You know what they say: Necessity is the mother of invention.* It’s true!
While working on the second book in Harriet and Carrie Hargrave‘s Quilter’s Academy series (Quilter’s Academy Vol.2–Sophomore Year), Harriet and I were brainstorming how to make the content fit into the planned 96 pages. (The authors have so much to share and are rightfully unwilling to compromise on content by cutting any necessary information, which is why the book is now 112 pages. I’m not that good an editor!)
Harriet’s moment of brilliance came when she proclaimed that quilters just didn’t have access to the graph paper they needed to do it right and mentioned subtly that we should just do a separate product and sell the graph paper she wanted.
WAIT…Yes, we should!
And so it was born: Harriet Hargrave’s Quilter’s Graph Paper. Harriet had the plan for which grids quilters needed — 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 squares to the inch (and I added my own touch in the form of a 3-squares-to-the-inch grid). Some she wanted set diagonally as well as square on the page.
Ooohhh. I get chills when I think about the design possibilities! I love graph paper, I love drafting and coloring in designs. I started out at C&T as a technical editor and I just love details and the nuts and bolts of quiltmaking. I’m so excited to get my own supply of this paper!
So here’s the inside scoop: Harriet wants quilters to really get the most from the papers so she proposed making it thicker than standard copy paper so we can color on both sides without bleeding through. Our printer found us some wonderfully heavy stock (100 gsm to be exact… If you’re used to standard 20 pound copy paper, this paper is the equivelent of 28 pound paper)!
We know that some of the grids are a little more common and others are a little more specialized. (You’ll probably design more quilts that use the 8-squares-to-the-inch grid than the 6- or 7-square grids), so we put more common sheets on the back of some more specialized sheets. While you can use both sides, some people will want to stick with one side only. If you’re not interested in Square in a Square or other pattern that uses the 7-squares grid, it’s backed by a more common grid so the paper wont be wasted.
10 Squares
Here’s a breakdown of what’s in each pack (50 sheets total):
10 pieces each of:
- 3 squares to the inch diagonal set paired with 9 squares to the inch diagonal set,
- 3 squares to the inch with 9 squares to the inch,
- 10 squares to the inch with 8 squares to the inch.
5 pieces each of:
- 8 squares to the inch diagonal set with 4 squares to the inch diagonal set,
- 5 squares to the inch with 4 squares to the inch,
- 6 squares to the inch with 4 squares to the inch,
- 7 squares to the inch with 8 squares to the inch.
Obviously I have a thing for the 3-squares-to-the-inch grid, but I think my favorite grid will be 9 squares to the inch. I love playing around with Log Cabins and variations (particularly Courthouse Steps) and the 9 squares to the inch lets me play with 4 rounds.
I got to color in the graph paper designs we photographed for the packaging (see one of these packaging photos above)! Please let me know how you like the paper. I’d love it if you would share some patterns that work best on the different sheets!
*In this case, “they” originally was Plato but it has since been uttered by anyone who wanted something badly enough they were going to get it done.
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13 Comments
It is overdue.. as in why didn’t I think of that!
very clever! would save me having to draw my own blocks…and they are so messy when I draw them!!
Hi Nancy – the graph paper comes out in mid May and will be available at your local quilt shop or online. It is part of our current blog giveaway – you have until 9am pst 5/3 to enter – visit ctpubblog.com and good luck!
Where can you buy it? How about having it as part of one of your giveaways to FB fans?
Where can you buy it? How about having it as part of one of your giveaways to FB
Hi Nancy – the graph paper comes out in mid May and will be available at your local quilt shop or online. It is part of our current blog giveaway – you have until 9am pst 5/3 to enter – visit ctpubblog.com and good luck!
Hi Nancy – the graph paper comes out in mid May and will be available at your local quilt shop or online. It is part of our current blog giveaway – you have until 9am pst 5/3 to enter – visit ctpubblog.com and good
Love the idea. I used to have a desk pad with 4 sq to the in and when talking on the phone would doodle quilt blocks.
yay–can't wait! love to design, and the different patch graphs are a much needed paper to design on!!
yay–can't wait! love to design, and the different patch graphs are a much needed paper to desig
I’ve been using the paper since it came out and love the possibilities it offers. I tend to be very stingy with craft supplies, so often have several projects going on the same page.
What brand of colored pencils are shown in this display with the paper?
Gina – Those are the Derwent Ink Tense pencils. Using them to color in graph paper is a bit of a waste… they are ink pencils so they act like watercolor paints. When you add a touch of water (such as dipping the pencil tip in a little water) and the colors get more vibrant and the lines bleed. Add a bit more water (like with a wet paint brush) and you can shade and blend colors just like with water color paints but with more control and less mess. This works on paper but also on fabric! The water also sets them so they are permanent on fabric. I LOVE them, though, so I tend to you them on anything that needs some color. We sell them in sets. Teresa Stroin just did a post on using them in a quilt she was working on (check out “C&T group quilt – an ongoing project). Here’s the link to the product page on our web site: http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?PC=2004