Monthly Archives: March 2018

Finally – Great Ruler Storage

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Annie Unrein to the rescue! We all have been looking for a great way to store – and carry – our rulers. This ruler wrap is perfect!

In your sewing room, it is designed to hang on the back of a door in all of its 72″ glory. There is a multitude of pockets to hold the rulers AND a pocket designed to hold a cutting mat.

It can be folded up to two sizes – one if you are transporting a mat and the other for rulers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great basis for a class! Machine quilt the foundation, learn how to insert zippers, use mesh, bind units, install hardware…okay a series of classes!

New from Wing and a Prayer design

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These new patterns and fabric line from Wing and a Prayer design are stunning! And each pattern provides a teachable moment which adds the awe factor to each project.

This simple pillow provides the perfect foundation for a machine quilting class. Quilt the piece and add the snipped strips to create the counterpane.

Diamond in the Rough features folded dimensional fabric strips – a great way to add texture.

Quarry includes instructions in three sizes. Look how the design creates depth with color.

Stacked Stones features raw edge applique that are accented with a trapunto technique.

All of these designs were created with the new Quarry fabric line by Timeless Treasures. This is just a sampling of the line:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabric and patterns are due to arrive next month!

Drunkard’s Path Blocks Made Easy

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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!

Piano Key Border the Easy Way

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At Creative Grids, we pride ourselves on creating versatile tools with a variety of uses. Using the centering lines on our rectangles to create piano key borders is a perfect example of this.

This is a fast and easy demo that everyone loves. Watch this Piano Key Video and see how easy it is?

//youtu.be/dkYNvzZbnRA

In this video, I show you how to create 360 inches of 3/4″ finished piano key border from one jelly roll using our 2-1/2″ wide rectangles – available in a 12-1/2″ or 18-1/2″ length (CGR212 or CGR218)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The width of the keys is the same width as the Creative Grids 6″ Log Cabin Trim Tool.

If you want to make different widths, here is the math: Multiply the finished width of the piano key by two and then add one inch.

In the video, the logs finished to 3/4″. Multiply 3/4″ x 2 (1 1/2″). Add one inch. The strips are cut 2-1/2″.

Want 1″ finished piano keys? Multiply 1″ x 2 (2″) and add an inch. The strips should be cut to 3″.

When you have a few extra minutes in a class, why not share this technique? Be sure to have plenty of the rulers on hand because everyone will want one!

I’m All Ears – Bunny Ears

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These bunnies are so cute and easy, they can still be made in time for Easter – but will add a touch of whimsy throughout Spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m All Ears uses just two fat eighths and would be the perfect project for an impromptu Make It Take It class over Spring break. Have plenty of coordinating fat eighths on hand. Display the template plastic next to the patterns because who can stop at just one? These sheets come two to a pack and are less than $3.00 a pack – well worth the investment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have some friends over and start an assembly line. You will have dozens in no time.After the big day, use them in lunch boxes. Or who said that egg hunts – or in this case bunny – hunts can only be one day a year?

McKenna Ryan Returns to her “Bear” Roots

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McKenna’s new series – 12 Months of Happy – features a family of bears celebrating life throughout the year. Combine the blocks into a quilt or combine three blocks to celebrate each season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These patterns all feature Hoffman fabrics and will be shipping next month. Laser Cut kits and embellishment kits will also be available. Check our website for details: 12 Months of Happy.

Oh Scrap!

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When the name of the book is “Oh Scrap”, you know you are going to love it!  Lissa Alexander has been working with scraps for three decades and brings that expertise to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of those books where you need to read the text – and not just skip to the projects! Learn how to combine fabrics to produce stunning quilts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learn which fabric combinations work and why others don’t. This book includes a dozen patterns ranging in size from baby to bed size. Lissa removes the intimidation factor many feel when choosing their own fabrics!

Stash Busters with a Modern Twist

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This is a book whose time has come! Scrap quilts with a more modern twist!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all, modern quilters have stashes too – and look what Kelly Young has done with them! This is a case of a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love them all….. and they are all created with a new technique referred to as “improv piecing”. This is how they describe it:

Welcome to structured improvisation, where there’s a plan in place but still plenty of room to play! Structured improvisation is perfect for using fabric scraps quilters have on hand–everything works and anything goes. Learn three methods for sewing rectangles, squares, strips, and even oddly shaped fabric pieces together; then use the resulting blocks or panels in a dozen dazzling step-by-step quilt patterns. Start by working with just one color at a time to get the hang of improv piecing; then progress to mixing colors and prints in beautiful, colorful quilts that will give a home to every scrap that quilters have ever saved. Efficient use of fabric scraps; even tiny scraps can be sewn into bigger blocks. Close-up, step-by-step photos illustrate how to master 3 approaches to improv piecing.

This book is due to arrive next month. Don’t you want to give it a try?

The Latest from Saginaw Street Quilts

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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!

Take Your Bags to the Next Level

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Janelle MacKay of Emmaline Bags provides the most amazing bling to take your purses, totes, and wallets to the next level.

Her latest additions will arrive soon. They are available in a variety of finishes so check our website for ALL of the choices. But, these examples will give you an idea f the possibilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of her bling is reasonably priced and can turn a “homemade” into a “handmade” with class!