Last year a casual question from another Benartex designer prompted me to count up how many collections I’ve designed for Benartex since the first in the late 1990’s. The answer was thirty.

With that lineage, what else would I call the next collection of wondrously colored, densely patterned designs celebrating my signature style and my four decades collaboration with Benartex? The answer, obviously, is Thirty-One. 

Here are some fun facts about the number thirty-one.

First of all it is a prime number, meaning it is a natural number that can only be divided by itself and the number 1. 

There are one billion seconds in 31 years.

Baskin Robbins is known in some countries (like Japan) as 31 Flavors.  That’s because they always have 31 different flavors available at any point in time.  

The Cyrillic alphabet, used in Russia, Belarus and Bulgaria contains 31 letters.

In English, the expression “dressed to the nines” means to be extremely well dressed. In French, this expression links to the number 31 instead.

This 12-sku group is comprised of three patterns, each available in four colorways.  Each design combines the symmetry, intricacy and abundant color that inspires my personal quilt idiom. I love these patterns; they clearly support my heartfelt claim that I am a Patternista.    

ELECTRIC LACE, with its crisp outlines against a rich black background, is somehow bold and delicate at the same time.  (6” x 44”)  
16561-10 Red Multi      
16561-33 Gold Multi
16561-55 Blue Multi
16561-66 Purple Multi

WINGSPAN’s elegant motifs are evocative and gorgeous, a revisit of an older pattern I’ve used up to the last inch.  The painterly effects of dark and light create movement, suggest depth, and will insert energy into a finished artwork. (4.75” x 44”)
16562-10 Red Multi
16562-33 Gold Multi
16562-55 Blue Multi
16562-66 Purple Multi

SPRINKLES is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It’s all dots -- engineered into symmetrical patterns. Cut into patches, the mirror-imaged, speckled motifs turn out to be very versatile, able to catch or calm the viewer’s eye.  (14.5” x 44”) 
16563-10 Red Multi
16563-33 Gold Multi
16563-44 Green Multi
16563-66 Purple Multi