Mystery Quilt Revisited

Just over four months ago, my first APPLIQUE MYSTERY QUILT ALONG was completed. Have you finished yours yet?

Or did you miss out; and wish you had joined in.... no problem! You can purchase the pattern from my Craftsy store at the special SALE price of only $4.95. Check it out now; and save $4.00 during the month of September. 

Thank you to everyone that joined in on this spur-of-the-moment quilt along idea. I am honored to have shared those four months with you. And if you haven't had opportunity to complete yours yet, here's some new incentive to still complete it in 2014.....



Special Report:


I am planning to do another Applique Mystery Quilt Along... in 2015! This one will only be FREE if you receive a special invite from me, to participate. See details below.

For anyone that has made the 2014 project: "Life's A Journey" quilt, whether it was during the quilt along or by purchasing the pattern; and submits a photo of the quilt before the December 31, 2014 deadline; will receive a free invite, when it is available. (Approx. mid-January 2015.)

Please note: If you do receive an invite; you are not required to participate. This will give you the option; and I'll send further details to you, if you are interested. 

If you have already emailed me a photo of your quilt, you are already on the list to receive a free invite. 

I plan to post photos on this blog; soon, and wish to have others see your creative versions of this pattern. However, if your quilt is a gift for someone; and they haven't received it yet; please let me know in your email when I can post the photo.




2015 QUILT ALONG

Once you receive the free invite, you will email me back to confirm your interest; and only then receive the mystery quilt details. These will include: the supply list and design options for the project. 

TIMING  (Example: If the project begins on February 1, 2015; your invite will arrive mid-January; and this will give you about two weeks to purchase supplies and be ready to begin when the project opens.) 

At present, dates are approximate; and the project is still in the planning stages. But, here are some clues:

• It is a small wall hanging quilt with an artsy flair; using fabrics in grays and blacks.
• It will have applique; however, you may change it with one of the options!
• It will be pieced and embellished in sections to finish up in only four to six weeks.
• Adding color will be fun -- do it with applique, stitching, crayons, and/or embroidery.
• Don't like grays and blacks; then replace any with brighter colors!
• Is it perhaps time; to try a small quilt project that is done from start to finish, quickly?

Over the next couple of months, I want to test out my design to see how these options will turn out; and if it could be made into a larger project. More details forthcoming...

EXTRA NOTES:
If you can't wait for the weekly clues; 
or need to know all the details at the start, 
or cannot submit a photo of your finished 2014 project to receive the free invite; 
the full pattern will be available for purchase at my Craftsy store. 
You can then decide if you want to follow along, or make it on your own schedule. 

Happy stitching!!

Mystery Quilt Begins...

Let me begin by saying, WOW!! It is truly amazing to have so many quilters on this quilt along!! Thank you so much for giving this a try....

It is my hope that you enjoy this journey through the next 17 weeks. Please be assured that your favorite techniques and methods of quilt assembly do not need to be altered; just because you are following this project. Feel free to experiment with different blocks, and while you may try new methods; it is totally fine to adjust any process to fit your present ability.

As quilters, we love the opportunity to share our successes; and when things don’t go as anticipated; there is usually someone available to help. I look forward to sharing this journey with all of you.

 

Quilting Week-by-Week

Each week, we will be making the blocks together. Following this plan, means there will be no finished quilt available to guide you in color selections, optional layouts, etc., and this works out beautifully as a mystery quilt along.

However, I do have another strategy…. Not to show you these things; but to instruct you on using spare blocks that may not be the proper size; as they can still work in this design. As I discovered when I measured my blocks; they were too small. Instead of the required 5”, they were only 4 3/4” square. If only, I had used a scant quarter-inch to sew the seams! If this happens to you, I have an alternate way to still achieve the size needed. (Photos below to illustrate this option.)

Also Note: Only the first set of pieced blocks, need to be accurate in measurement – at 5” square. The rest of the quilt can be stitched with either a scant or regular quarter-inch measurement.  

If you have difficulty sewing a scant quarter-inch seam, or just like the regular quarter-inch seam better; do whichever one you have more success with, or just prefer the most. There are several options offered to allow everyone success, with this quilt project. 

When something goes wrong…. There is generally another way to utilize something that didn’t work or fit in a past project, or plan another approach. This gave me the idea to give several options for the selection of the pieced blocks; in order that everyone can be successful.

I will also be using my too small nine-patch blocks to stitch up this design for you to see a complete quilt top (without the appliques, of course); coming later in January.

Quilt Blocks Too Small
Making quilt blocks on a block of the month or quilt along, or just on your own; and come out with measurements below the required size? What do you do about these results?

Not everyone knows that a lot of quilting designs require a scant quarter-inch seam, now; instead of the regular quarter-inch seam. For me, growing up sewing clothing, the seam allowances were 5/8" wide. So, when I began quilting, I thought sewing with a quarter-inch seam was quite small; and not wide enough to hold the quilt together. And, then in 2012, I learned about the scant quarter-inch seam.

My first thoughts were, why? I already save my fabric scraps, create pretty designs with selvages, save my tiny, tiny scraps for pillow stuffing; and want to use my "fabric stash" instead of buying more fabric, that I don't really need. Even the word itself seems so negative.  But, there comes a time, when it requires at least a try.....

It was just last week, that I did some practicing to try and sew a perfect scant quarter-inch seam. I'm not sure if I've got it, yet. And, then, I don't know if I am truly ready to commit to this. So, it is up to you how to go about this; and if you have trouble with your finished sizes, I'll even show you how to overcome this situation.

WARNING: (If you like lots of rules, then you'll have to make up your own; because I can't seem to even strictly follow my own patterns; let alone expect anyone else too.)

This quilt is scrappy, has lots of options, and will be beautiful; however, you make it!!

Getting Block Size Exact

Okay, so if you are getting perfect results. Congrats! However, if you are having some difficulty, here’s my suggestion to get a perfectly sized pieced block. 

I am not a fan of the scant quarter-inch seam, just yet. So, I tried some sample blocks, to see how I could achieve the proper size, using a regular quarter inch seam. 

To begin, the squares were cut 2 1/8" x 2 1/8" wide; instead of the 2" dimensions, in the pattern. A regular quarter-inch seam was used to stitch all the blocks together. And when, trimming off the excess, there was very little to cut off. But, now this block is 5" x 5" square.

And, that's how you can get this part of the quilt ready for assembly, in week 14. The process is to make one block at a time; this way each block will have the ability to be moved around in the quilt layout, for best results. Also, if you want to mix and match pieced blocks; they do not all have to be the same type.

If you still don’t like the results, either try again; or try another option, to replace this block with another simpler block.

Photos to Measure and Trim Blocks to Proper Size--Using a Regular Quarter-Inch Seam Allowance

Nine-Patch Block
For clarity, these colors were used to allow you to see how the ruler is placed onto the center square. If size is adequate, it is ready to trim. (shown in next photo)

 

Place Ruler as shown to Measure

As the ruler is correctly placed (in photo above); the top and right sides can be trimmed. Then, readjust the ruler, and trim the other two sides. The block is now the correct size.

Trim off Excess Fabric

 

 

Happy Quilting...
Next week, it's about the appliques.

So... if you have questions about the applique blocks, I'll share my thoughts to assist you.

Piecing Together An Applique Mystery

Piecing -- Applique -- and Scrappy, too ....
Set to begin on January 5, 2014!!

Are you ready to start stitching up your story on this applique mystery quilt along? Instead of using crayons and paper; you'll begin with beautiful fabrics and add recognizable appliqued images that are attached to happy and/or sad memories, and many hopes for the future.

Combining pieced blocks and applique blocks; this quilt will allow total freedom to select a wide range of colors to create a delightfully scrappy quilt, that is set to tell a story -- and being a wall hanging quilt at about 33" x 33" in size; it will stitch up in only 17 weeks.

 

 

This Quilt A-Long Project will:

1.)  

Allow total freedom when selecting your colors, any embellishing of the blocks; even has an option in block choices, and the design is flexible to allow changing the final layout, if so desired.

2.)

Allow the beginner, advanced, busy, precise, or creative quilter several main options for creating their own unique quilt.  

3.)

Provide opportunity to work on a quilt along; without the large expense in fabric needs, supplies, and sewing time, as a large project would.

 

4.)

Allow opportunity to use stash fabrics and supplies already on-hand to save money and give opportunity to anyone that wishes to take part in a quilting project without straining their budget.

 

5.)

Begin January 5, 2014 and finish the week of April 27, 2014... making a great gift for someone special; maybe it's YOU!



Soon to be stitching....

It's A Mystery Quilt!!

Desiring a way to say 'thank-you' for all those amazing people from around the world that stopped by to check out my quilting patterns in 2013; I have this new project to share with you... as we all begin this NEW YEAR, together. (FREE to join, until January 31, 2014.)

MORE ON THIS PROJECT

This design evolved from the idea...
that a group of orphan quilt blocks that I had made, needed a place to shine; as they had not yet made it into a quilt of their own. Perhaps, it was that they weren't really very exciting all on their own. Or, maybe I had just forgotten about them. So, why not add them to a variety of applique blocks to create a really unique quilt?

Now, this to me gets more exciting... since I love to do machine applique and using fabrics from my own stash, let's make it a scrappy applique mystery quilt!!

To have a mystery, one needs a place to go to discover all of its secrets... so that was when I thought it would work great as a quilt a-long with as many people as would like to share in this adventure. Having had the joy of sharing my quilting designs over the past year; it was time to give back. And, now it is ready to begin.... Merry Christmas to all; and to all a good night!!  This gift is now ready to open on Christmas Eve.


For more details and opportunity to join me, check out my Craftsy store anytime before January 31, 2014 to join for FREE. After that it will disappear.... (it may come back; but that is still a secret)

May peace and joy descend upon you; this festive time of year!! Thank you so much for joining me in this adventure.