2-year limited warranty

Both of these irons are due to arrive late Spring so place your orders now.

Aurifil is pleased to announce the launch of a remarkable and highly anticipated collection this December. Kaffe Fassett has meticulously curated a set of 12 large spools of Aurifil’s 100% cotton 50wt thread, thoughtfully designed to complement the vibrant colors and intricate details that define his iconic style. These carefully selected hues are the perfect match for his latest fabric range, created in collaboration with FreeSpirit Fabrics, the Kaffe Fassett x Morris & Co collection.

This collection underscores the beauty and craftsmanship of Kaffe’s work, offering an ideal complement to the fabrics while elevating the artistry of any creative project.

This set contains one spool of each of the following colors: 5021, 6722, 5009, 1231, 2775, 2423, 2535, 2540, 2525, 2835, 1148, 1320

This collection is due to arrive this month so place your orders now.