Best Quilting Notions for Fun Projects #5 The Grid Marker

I know I talk about this tool all the time and those who have taken my classes will attest to this!  I LOVE IT! Check out my previous blog post about this tool and heirloom quilting samples here.  I took an heirloom quilting class a few years back and this tool was suggested and when I purchased it and started to use it. I sincerely thought "where have you been all of my quilting life?"
It is such a versatile tool that I take it out almost every time I am planning a quilt.  As you can see it has lines every 1/2" and looks very much like the June Tailor Shape Cut Tool but it is a marking tool.  So the lines/cutouts on the tool just fit a pen, pencil or marking tool and it is not  made to use as a cutting tool.  You don't have to look at it as just 1/2",  you can skip lines and make squares, diamonds or lines any size you want.

As a marking tool you can use it to draw even parallel lines at 90 degrees, 45 degrees and 60 degrees.  This also means  you can draw shapes with it , rectangles, squares, diamonds and more!  You can also make all shapes as wide or as long as  you like by moving the tool along your design. It is must faster than moving and trying to realign a ruler.  See my (incomplete) sample below where I  marked grided parallel lines, squares, diamonds and half square triangles and used it to mark and stitch out a "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul" stitch fill in the background. The fill stitches are completed  free motion. 

Grid Marker sampler using 45 degree, 90 degree and 60 degree markings

Heirloom sample using 60 degree lines and a double needle for background diamond fill below:

Also check out the blog post on Craftsy.com entitled 8 Simple Grids to Inspire Your Quilting here

Photo from Craftsy.com Lindsay Conner

What other larger shapes can we draw with this grid  marker tool hmmm?

Recent shapes Square, Hexagon Triangle that had to be drawn before stitching

If you have a question like- How do I draw that shape? Or... I don't have that shaped template, how can I draw it?  This might be the tool for you.

Where to get this tool?  Click on the image of the Grid Marker below:

This is just food for thought, there is so much more that can be done with this tool and quilting. It  also comes with graphic diagrams to show you what you can do with it. I have just "scratched at the crack in the iceberg" as they say as to the grid markers many uses.

I hope this tool and ideas are useful for your quilting and design success!

​Happy Thursday!