Mercantile Blocks, and a New Trim Tool

I am all caught up with this week's Mercantile Sew-Along blocks. The top one is Spool and Bobbins block, and the lower one is Soda Pop Star. Both were fun to make. I am using my own fabrics for the blocks and sometimes am switching up the background fabric from what Lori is using. 

I want to tell you about a new trim tool I just bought. As a matter of fact, I bought it specifically to make the Spool and Bobbins block, which calls for two units commonly called "Cat's Cradle". I've made this block unit before many times, using a Creative Grids trim tool called Cat's Cradle. 

This is a tricky block to make if you decide to do it using triangles. You can see from the diagram what I am talking about. There is no way I can make this come out right using triangles. 

The Creative Grids trim tool takes away the triangles entirely. You sew with squares and rectangles and trim up with the trim ruler, and get perfect units every time. Check out how nicely the point of the pink square lines up.

The photo above is of me trimming up a cat's cradle unit for the Mercantile block. The block will have one added step, when I add a sew and flip background corner to the pink square. (Like in the diagram).

This photo shows the two trim tools. The lower left is the regular Cat's Cradle tool, which allows you to make blocks up to 3 1/2" unfinished. With the XL Cat's Cradle tool (on the right) you can make units from 4" finished to 8" finished.

These units are such a headache to make using triangles, it was easy to justify the price of the tool.

This is a quilt I'd love to make some time, using scraps and the Cat's Cradle tool.

Here is some disappointing news. Eva had a ski trip planned for Monday, but it has been canceled due to our bad weather. Even worse, the 7th-grade winter formal dance tonight has also been canceled. Honestly, what a pain.  I guess we will be keeping that dress her dad bought that I altered to fit her....

Comments

[Pam D]

Love this tool! It's a game changer and well worth the price. Feel badly for Eva and all of the kids.

[Mary]

Too bad about that dance. I'm sure all the little girls were excited to get a great dress. How disappointing for Miss Eva.

I'm always hesitant about quilt gadgets. But when you recommend a tool, I think twice. This one sounds like a winner for sure.

Have a great weekend.

[sue s]

Last summer I made a quilt that had many cat's cradles. I didn't recognize it and the instructions were for all triangles, which I had to oversize and trim to get them right. I made them, but what a time-consuming pain. Wish I'd known about this tool! So sorry for Eva. I'm sure these events are special for her and her friends.

[CarolE]

Your blocks are so cute. I have never made a cat's cradle block before. What a bummer for Eva. Maybe she could have a sleepover with one of her girlfriends this weekend instead.

[Sandra]

Your blocks are perfect! I’m going to have to investigate this tool, I don’t mind the cost if it is a game changer for accuracy. Thanks for sharing. Sorry about Eva’s disappointments. ☹️

[Norma]

I have found that although Creative Grid rulers are expensive, they are well worth the money. I'm sorry about Eva's disappointments. It's hard at her age when emotions are so mercurial. I hope that she can find some joy this weekend.

[Norma]

I have found that although Creative Grid rulers are expensive, they are well worth the money. I'm sorry about Eva's disappointments. It's hard at her age when emotions are so mercurial. I hope that she can find some joy this weekend.

[Carolyn McIntosh]

Thank you for all your inspirational posts. I love your reviews of helpful tools. So sorry Eva’s fun is ruined by bad weather.

[Jan]

I'm so sorry to read that Eva's plans have been canceled...twice. That's a tough one. As Mary said in her comment, I hesitate to spend money on new sewing gadgets, but your recommendations are always accurate & worth the price. Thanks for sharing when you find a tool to make our sewing easier!

[Madeline]

To go off other comments- maybe sometime next month Eva and some closest friends can have a fancy slumber party? Nice appetizers, simple (soup?) dinner, and easy dessert. Maybe even boys over for apps and dancing? Some girls spending the night? They would be able to wear what they would have for the dance.

[Ina]

I am so sorry for Eva. :( I'm sure she was so excited about wearing that new dress.

I don't think $28 for a ruler is expensive. I have some Bloc Loc rulers and those were expensive. however, years later, I still pull them out to make tiny flying geese....they were worth the investment.

I'm sorry your weather is still lousy. hope you can stay in and read and sew.

[Lisa D.]

I was just looking at that tool at the quilt shop last week. Glad to know it works as intended - thank you for your review. I'm so sorry to hear about Eva's cancelled plans. That kind of thing is rought at that age. I hope she has an opportunity to wear the dress before she outgrows it!

[Sally]

Oh, I'm so disappointed for Eva! Maybe a substitute formal will/can be arranged by the school in a few weeks when the weather is more stable?

Your two blocks are just adorable and perfectly executed!

[Pam Edblom]

I have the Cat's Cradle ruler and used it to make a scrappy quilt. Absolutely love how it turned out and all my points were perfect. I made mine a throw size, but once I got the quilt made, I wished I would have made it queen size. It's such a pretty quilt, even if I do say so myself. I say "make it"!