Check out this weeks all new items!

First up…add something fun and unique to your (or someone you know) USB memory stick. The memory stick is so boring!  These holders, by Susie C Shore Designs, not only jazz it up to fit your style but also protect your precious data from outside exposure!

The new Holiday Sampler Block of the Month is simply adorable. It’s variety of holiday characters is just what we all need to get ready for the holiday season! The finished quilt size is 62” x 72” and because it’s block of the month, you have all year to get this wintry wonder ready.

While we’re talking holiday…how about these Thirteen Spooky Ornaments by All Through The Night. With a “BOO” and a “RIP” and many more designs be sure to be ready for Halloween this year! Pattern includes all thirteen designs with a finished size of 3” x 4”.

Any pet owners out there??? Your dog is sure to love the soft goodness their very own quilt will bring them…or…you could cuddle up with My Dog Spot which will remind you of your favorite four legged one! The finished size is 60” x 72”

Okay, now this is perfect for a parent with an athlete. With the All Star Lacrosse by Jenny Foltz, you can not only specialize your child’s team colors, but also include their name and team number! Finished size is 13” x 32” and be sure to check out the whole line for other favorite sports!

How about a quilt for you and your favorite fabrics? Windblown, by Quilting Daze, features large squares that are easily pieced with strips and flip triangles. Simply a must have! Finished size 59” x 76”

We hope you like these as much as I do!
Happy Quilting!

Christy

Our feature this week is that of Bean Counter Quilts, designed by Lorrie Franz. These designs are meant to celebrate life events, especially the birth of a new little one! Now, who doesn’t want to celebrate that!?! All of these patterns come from the nine months to Quilt series and all feature distinctive and unique characteristics. These are a few that I just love…

Baby Charms is sure to be one of your favorites too! Perfect for use with 5” charm packs, not to mention perfect for a room with a color scheme! As is with majority of these patterns, this quilt is great for the beginner, and quick for the accomplished.

Candy for Baby is sure to be a favorite of baby’s. With its contrast of dark and bright colors, it is sure to capture and maintain the little one’s attention and curiosity. 2 size options available!

Grandmother’s Inspiration was originally designed for a first time grandma. It is a very versatile quilt, using fat 1/8th’s, fat quarters, charms or strips…your choice! Pick out grandma’s favorite colors OR bright colors for baby!

Roll Over is another of my favorites! I love the pattern and it works wonderfully with soft flannels. An all over blanket for baby! Another bonus for the beginner…this quilt has very few seams to match!

Check out the other patterns from the nine months to Quilt series and in the meantime, get quilting…baby’s coming!

Check out my newest patterns for some easy-to-finish projects. #220 Stackabar Quilt is a quilt-as-you-go project in three sizes, from baby size to large lap size. Made with flannels it is oh, so soft and cuddly! There are no seams to match, so even really new quilters can be successful. Just pick your favorite fabrics or a couple of fat quarter bundles and you are ready to go! My students absolutely love this pattern and made several for Christmas presents this year. Those of you who are teachers, this one is perfect for a one-day workshop.

If you’re like me and have way too many unfinished projects, try my new #221 Heart Sampler pattern. These postcards with four heart designs are small, cute, and finish-able (if that’s a word)! You can have some fun embellishing with beads and using decorative threads, but in a manageable amount. And did I mention, they’re fast and easy to finish?! Great for special wedding invitations, engagement announcements, Valentine’s Day, or just to say you care. Teachers, again this is a good half-day class with little preparation by you or your students.

Keep your hands busy and those needles threaded, and enjoy the winter! I’m getting ready to teach more adult classes locally, and to teach fabric art to elementary kids in a neighboring community. Did I mention I am now the proud owner of a long-arm machine? Never a dull moment in my home!!

Terrie Kralik
Owner, Moose Country Quilts
Teaching Artist with the Idaho Commission on the Arts

http://www.moosecountryquilts.com/
http://www.arts.idaho.gov/ae/roster/

Lazies, Today’s ‘With Love Tote’ project is my year-end holiday gift to you. This free pattern is a Thank You to the Lazies who have tried and like my designs. And an invitation to try my designs for those who have not.

                                                        With Love Tote Bag

Getting Started

Make this quick and simple tote bag in about an hour from one yard of fabric. It’s perfect for a gift bag or as you carry goodies with you on your holiday ventures. A lightweight fabric such as quilter’s cotton is recommended.

The finished bag is approximately 16” deep by 19” wide with a cuff around the top edge of the bag and an optional Velcro closure.

Supplies

- 1 Yard of fabric (width of 40″ to 45”) – Optional

- 1” Velcro (sew-in kind, or Fusion fusible Velcro work great)

Cutting

- Cut one strip 4” wide along one selvage edge for handles.

- Trim the other selvage.

- The remaining large rectangle of fabric is for the cover and lining of the bag.

Make Handles

I used grosgrain ribbon handles for this sample.

Fold 4″ strip in half, wrong sides together, press. Fold long edges toward center fold, press. Fold in half on original fold, press. Cut in half to make two handles.

Make The Body Of The Bag

The inside lining and the outside cover of the bag are all one piece of fabric.

Fold fabric in half, right sides together. Stitch along the three raw edges, leave a 5” opening to turn on long side, near one corner. Turn, tuck in seam allowance, stitch opening closed. Press.

Finish The Bag

The half of the bag with the 5” opening is the lining, the other half is the cover.

Tuck the lining half of the bag into the cover half. Push the lining corners into the cover corners.

Take some time to adjust the layers so everything looks nice, then press.

Optional Velcro Closure

Add Velcro to the top edge of the bag. Sew the Velcro in place 1 1/4” from the top edge of the bag on the inside of the bag, centered from the side edges. If using Fusion Velcro, fuse in place after bag is complete.

 Make Cuff And Attach Handles

Fold over 1” of top edge of bag to make a cuff. Center handle and place ends under the cuff.  Keep the ends of the handle 5″ to 6″ apart. Stitch across handles, just below cuff.

 Fold handle over cuff and pin. Stitch around top edge of bag, through cuff and handles, 1/4” from top edge of bag.

Get a copy of this free tote bag pattern at our Free Lazy Tutorial page here.

Final Notes

This bag folds up to about 6″ x 6″, probably a bit smaller than that, and it folds flat. So, I tucked one in my purse and took it shopping with me this past weekend and used it instead of the paper bags that stores use.

I loaded a bunch of stuff in there and it didn’t hurt my hand like the paper bag handles do. It held up great and looked festive. It also wasn’t bulky like the paper bags. I felt stealth and stylish as I wove my way through the masses at the mall.

Quick Gifts

Pick some beautiful fabrics and make a custom gift bag for friends. Attach a note with suggested uses – grocery, re-gifting, an extra bag for traveling, etc. I think I might make a few and put them in the trunk of my car, too.

Use Your Stash

This tote design is a great way to use up left over yardage. Or plan for next year and buy end-of-the-season discounted holiday fabrics this year. Make the bag in different sizes by starting with a smaller or larger rectangle for the body. A fat quarter will yield a bag that is 9″ wide by 7″ deep and darned cute, too.

Happy Holidays

Lazies, I wish you a happy and safe holiday season.   Please feel free to visit my blog at http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/

Enjoy!

Joan

It’s been a busy week of new additions!  It seems like everyone has something new to introduce this time of year!

We’ll start with the Beautiful Bargello from LAM Designs.  This colorful wall quilt finishes at 40” X 42” and makes up in as little as one weekend.  Use any color and coordinate with any décor!

New from Black Cat Creations is the Homemade Jelly pattern.  Use up those jelly rolls on this gorgeous quilt finishing at 92” X 92”.  Lay out those coordinating colors and start stitchin’.

The Quilt Branch has introduced Star Galaxy 6.  This lap quilt finishes at 50” X 63” and gives you the opportunity to get rid of some of those half yard cuts!

Vanilla House Designs has introduced yet another awesome apron, School Girl Apron.  Yet another way to make cooking more fun!

MH Designs has come out with two new paper piecing designs.  Spring Sampler finishes at 10 ¾” X 12 ½” and lets you enjoy the first signs of spring! 

The Watermelon Table Mat brings with it the first taste of summer.

I’ll be trying to bring you a few new patterns each week to wet your appetite!  Keep a look out for them!

We usually don’t say much about what goes on behind the scenes around here but yesterday was an unusual one.  Around 10:00am we had a complete system crash.  Our web site, QuiltersWarehouse.com and phone order system was down until around 6:00pm last night.

It was a trying day around here with our fate in the hands of “IT Geeks”,  you got to love’em.   A special thank you goes out to the staff at Pavey & Associates and e2 Solutions.  Their dedication to ensuring that our customers get their quilt fix is outstanding.

Our appologies to those of you who tried to login for your daily viewing of quilt patterns, books and all things ‘quilty’.   All should be well today (Hurray!)