Once you've determined the type of pattern you'd like to stitch out on your quilt, it is time to start the search for the perfect design.
Our sister site, Get it Quilted, provides a Pattern Search to make finding digital quilting designs easier than ever! There are over 50 websites listed which sell digital quilting designs, but only about 40 have a search option. Without this handy resource, it can be quite challenging to keep track of which sites you've visited already and which search terms you've used so that you don't miss a potentially perfect result.
I recommend using a computer for the Pattern Search to get the most out of using it. (While Get It Quilted is mobile-friendly, the search is less practical on mobile and devices without tabbed browsing available. Plus, not all of the sites that sell patterns are mobile-friendly, so searching from a computer is the best way to go.) To use the search, simply enter the search term into the Pattern Search textbox and press Enter/Return or click on the magnifying glass. You'll see a list of websites with a link in the right column for your search term(s).
The first time you search, you'll get a popup that explains how it works. Please take a moment to read it, so you understand what to expect. There is also a video that shows how it all works.
Please remember, we cannot predict the number of results each link will have. (We wish we could simply display all the results for you, but that isn't possible without the permission and cooperation of the website owners. In other words, it is complicated.) This search simply saves you the time of typing the same search term over and over again on multiple websites, so you can start viewing the results as quickly as possible.
Using the search helps to keep me focussed on finding a certain kind of pattern. If I go directly to a website without searching via Get It Quilted's Patten Search, I'm likely to get distracted by cute designs, and it takes me much longer to find the pattern I'm after.
Got any tips to share? Comment or use the Contact form to let us know.
It's hard to believe 2 years have already passed us by. Thank you to all our customers! We've technically been online a little longer than 2 years, but today makes it official. (We didn't announce our website right away. Nobody knew it existed, except for us and a few beta testers. So, that doesn't count.)
What does the future look like for Cut Sew Quick? 2017 is going to be a productive year for us. We have many products under development and look forward to sharing them with you.
For all the latest news, please Like and Follow us on Facebook.
]]>Rebecca's favorite color was purple and she was known as "Little Spark". You'll find this keychain at Rebecca's Boardwalk on November 15th, 2015,
]]>On June 7, 2014 Rebecca Alison Meyer turned 6 years old. That was also the day she took her last breath, her life ending because of brain cancer.
I've watched the Meyer family children grow up online. I cried tears of joy at the news of the arrival of each of their three children. I've clicked the Facebook "Like" button on photos and have been amused by the glimpses into their personalities captured on camera that were shared online. I never got to meet Rebecca, but nearly 10 years ago I got to meet her oldest sister Carolyn. Distance kept me from that pleasure; surely had we lived closer I would have met her. I've heard so much about Rebecca that it almost feels like I knew her.
What started out as Rebecca getting carsick on a family vacation in August of 2013, turned out to actually be a brain tumor which required surgery for her survival. I was stunned by what I'd read. From then on I followed the Meyers journey online, all the while wishing there was something I could do to help them and show that I care.
No parent should ever have to face the loss of a child. No sibling, no grandparent, no aunt, no uncle, no friend, NOBODY should. There seems to be many support resources for people dealing with a terminally ill child. After the loss of a child, supportive organizations seem to be less common. The Meyer family recognized this issue and decided to do something about it by creating and running a non-profit organization. Their website describes it best:
"Rebecca's Gift provides a space away from the everyday rhythm of life for families who have experienced the death of a child; to assist them in moving forward in their healing process through the opportunity to reconnect, rebuild, and relax by providing that significant first vacation wherein new family dynamics can be developed and bonds strengthened."
Finally, a way we can show our love and support for the Meyer Family! We can help spread the word of Rebecca's Gift -- not only so they can get the financial support they need to reach their objectives, but also so that families in need of their support can be aware that there is assistance out there.
If you're in the Cleveland area, please mark your calendar for Rebecca’s Boardwalk! A family-friendly carnival featuring games, crafts, food, and prizes (including a signed script from The Walking Dead) in support of Rebecca’s Gift will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2015 from 2:00pm – 5:00pm at Fairmount Temple. For more info, visit: http://rebeccasgift.org/events/
Martha's patterns are available where her classes are taught; see Martha Thompson's Upcoming Classes below. If you have questions about her patterns or would like to purchase one directly from her, you can email her at: martha@txthompson.com.
Honey Bee Quilt Store in Austin, Texas
Wind Catcher
September 19, 2015
Holly’s Quilt Cabin in Centennial, Colorado
The Perpetual Bubble Machine
September 24, 2015
Honey Bee Quilt Store in Austin, Texas
Nesting Apple Cores
October 3, 2015
Valli & Kim in Dripping Springs, Texas
Nesting Apple Cores
October 4, 2015
Valli & Kim in Dripping Springs, Texas
The Perpetual Bubble Machine
November 8, 2015
The Perpetual Bubble Machine
by Martha Thompson
This quilt just bubbles happily to the delight of any child. Sew four apple cores together; then cut out a circle which you will then set in to a square; which you will finally set back in to the four apple cores! It’s way easier than you might be thinking because Martha’s instruction takes you through it step by tiny step.
Nesting Apple Cores
by Martha Thompson
This is an amazing new adaptation of the old familiar Apple Core! Follow the pattern, to set in the funky medium and small apple cores. Martha’s tips on successful curved piecing and easy instructions for set-ins make it easy even for beginners. This quilt is 47" x 57" and about 1/4 of the queen-size quilt, also included in the pattern. Wouldn’t 3-5 of these interesting blocks make a great table runner for any time of the year! Looks fabulous in batiks. Curves are cool!
Wind Catchers
by Martha Thompson
Use the 10" Apple Core & More Template by Cut Sew Quick to quickly cut out apple core blocks from assorted fabrics. Here you see a collection of white-on-black and black-on-white prints. The windmill blades appear to grow organically from the curved seams, but guess what, they are actually just appliquéd on top before blocks are sewn together. Martha’s new techniques for curved seam piecing make this an easy quilt to sew. All that motion demands second and third looks, so it’s a good choice for the next quilt show.
]]>With the bigger size, the curves are a bit gentler, making it a little easier to sew. If you're not comfortable with curved piecing or if it's just not your favorite thing, the bigger flowering snowball is a good choice for you.
Of course how big you want your quilt to be in the end factors into the choice between sizes, but in the end it comes down to personal preference. Either way, it's bound to be turned into a beautiful quilt!
]]>Gretchen, Orange Quilt Bee's resident gadget girl, has completed her first quilt using our Flowering Snowball & More template and we've been given permission to share pictures with you! (Fine, you caught me... It's actually just one photo, but I've cropped it so you can see parts of it up close more easily.)
Gretchen chose darker fabrics for the Part B's and lighter fabrics for the Part C's, with a black Part A's in the centers. Her fabric choices for the Part B's reminded both Dan and me of men's neck ties. The combination of the smaller tan-olive-tan inner border with the dark outermost border, gives this quilt a masculine appeal. Dan was seriously impressed and could see himself having a quilt like this one. It isn't very often that Dan sees a quilt that he would want for his own, so that's saying a lot.
From the look of it, Gretchen has already started on a contrasting version of the quilt. Four blocks hang on the design wall alongside the completed quilt. Those four blocks give focus to the Part C's by using darker fabrics. Part B is done in lighter tones, while the Part A's in the centers appear to use the same fabrics as Part C's. We're looking forward to seeing this quilt completed!
Along with the photo of Gretchen's quilt, Lisa wrote to say, "We are scheduling a class for next month", so be sure to contact Orange Quilt Bee for more information.
This past February, I asked a friend who I was planning to visit during our trip to California if there were any quilt shops near her. As it so happens, Orange Quilt Bee was only a few blocks away. Perfect!
Truth be told, we were a bit nervous to talk to them about Cut Sew Quick. Orange Quilt Bee was the first quilt shop we've been to where we didn't already know the owners or have shopped there previously. This was entirely new territory for us. Did people back home in Texas like our products (at least in part) because they knew us or because they really liked what we have to offer. We would soon find out...
We shopped quickly for a couple of batiks to put into a quilt before checking out and getting the courage up to ask to speak with a manager or owner. Before we knew it we were speaking with Lisa, Candy and Gretchen about our templates. Gretchen was most excited, since she is the shop's gadget girl. (I'm pretty sure she was literally bouncing up and down with excitement.) We had our answer; people do like our products and not just because they know us!
Good news! If you're in the Orange County area, you can shop for Cut Sew Quick products at Orange Quilt Bee. Please be sure to say hello to Lisa, Candy and Gretchen for us. (Be sure to ask for Gretchen if you have questions about any quilting gadgets they sell. I'm sure she'll have answers for you.)
Orange Quilt BeeLocated in the Village Plaza, The SewNSew in Glendora, CA was the last of a handful of quilt shops we stopped at in our short visit to California. We took ourselves through several rooms that occupy "4500 square feet of space, housing nearly 7000 bolts of fabric". (They have a room that's practically all Batiks and another room that's filled entirely with solids!)
We joked with staff about how we might need a map or we could end up lost! We managed to find our way back to the front of the store where we introduced ourselves to Shelly and their "gadget girl", Jeannie. (We've noticed that most shops have at least one "gadget girl".) We could have stayed there talking for hours, but sadly we had to get going. I know we're sure to visit again the next time we're in their area. You should too, and please tell them Angela & Dan say hello.
As if that isn't reason enough to convince you to visit them... We're excited to say that you can now find our Flowering Snowball & More templates, Contrast Viewers, and Sewing Machine Guides at The SewNSew!
The SewNSew
160 North Glendora Avenue, #E
Glendora, CA 91741
(626) 852-2223
www.thesewnsew.com |
Think of Cut Sew Quick and Get It Quilted as sister companies, because that's really what they are! Originally, we planned to use Get It Quilted to sell digitized longarm patterns. While Get It Quilted isn't set up to sell designs yet, that's still the plan at this time. Who knows; plans sometimes change. Until then, we're building Get It Quilted as resource site for quilters, with a focus on longarm quilting.
All that is to say, please check it out and tell us if you find Get It Quilted useful or if your favorite website is not listed in an appropriate category:
Unfortunately we don't have time to scour the internet to add to these lists. We add what we stumble upon, usually from other people we know and often from Facebook groups. Speaking of Facebook, if you want to see what Get It Quilted is up to or offer suggestions, Get It Quilted's Facebook Page is great way to reach us.
]]>I've been holding off publishing this blog entry because by the time I first wrote it, the Flowering Snowball & More template which was available at Honey Bee Quilt Store had already sold out! I'm happy to report that they're back in stock and I can finally share this blog article with you...
Here at Cut Sew Quick, Honey Bee Quilt Store holds a special place in our hearts. One day, Dianne Ferguson, owner of Honey Bee (as we locals call it), expressed a need for apple core and tumbler templates. I mentioned to her that I could make those and as the saying goes, the rest is history. (That's also the perfect thing to say when I can't remember enough details to a story or I'm trying to make a long story short.) In September of 2014, Honey Bee Quilt Store became our first wholesale account. We produced apple cores and tumblers which were engraved with Honey Bee's branding on a light violet (some call it pink) matte acrylic. They soon began to carry our Contrast Viewers and Sewing Machine Guides as well.
One day while we were at Honey Bee, we started talking with an employee, Catherine Cureton, about flowering snowball quilts which she had seen on Pinterest. She was having trouble finding a flowering snowball template set which finished at 9½ inches, so we made her a prototype.
After providing a simple prototype, I got to work on making improvements to it. I added marking holes to make it easier to piece, as well as a bunch of extra markings that turned the template into what it is today, a Flowering Snowball & More template set. Meanwhile, Catherine was so excited to make a flowering snowball quilt and it wasn't long before she pieced it, quilted it herself, and brought it into the shop.
Our excitement grew, as did theirs, and somewhere in the midst of that time frame Dianne placed an order. She wanted it in time for QuiltCon 2015, so we got right on it and delivered the order on February 13th, within plenty of time for QuiltCon. (Honey Bee didn't have a booth this time; instead, some of the ladies helped out at the HandiQuilter and Aurifil booths.)
On Valentine's Day, Honey Bee hosted an event with Alex Veronelli of Aurifil which we attended. (It was so much fun too. Dan said it was like watching a real life How It's Made episode.) When we walked just a few feet into the shop this is exactly what I saw. I just had to take a photo. Catherine's beautiful flowering snowball quilt is now hanging up near the front of the shop!
If you've fallen in love with this quilt, Honey Bee has a quilt kit available using the same fabrics that Catherine used in her quilt. The kits are conveniently displayed alongside the templates. You can purchase Honey Bee's Flowering Snowball & More template set online or at their store in Austin, Texas.
]]>In early January I received an email from Martha Thompson, who happens to be an author of a few books on quilting. Her email began with, "Hello, I bought your apple core templates from the Honey Bee on Wednesday, made a quilt on Thursday and am starting another one today. What fun! Your templates are perfect." Naturally, her email made my day.
Not long after our initial email exchange, Martha sent an email with the photos in this blog post and gave her permission to share them. So, here they are!
The fabric Martha used was Moda's 3 Sisters line called Printemps. The larger quilt was made from a 10" Apple Core template for a new baby. The smaller quilt was made from a 5" Apple Core template for the baby's sister to use for her dolly. In both quilts, Martha used halved apple cores to create a light contrasting border which squared up the quilts nicely. Too cute!
Dan and I went to visit Martha a couple weeks later. We got to meet her husband Chris, see some of her lovely quilting, and enjoy some freshly baked cookies too. It was such a pleasure meeting with her (and not just because Martha makes an awesome chocolate chip cookie either). The conversation we had was insightful and Martha's feedback on our products was truly appreciated.
It's always great to hear how people are using our products. Feedback helps us make sure we do what we can to produce the most useful tools that we can.
We love seeing what you make from our products! Please share photos of your projects with us via our contact form, on twitter, or via Facebook.
]]>Dan and I are working together on a way to show the 175 blocks (and possibly more), but it will take us awhile to get that rolled out. In the meantime I've put together this chart of the possible Part B's and Part C's.
Figuring out exactly how many options there are was a bit of a process. If you've ever put a quilt together on a design wall and realized you had a piece turned the wrong way, you can relate to me – at least a little. In all my excitement, I kept making mistakes and getting confused. I just had to slow down and figure it out more systematically.
I came to the conclusion that Part B has 25 options plus 6 more options if we count the flip of any asymmetrically pieced blocks, for a total of 31 options. Part C was easier to figure out. There are 7 options plus 1 more if we count the flip of the one asymmetric piecing combo, bringing Part C's possibilities up to 8. Multiply 25 by 7, and that's a whole 175 blocks! When we count the flips, it's 31 times 8, for a total of 248! There's even 14 more blocks which I'm keeping in my back pocket for a future blog post.
It seems like one of those infomercials we've all heard before, "but wait, there's more!" All that math was done with the assumption that you'll use the same Part B's and Part C's within a block. If you use 2, 3, or 4 different Part B's and/or C's together in a single quilt block, there's even more possible blocks. The number of possibilities keep growing. What we have here is a snowball effect!
I'm not even sure how to calculate the actual number of possible blocks; that math is beyond me and likely to give me a migraine. As I often say, "Math is a four letter word for a good reason!"
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While researching Flowering Snowball blocks, I stumbled upon a somewhat similar block called a Royal Cross. (It took a lot of searching to find its name. So if you try to find it online, you won't find but a handful of pictures of it. We may write up instructions for that block or provide a template to make it, but right now let's get back to the story.) Seeing that block inspired me to get creative and add some lines to our Flowering Snowball templates so that you can make some fun new quilt blocks that we've never seen before anywhere else. (We looked and looked to no avail.)
Now you know why we've named the template Flowering Snowball & More; you can do so much more than just a Flowering Snowball.
When you take advantage of every line on the Flowering Snowball & More template set, you can create this crazy fun quilt block which we've named Exploding Flowering Snowball. We've put together some pictures and shared them in our galleries to help you see its potential too.
Please let us know what you think of the Exploding Flowering Snowball in the comments; we'd love your feedback.
Okay, do you see what we see? We see a lot of potential for different blocks that follow the same core shape of the Flowering Snowball block. We have already come up with a bunch of examples and we'll be sharing those little by little over the next few weeks.
Why wait? Why not show you now? Well, we like to keep things organized around here and there's a little detail that's making it hard for us to share them with you yet... These blocks don't have official names, and that's just plain sad. Variation A, Variation B, Variation C, etc., just doesn't roll off the tongue. There are loads of quilt blocks out there which look similar to each other and they all have their own names, so why not these blocks? They each deserve their own names too, don't you think?
To solve this little issue, we've decided to hold a contest to help us name the various blocks that can be made with our Flowering Snowball & More template set. We haven't worked out the details yet, but we will get it figured out and get that rolling along soon.
In the meantime, please be sure to scroll down to the footer of our website and pick the ways you'd like to keep up with us. We'll be making contest announcements via social media and here on our website. Stay tuned!
]]>So when it comes to Cut Sew Quick, we want to do our best at reducing waste as well. We try to use up every last bit of scrap acrylic that we can. We'll often use scrap acrylic for making test cuts to ensure we have all our settings accurate and consistent along our entire product line. There are some areas that are so small and irregularly shaped that it's hard to do anything with them, especially after a product has been cut from the sheet of acrylic. In other words, it is sometimes easier to make use of these oddly shaped spaces before it technically becomes scrap -- so that we cut out products and make use of the scrap all at once.
That's where buttons come in! Whenever we cut our Contrast Viewers we cut buttons in between the lenses (where your nose would be). The odd bits of space left behind by cutting out the Red Contrast Viewer is used to cut hearts or the shape of Texas. When we cut the Green Contrast viewer, we also cut pine trees out of that sheet.
We're working on more designs to fill those scrappy gaps. So far we've added leaves and shamrocks to our list of future buttons.
If you have any ideas for red or green buttons, please let us know in the comments and we'll consider adding them to our To-Do list.
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