Category Archives: Checker Exclusives

Quilts with Style in an Afternoon

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Gudrun Erla of GE Designs taught and had a booth at Road to California just around the corner from where I was demonstrating Creative Grids®. I love her patterns – and these newest additions to her pattern line. Her pattern covers are always well done but to see these quilts in person – WOW!

A video showing how to make Kira has been all over Facebook. It is the perfect example of how Gudrun’s designs look complicated but are quick, easy and fun!

Lexie creates an optical illusion when pieced. And Stormy Windows is a variation of a sixteen patch – but this time the patches are rectangles! The geometric shapes are perfect for guys and girls. Kira and Lexie use 10″ squares. Steamy Windows is made from fat quarters.

    

All of these quilts were cut with the Creative Grids Stripology Squared ruler.

Gudrun has also created ruler stickers that reduce the intimidation factor when trimming these blocks to size. Use the arrows to mark exactly where you need to cut. And, when needed, mark the first, second and even third cuts with different colors of arrows.

Her patterns are easy to follow and guarantee success every time!

Angela Walters and Flying Geese

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I can’t wait for you to watch Angela Walter’s video.

Her machine quilting tools have been so popular that we haven’t been able to keep them in stock – but they are NOW!!! In this video, Angela shows how to use Slim, one of the characters in her arsenal of tools. The entire demo is done with a Cut Loose Press™ pattern created with the Creative Grids® Ultimate Flying Geese Tool.

   

The magic happens on this Cut Loose Press™ pattern – Wild and Free featuring fabric by Tula Pink and solids by Kaufman.

What a great series of classes! Learn how to use the flying geese tool, make the table runner, and then machine quilt it yourself. Talk about a trifecta!

Tula Pink and De La Luna

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De La Luna is the new fabric line by Tula Pink which is due to arrive in June.

This line not only has striking colors, it also features three colorations of silhouettes which offer amazing design potential. Carl Hentsch has designed three different patterns that highlight these images – or use your own!

The ovals on this quilt were created with the Creative Grids Oval Always tool designed by Karla Alexander.

Or choose more traditional settings:

Everything is due to arrive in June so order now so that everything arrives at once!

 

New from Angela Walters – Creative Grids® Machine Quilting Templates

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Angela Walters has developed a series of machine quilting templates with Creative Grids®. You talk about a marriage made in heaven! Angela’s genius with our signature grip! These templates are 1/4″ thick acrylic so they work well on a standard sewing machine as well as a longarm. They were specifically designed to fit in the palm of your hand so they are easy to manipulate on either machine.

Without further ado, meet Shorty, Slim, Archie, and Squiggy:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The black and white markings show up on dark and light fabrics. And the printed grid lines make spacing quilt lines a breeze. The video instructions include potential quilting designs that can be created with each tool. The video can be accessed by scanning the QR code on the back of the package, visit www.checkerdist.com, or  www.creativegridsusa.com. But we all know that Angela really shines when she is in front of the camera so she will be releasing more videos very soon. We will keep you posted!

Tis the Season for Trees

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Tis the season for evergreens – and this is reflected in our top 100 patterns! All of these trees made the list!

Crazy Christmas Trees from Cut Loose Press™ is the perfect family craft project! None of the seams have to match so seam allowances aren’t really an issue. I’m making this with my grandchildren this weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These paper-pieced trees come in two sizes. The smaller version is the perfect door decoration for an Advent tree for your favorite little ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piece Fall colors on the other side to make this tree reversible!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then there are the three-dimensional versions by Aunties Two and Poorhouse Designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of these projects are simple and can be done in time to deck the halls!

Creative Grids Girls Program

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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!

We’ve Got Your Angle!

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Meet the newest members of the Creative Grids® angle family. We now have a sixteen inch 10-degree angle. Sew together 36 of these 10-degree triangles to create a complete circle; 18 to create a half-circle, or 9 to create a quarter-circle. Create Fans, Dresden Plates, etc. up to a finished size of 31-1/2 inches. Check out these companions by Christina Cameli. The Magic Triangle Table Topper would be a great afternoon class. She pieces the fans with the 10-degree angle and then trims them into a 50-degree shape to create this stunning hexie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mesmerized is stunning in these gradations!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also have a shorter version of the popular 15 degree – this one is easier to manipulate when working on smaller projects. Erin Underwood has created some darling patterns to get you started. Check out this mini version of her popular tuffet! It can be made with either the 15 degree or 22 1/2 degree. You decide on how many petals you prefer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Cut Loose Press™ pattern includes a table runner AND placemats. I love the edges that are finished with rickrack – just like grandmas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This double Dresden pillow is embellished with buttons and rickrack.  What is not to love???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or create this spectacular version of a Mariner’s Compass by combining 15 and 22 1/2 degree angles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add these angles to your basic line!

Crazy Trees

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I love this!  In fact, I love this so much that I am teaching it this weekend!

 

 

 

 

This is a Karla Alexander design – and is SO her! A little wacky, a little wonky, and a whole lot of fun! This combines every aspect of a great pattern:

 

 

  • It looks hard but is so easy and so forgiving – anyone can do it!
  • It takes just eight 10 inch squares and eight 11″ x 14″ rectangles of background so it is easy to kit.
  • It makes a great demo.
  • AND, it is a Cut Loose Press™ pattern so it is affordable. Crazy Christmas Trees #CLPKAL009

It uses her ruler. Creative Grids® Spider Web Quilt Ruler #CGRKA6

 

 

 

 

Saturday I am making this in Fall colors – but kitting it for Christmas as well. After all, who can stop at just one! An added bonus? This runner is 17 1/2″ x 40 1/2″ so if I make four of these, I have a great throw!

Courthouse Steps Inspiration

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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.

Mini Curvy Log Cabins Have Entered the Building

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When you ask, we listen! Thousands of you have fallen in love with the six and eight-inch Creative Grids® Curvy Log Cabins that make twelve and sixteenth-inch circles. But sometimes smaller is just plain fun so welcome the four-inch Curvy Log Cabin to the family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These smaller blocks are just as fun and easy to make as the other sizes – with even more accentuated curves. Check out the possibilities with these Cut Loose Press™ patterns.

Fried Green Tomatoes includes a table runner and a set of place mats. Yin and Yang pillows show how block placement creates a totally different look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Runaway Pinwheels below really shows how this smaller size sings! Round the World Tote has an Asian influence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Circle of Love is an unusual setting that shows this block off to its fullest!

 

 

 

 

 

You already know who will want this one so order them now!