This is Toby's new book, St. Louis STARS. She was showing me her book and template set and we were talking at the QuiltWoman booth.
Toby is a Quilt Teacher, Pattern Maker, Award Winning Quilter so when you read her book and look at her instructions you can quickly see she knows how to explain each step so that students can understand how to repeat the process and be successful in making their quilts and other projects.
EDIT : Apparently I have not been clear in my post. The template shown above is only one in her set of templates for her book: St. Louis Stars. The templates below are completely separate and do not relate to her book. They are some new and very useful templates she has designed. I hope that helps clear things up a bit. As soon as I get some more photos of the templates for her St. Louis Stars book, I'll add them above. Thanks!! Toby gave me a set of her new templates, Cutting Corners while at Quilt Market. I was very excited because I watched her demo and I knew this was something I could repeat without having to be reminded what I was doing. (Not to say instructions are not helpful.....but there was an intuitive process that I could see)
So I decide to get them out to review them for the IHAN blog and I know you are going to laugh at me.....but some of you may relate to my insanity (if you don't - keep it to yourself because NO ONE likes a perfect person :) .
I take them out of the package and head downstairs to photograph a demo. I get out the instructions and actually read them....all.....can you believe that? Then I get some scrap fabric out to use for the demo. I turn on the iron, get the fabric ironed and ready to go. I turn around to my cutting table and realize there is paper on the back of the templates. Dang, do I want to take off the paper just to do a demo and then the person who wins them won't get a brand new set? Then it dawns on me.....why on GGE (Gods Green Earth) would I even do this when Toby did a full demo of all the templates at Quilt Market and I took photos already. So, I decided to leave the paper on and show you what one lucky IHAN blog reader will receive.
Here is a glimpse of how easy the directions are to follow. If I can follow them.....trust me.....you can follow them. I'm a visual learner and between the easy to understand directions and the pictures it really is very simple.
So here you go.....instead of me taking time to do the exact same thing Toby did.....here are the photos I took while at Quilt Market:
Toby has more samples on her blog, just click here. What I found to be very helpful with these templates are the flat edges that help to match the correct edge. There is no guess work with those little triangle tips. Although I'm good with math I don't like to have to "think" or "calculate" my way through a pattern. When I have to do that I tend to make silly mistakes. These templates help avoid the typical math calculations because you just use the strip sizes in the directions for your project and you use the correct template. If you are anything like me, you will need to put the other templates away because I am always picking up the an adjacent ruler or template and cutting something that not on the step I was on. I'm not a lame brain.....but I do have ADD and it does make it a challenge to break down things into small manageable steps that go quickly.
Yes I did use my rotary cutter to cut some strips and begin to use the templates without tearing off the paper. They do work exactly as described.....and I guarantee you there will be many more uses for these templates once you begin expanding your ideas with other projects.
Currently the Cutting Corners Template Set is only available at Toby's site Gateway Quilts & Stuff. However, on very lucky IHAN blog reader will be able to win this very nice set I have here on my desk. If you would like it to be you, leave a comment on this post telling me how often you think you will use them, what project you will use them for AND promise me you will use them and not just enter to be winning another set of templates.....these are just too good to be added to "the collection" and you do know what I'm talking about!!! :)
Giveaway Closed
The deadline for entering......let me see.....what is this week looking like?......Hmmmmm......how about I say only the first 30 comments count, you can only leave a comment once.....it must include the information requested above......and as soon as we hit 30....I close it and do the drawing? Good idea? I thought so too :) NOTE: I have to be able to contact you.....some of you don't know it but you are no-reply bloggers....I can't contact a no-reply blogger. So if you are not sure, leave an anonymous comment and be sure to put your name and e-mail address in the comment. It makes me sad to not count all the entries for a giveaway.
Good luck to the first Thirty who read this post.
Smiles,
Kelly
PS....Thank you to everyone who continues to say I'm so generous. Generosity is a quality I possess.....but keep in mind, I have a store, http://www.ihavea-notion.com/ and you can't exactly walk in my door and get a demo....so I can share in photos those demos and then I get the pleasure of giving away the gifts that the extremely generous and talented folks give me to tell you all about. If I kept them all......it would be a crime and I'd have more than one person can possibly use.....so be sure to thank the folks who provide the lovely gifts too.
No comments yet? Am I the first? never a good sign.. lol! Ok.. I solemnly promise to use them, see how marvellous they are AND blog about it and send you a pic of the results... I won't do a contortionist dance or dress up in silly clothing... but I do follow your blog and read each and every lovely post and have such good laughs. Oh.. and as I don't have a lot of rulers yet... I would be using them ALL the time! Go IHAN! (and Go cutting corners !!)
ReplyDeleteI don't have a collection, yet, and I promise, (can you see my hand over my heart?) to use them. I really need them since I'm just starting to do triangles. Thanks Kelly.
ReplyDeleteThis book and ruler set really do sound fantastic. And I do so love stars, but are not very good with all the points. Thus, these rulers will come in handy. Difficult to tell how often I'd use these, until I see more of the complexity in the book. But I sure like the idea of making star labels (blocks) for all my quilts using her rulers. And I'd love to make a couple of star quilts (patriotic, holiday, fall colors) using her technique. I'm also quite interested in using her ruler for chisel quilt designs, which I've always loved. And, of course, I'd be happy to blog about this book & ruler, as well as any quilt that I make with it!
ReplyDeleteGood products are always worthwhile of sharing insights on with others! This definitely looks like a great find! Thanks for sharing!
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
What fun to use. Would love to give them a try. Hate trying to comment on iPod. Sick computer.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely thrilled to be one of the first to read your blog entry on the Cutting Corners Template Set. If I become the lucky winner, I can then make that Square in a Square bed size quilt that I have been promising my daughter and not have to worry about the math. I don't like math too much anymore, so I promise to cherish and use them often. I have never won any of the giveaways, so this would be a blessing. Thanks for the opportunity. Robin
ReplyDeletequiltlvr2001@gmail.com
thanks for the giveaway, Kelly!
ReplyDeleteHow often I use them will depend on how easy they are to use, I guess. I have never used a template (hence do not own any) so it will all be new skill building for me as well as my first set! If I won, I would use them to help me construct the storm at sea pattern. I've heard too many horror stories about that pattern and think a template would be a pretty awesome way to go--these look like they'd fit the bill for that pattern quite nicely!
I checked out her web site and her blog. She is very clever. I hate that marking on the back of the fabric too. Flying Geese, eh? Well I think I would use them and make flying geese more often if I had those templates.
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT set of templates. Anything that helps me have to avoid "doing the math" is the perfect tool for me. I'd probably use them all the time. They look like they would be my "go to" rulers much as the Easy Angle is. I'm currently doing a couple projects with LOTS of flying geese so these would be very helpful for that.
ReplyDeleteI don't have any templates, just regular long rectangular (and a few square) rulers. So I would definitely not be trying to win them just to win "another set of templates".
ReplyDeleteI'd love to give them a try. I'm a pretty beginning quilter, but I'm at the point where I'm ready to attempt a few new things. This looks like it'd be way fun!
I just came from my sewing room to catch up with stuff on the computer. While there I was rotary cutting things that I had just drawn with a pencil, all the time wishing I had a plexiglass template for it!
ReplyDeleteIf I had this interesting looking set of templates, I would design a quilt to fit the templates, just for the relaxation. It looks like something with fussy cutting would work well. I promise to try to make something with it and send you a picture!
BTW, it would be a good idea approve comments more often in a situation like this so that people know when it's reached 30 and don't spend time writing long comments without being eligible. Just a thought.
Greetings from me and my cranky computer and internet connection! I, too, claim to be fairly wiz-y at math. BGSU may beg to differ, but I think I made up for it in my graduate studies out west.
ReplyDeleteSo, I can see where these templates would be great, especially when my math batteries are running low! I would use these templates any time there's a 45 degree angle involved. I think fast 45's are the bee's knees, but somebody needs to protect me from veering off the diagonal - happens more often than I care to admit.
I could use this set on the borders for my leaf quilt. It is too late for the leaves, though. They are already done. These template would also be great for cutting kits for upcoming group projects. I'm thinking how it would help with the consistency, depending on how much coffee, wine... among the group!
Thanks for your continued sharing of giggles and grins and bounty!
How do I plan to use these very useful looking templates? Well, I'll design a quilt for my niece using EQ7 that I bought a month or so from you. I always like the look of square in a square, and would love an easier way to make this design element. I love your blog and your introductions to new products. Keep up the good work. Kathie L in Allentown
ReplyDeleteA good thing that I decided to read a few blogs before heading out to get my sister a birthday present....always anxious to try a new product and these look like they are a nifty set to have. Have a great day.
ReplyDeleteSandy
cha06946san@epix.net
yikes, am I number 2? I hope at least I am in the first 30!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks really cool...I promise to use them to make a charity quilt and yes... I too will send you a photo just like Rafaels Mum..and I won't do a jiggy dance either...lol
I just don't know how often I would use them. Life gets between me and my sewing machine. 92 yo mother with issues after being run over. Just do not get sew often enough but would enjoy trying something new. I would use them to make bags.
ReplyDeleteI promise I will use the templates. I'm for anything that will make my sewing & quilting life easier!
ReplyDeleteI would use these for almost everything. I make charity quilts all the time and try to do different styles to keep myself interested.
ReplyDeleteThere is no way these would sit around, since up to now I've been making mine own templates for many of my projects with thick cardboard.
You can imagine how well that turns out. *wan smile*
I sew every day so I will use them at least every week. Good rulers are nice to have that are easy to cut.
ReplyDeleteI do not know what I will use them for yet. I hope to win.
Thanks Kelly
Jackie
You are just a wealth of Inforation, you and Sew Cal...are both amazing....
ReplyDeleteWhat a great set. I would use them to make snowballs for a red and white quilt I have rolling around in my head.
ReplyDeleteNice demo and what a lucky break to remember you had photo's. Me I would have remembered after I re-took photo's of myself doing the demo.
Chris
PS: My EQ upgrade is the bom. Thanks.
I would love to learn how to use these if they are as easy as you made them to be - I hope to quilt every day when I retire in 5 years - right now I am getting quilt tops made up and getting my "stash" built up so when I do retire I will have what I need to just quilt, quilt, quilt!!!! These would be great! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteTeri Dingler tdingler@bellsouth.net
These templates look fabulous! I want to make a bow tie quilt and already have the fabric! These would be so fun. Thanks for the chance Kelly!
ReplyDeleteWow Kelly, these templates look so versatile. I know I would use these because I am always cutting squares and triangles ;-D Can't seem to get away from them. And of course those flying geese just seem to multiply if you give them half a chance. I mostly use rulers as my cutting tool of choice, so these templates would be a huge help when it comes to all of the shapes your mentioned. Thanks for including me :-)
ReplyDeleteThe templates look great have to try them one day !!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, Kelly--I read your emails every day, but I don't enter your comment contests very often, as I am not skilled at blogging (This is the 3rd time I have tried to get this to be published without losing it--sigh.) But this time I REALLY NEED this St. Louis Star and templates set, and here's why:
ReplyDeleteMy two granddaughters, who like to make quilts with me for each of their little cousins, live in St. Louis. Right now we are planning one for their littlest cousin (my youngest grandson). We have used the Ohio Star block in a quilt for his older brother, so wouldn't it be just perfect to use the St. Louis Star block for this upcoming quilt? Then later I could use the same block for my a quilt for my St. Louis daughter-in-law, a snowman collector. A snowman surrounded by St. Louis Stars--again, just perfect. After that, as you say, the book and templates could be used for countless other projects (my head is swimming.) And all without worrying about those pesky little corners! Thank you for this posting and demo photos. I really hope I win!
I would love these templates because I have always wanted to do a square in a sqaue quilt and if these make it easier they are for me.
ReplyDeleteI love this! You are so generous to give stuff away! And thanks to the sponsors too! Even if I don't win, I wanted to say thank you to your sponsors and to you! And, thanks for the demonstrations!
ReplyDeleteI know that I can use these to cut triangles for a quilt that I keep putting off making. Count me in!
ReplyDeleteBindings, Snowballs and flying geese, oh my! I am cutting challenged! These would have a great home with me :) cathy
ReplyDeletecathy.kindle@yahoo.com
I would use these often for my BOM's that I participate in along with a few new quilts I want to make. I love the idea of not having to draw a line which means more time for sewing!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, man, I can't believe I'm gonna be left out! I'm a newbie quilter, teaching myself, so this would probably be used EVERY project! Yup, I'd be happy to send you pix!! And I'm late 'cuz I was out of town and just got home!! kcallander989@gmail.com - and here comes Hurricane ALEX!!
ReplyDelete