Monthly Newsletter From Jinny Beyer Studio

June 2, 2012

Greetings!,

Can you believe that it's only June and we're featuring my newest holiday collection? Now you'll have no excuses about not having time to get those holiday projects and gifts made! To get you started, you can download three free new patterns this month that feature fabrics from my new A Jinny Beyer Holiday collection.

Just two weeks or so ago, I was in Kansas City at Spring Quilt Market. Spring Market 2012 photos

I met with the designers who work with me to create the final artwork for my fabric. And if you want to get a sense of how far ahead we work, we were discussing a fabric line that won't be available for another year! Coming "sooner", however, is my Monochrome collection. The kaleidoscope quilt featuring the red fabrics from that collection was on display at the RJR Fabrics Booth (right).

Usually, I see Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson at Market, but I had to settle for the not-quite-the-real-thing this year!

I also shopped for fun tools and gadgets for jinnybeyer.com, and picked up some great new tote bag and purse patterns. You'll see them soon!

Do you have my Quilters' Album of Patchwork Patterns book? Did you know that there are a number of quick reference lists in the book that let you quickly find blocks of a similar theme such as flowers (left), boats, houses, fans and more? You can find an index to the lists on page 19.

New Collection: A Jinny Beyer Holiday

A Jinny Beyer Holiday fabric collection

There's a brand-new fabric collection available on jinnybeyer.com and in the Great Falls, VA Studio.

A Jinny Beyer Holiday includes 24 brand-new fabrics, plus a reprint of my popular Christmas toile. The prints include classic motifs like holly leaves, pine cones, fir branches and snowflakes -- all in traditional holiday shades of gold, blue, red and green.
Jinny Beyer Holiday fabrics

I created a quilt, a table runner and tree skirt, all featuring fabrics from the collection. All the patterns are free downloads at jinnybeyer.com!

For the Snow Crystals Quilt, I designed a beautiful new block that seems to interlock and create a secondary pattern. The red versions definitely evoke Christmastime, but the blue/gold colorways are perfect for Hanukkah or non-holiday use year-round.

The Snow Crystal Table Runner (not shown) uses the same block, but with fewer blocks and no border, it is faster to complete!

The Border Print Tree Skirt features large triangles made from the collection's border print fabric, divided by strips of flying geese patches.

Kits are available for all three projects. For more information or to download the free patterns, click the links below.

Snow Crystals Quilt
Snow Crystals Table Runner
Border Print Tree Skirt

Tips & Techniques: Partial Seams

Some blocks that seem to require an inset seam when machine sewing can actually be made using a super-easy technique: the partial seam.

The two blocks shown here both use a partial seam to sew the first patch to the center. Keeping one end unsewn until the last patch is attached means you have no tricky stops and starts.

For step-by-step instructions and diagrams, see the tip on our website.
Tips & Lessons - The Partial Seam

If you think you'd like to give the technique a try, the patterns that use these featured blocks are free downloads on the website. Click the images below for more information or to download the patterns.

Holiday Memories Table Runner

Harlequin Charm

Shenandoah Baskets - Month 5

This month's downloadable pattern is for Wicker Baskets.

In this block, carefully cut patches of border print fabric create the base and top edge of the basket. A curved handle and optional flowers are appliquéd to the block. (An alternative to the curved handle is also provided in the pattern.)

If you're just joining the program, there's no need to worry about catching up. In addition to this month's blocks, the download link below will give you access to all the materials we've shared so far.

Shenandoah Baskets is available with dark or light backgrounds. The optional floral appliqué is
shown on the light version.

(They are all Adobe PDF files so you must have the free Adobe Reader installed on your computer to view them.)

Remember that the only way to access the free download page is through this email. So, if you don't download the patterns immediately, be sure to save this email. The link below will be active until the next newsletter goes out.

[link available in original email to subscribers only]

Ready to make the quilt? We have complete kits ready to go. Don't forget that you can choose Shenandoah Baskets with a dark or light background.

See the kit options here.

Happy quilting!