In addition to Star Sapphire, we've added two new quilted projects to the website, with a several more to come this summer.

New Backpack Pattern & Kits

Pyramid Scheme

My Backpack pattern has been a favorite for years.  We've revamped the pattern and created two beautiful new kits featuring the Sophia border print fabric.

Pyramid Scheme is an Aardvark Quilts pattern which I picked up at Quilt Market. I tweaked the pattern a little and chose some high-impact fabrics. It's the perfect size for a twin bed and can be made by quilters of all skill levels.  

Bohin Pencil and Refill

We've also found a wonderful new marking pencil from Bohin.  It's mechanical so there's no sharpening.  And the lead is ceramic so it easily erases with water or a fabric eraser. The pencils and refills are part of our weekly web special this week.  Click on the image of the pencil to go directly to the web special page for more details.

[Please note that the web special has expired. The pencils and refills are still available at regular prices.] 

Fabergé, Summer Lily and White Nights are all examples of quilts using strip-piecing techniques.

Last month, I put together a lesson on how to convert a quilt block designed for foundation-piecing or paper-piecing to traditional quiltmaking techniques.

This month's lesson is how to make the same conversion for patterns that call for strip-piecing.

Strip-piecing makes it much faster to cut and sew quilt patches or sections that are made from strips of fabric.  Many of my patterns use this technique because I love to shade strips of fabrics in my designs.

It's a great technique but it has two main drawbacks:  first, it often "wastes" lots of fabric that is cut away; and second, hand-piecing long strips of fabric is really boring! 

The technique for converting a strip-pieced pattern for traditional quiltmaking is simple:

• trace each patch
• add 1/4-inch seam allowances as needed 
• mark the appropriate information on the templates and cut the number of patches required 

I've put together detailed information and diagrams in the new tip on Converting Strip-Piecing For Traditional Sewing Techniques on my website.   

Thanks again to Tina from Champaign, IL for the question.    

* * * 

If you have a question for me, click the link below. I can't answer everyone's questions personally, but I will choose ones with broad interest to be addressed here and on my website.

Send Jinny a Question  

We're back with a new block this month.  Block #4 is very similar to Block #3, so it's important to keep the finished blocks separate!

The foundations you'll need are included in this month's pattern but be sure you've downloaded all the previous months' materials -- you'll also need templates published in previous months.

And if you're new to this block-of-the-month program, never fear!  You can catch up with everything you missed by clicking the link below, too.

Remember, the free patterns are only available via the link below so if you don't download the pattern right away, be sure to save this email.

[Link available only to subscribers] 

We have complete kits and patterns ready to ship.  The kit is available with three different border color options!

See them all here.   

 
Happy quilting!