Summer is almost here!  You know you’ll be out and about…. shopping, picnics, parties, the beach, the lake, the woods…. whatever you have planned, you’ll have to bring “stuff” with you.  Treat yourself to a new tote bag to carry it all in.

The Four Star Tote bag measures 9″ x 12″.  Just right for a few magazines or a small quilting project.   The pattern is fat quarter friendly and easy to do – no zippers!

The Take-It-All Tote bag is big enough for everything!  If you pack smart you might even be able to use it for an overnight bag.  Measuring 30″ x 20″ you can fit a whole lot of quilt projects and supplies inside.

The Bag-Along is a lightweight lined bag that you can roll up and pack in your purse.  Keep it handy for those discount mall shopping trips.  You never know when you might need an extra (cute!) bag.

With pockets galore (there are TEN of them!!!) and a zipper closure, this Summer Tote will quickly become a favorite.   It’s by Lazy Girl Designs so you know you’ll learn a trick or two putting it together. 

Traveling light?  The Strappy Wallet has a place for bills, change, credit cards and a driver’s license.  There is also a pocket for a cell phone or iPod.  A handy strap means you can hang it on your wrist and have your hands free.

This is just a sampling.  If none of these is just right for you, check out the hundreds of bag and purse patterns available.

What would we do without our rulers?!  Aside from the sewing machine, a rotary cutter and ruler are probably a quilter’s most used tools.   Even applique quilters use a rotary cutter and ruler to cut background pieces and binding. 

Most of us start with the old standby, a 6.5″ x 24.5″ ruler.  This one by Creative Grid has embedded gripper dots to help hold the fabric and keep the ruler from slipping.   The ruler is marked so you can measure by half inchies on one side.  Flip it around and the bold markings are whole inches.  Angles of 30, 45, 60 and 90 degrees are marked in white.

Another popular 6.5 x 24.5 ruler has pink around the 1.2″ edges. This helps to remind you that you have ruler facing the 1/2″ side as opposed to the whole inch side. It saves on fabric wasted due to incorrect measuring.

If you travel to sew-in’s or retreats, the Creative Grid 4.5″ x 12.5″ ruler is a must. So much easier that toting your big ruler.  It’s marked the same as the larger ruler, including all the angles.

A square ruler is another handy one to have.  Creative Grid’s square rulers have a 90 degree angle printed in black.  It’s great for trimming half square triangles.  I keep adding to my square ruler collection.  It’s so handy to have several sizes. . . . 6.5″, 9.5″, 12.5″, 16.5″, 20.5″ . . .  it’s and addiction!

We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of quilter’s rulers.  There are so many specialty rulers.  Do you have a favorite?

If you look at the Quilting Fabric page on our QuiltersWarehouse website you will notice a new category called “Fabric Collections“.   These are collections of half yard cuts (and sometimes a panel) from the same fabric line.   No worries about “will this fabric go with the first one I chose?”   No problems gathering several fabrics and making sure they all work together.  It’s already done!  You can pair some of these up with patterns from the “Six Halves Make A Whole” series of books, as several of the collections have 6 half yard cuts or more.

The American Valor Fabric Collection comes with 7 half yard cuts of patriotic prints and a complete panel of the the American Valor quilt fabric by Jo Morton.  You can make a generous sized lap quilt from this collection.

Do you need to make any baby quilts for new arrivals?  The Monkey Games Fabric Collection includes 1 panel and 8 1/2 yard cuts.  Be creative and you can probably get a crib quilt, plus a small wallhanging from one collection.

Dr Suess fabric is another popular choice for baby quilts.  I even know a few adults that would love a quilt from this Cat In The Hat Collection. It’s true, I do. By hook or by crook, they would love to have a quilt. With a book, or a nook, they would snuggle with a quilt. 

Do you have a wanna-be cowboy in your life?  Or perhaps a real cowboy?  The Buckaroo Fabric Collection has 7 half yard cuts of fabric by ADORNit. 

Check out the rest of the collections and come back often because we’ll be adding more Fabric Collections!

Blueberry Hill….  do you remember Richie singing that song?  Yes, I’m dating myself. Give yourself 10 points if you know what I’m talking about. Anyway, The Blueberry Hill Quilt kit looks prettier than Richie sounded.  

Beautiful Stonehenge Fabrics from Northcott Fabrics by Sunshine Cottage are included in this kit.  The marble-like look of blended colors gives the pattern a rich, soft look.  Included in the kit: the pattern, all the fabric for the quilt top, plus enough fabric for the binding. The backing and batting need to be purchased separately.  You’ll also need an Easy Angle Ruler for this pattern.

If you fall in love with these fabrics you might want to try the queen size Smokey River Quilt Kit which also uses the Stonehenge line.  The kit includes all the fabric needed for the top and binding, and the pattern. 

The American Valor Quilt Kit uses American Valor fabrics by Jo Morton in classic blue, red and off white.  This uncomplicated, star-filled, patriotic design is just the right size for donating to Quilts of Valor.   Or you can make one for your favorite veteran.  Andover Fabrics is donating a portion of all American Valor fabric sales to the Quilts of Valor Foundation.  This kit includes the pattern for the quilt and pillowcase, all fabric needed for the top and pillowcase, plus enough fabric for the binding.  The backing and batting need to be purchased separately.

Susan Knapp and Mary Jane Mattingly really enjoy quilting and designing; their patterns are proof!  Many have elements of traditional blocks and some include a twist or two!

In this Fireworks table runner, star blocks are modified and made to look like fireworks.   Get ready for your summer parties and picnics.  The pattern also includes instructions for placemats.

Blocks of large spools of thread  are alternated with four square blocks of smaller spools of thread and squares of sewing notion fabrics.  The thread look is created with striped fabrics – isn’t that clever?!   Finishing at 49″ square this quilt is just right for hanging in your sewing room or gifting to your friend who loves Just Spoolin’ Around.

Six Halves Make A Whole is the first book in a line of books that make use of those beautiful bundles of six half yard cuts.  Or make your own bundle of fabric.  This particular book has patterns for six projects, so you get a lot for your money!

Table Topper Series #1 Spring includes patterns appropriate for March, April and May.  The Series is complete and has patterns for each season. Change your table topper and your mood each month!

Check out The Quilt Branch page for lots of wallhangings, lap quilts and a few bed sized quilts, plus table topper patterns. Feel at home with familiar blocks and the same time feel energized by the new life they breathe into them.

Have you seen the newest, brightest, way-out-there purse from StudioKat? It has just enough wild and lots of practicality.

The Quattro is 12″ x 9″ x 5″ and, wow!, there’s a lot packed into this purse!  There are two wrap-around side pockets, a really convenient front pouch (holds those odd shape items), and a back zippered pocket.  But best of all this bag is perfect for really playing with fabrics.  Stretch yourself and really have some fun mixing things up.

See the handy pouch on the front?  It can blend into the look of the bag if you aren’t using it, but if you need it… so handy!  I’m guessing you won’t be tucking a yardstick in there but it would be perfect for a small umbrella or pull your scarf (no, not a winter scarf – we’re done with that, aren’t we?!) through it.

Check out the wrap-around side pockets – they are so convenient and roomy.  The construction of them really adds to the fun layered look of the bag.

Here’s the zippered back pocket.  Put your keys and cell phone in this pocket and you’ll have no worries about them falling out.

Kathy Southern is the purse obsessed designer of StudioKat.  You can tell by her designs that she loves a good purse!  They are practical and snazzy fun.  Visit her blog, StudioKat Designs: A Work In Progress, to get some behind-the-scenes info about her design process.  She also hosts a Purse-of-the-Month contest.