MYSTERY QUILT STEP #9

FINISHING IT UP!!

This is it! Just the last two borders and this one will be ready for quilting!

Make sure your quilt top is pressed very well!

Cut two of the 1 1/2 inch strips in half. Sew one half to each of the remaining four full strips. Lay two stripS across the center of the quilt top. Trim edges even with the quilt top. Sew to opposite sides of the quilt top, easing the quilt top into border, if necessary. Press towards border.

Repeat for the remaining two strips.

Add the four focus fabric border pieces in the same manner.

Here is a closeup...I just thought you might like to see how cute this border fabric is! I have had it in my stash for awhile, just waiting for the right project and the right baby..... I am anxious to get this one to the quilter. With white batting, the shadows of the seam allowances will disappear, and I think the contrast between the light and the light/medium fabric will show up more.

Here is another version of the quilt, with a Michael Miller Christmas fabric and Fairy Frosts. As you can see, in this quilt there is much more contrast between the light and the light/medium. This just came back from the quilter yesterday, so I haven't added binding yet.

To finish it up, layer and quilt as desired. (Or do like I do....send it off to the quilter...)

To bind it, join the seven 2 1/2 inch strips of DARK fabric, end to end, to form a long binding strip. Attach to quilt in your preferred method!

DONE!

NAME THIS QUILT CONTEST!!

This beautiful new design by artist Brenda Yirsa needs a name! Do you have a suggestion? If so, please email the name (and yours!) to traci@bigforkbaycottonco.com by midnight, October 15th. You must email your name....we won't be checking comments here. After we have accumulated all of your suggestions, we will send them to Brenda and she will choose a name.

The first person to submit the winning name will receive a free fabric kit with pattern. Anyone else who submits the winning name will receive a free pattern!

You can enter as many times as you'd like!

GOOD LUCK!

MYSTERY QUILT STEP #8

This is a really quick step! You will use the strips you pieced in step 3.....

Sew the two shorter strips to opposite sides of the quilt top. Press towards the quilt top.

Sew the remaining two strips to the other sides of the quilt top. Press towards the quilt top.

MYSTERY QUILT STEP #7

How is everyone doing? Did you get your blocks put together? This month we're going to put them together with some simple sashing and cornerstones. It may appear that we are at the end, but we have a little more finishing up to do. I know it is a busy time of year with summer winding down and families getting ready for school. This is a quick step!

BIG OOPS on my part. Do you know how I usually take photos as I go along? Well I did do that this time. However, I didn't notice until I took the very last photo that I didn't have an SD card in my camera! So you will notice that the first two photos are cropped from the final one, which leaves a "little extra" around the edges. I think it's still clear enough what to do....

Subcut the eight 2 1/2 inch LIGHT/MEDIUM strips into 2 1/2 X 12 1/2 inch rectangles. You will get three per strip. You need a total of 24 rectangles.

Subcut the 2 1/2 inch DARK strip into 2 1/2 inch squares. You will need 16 squares.

Using twelve of the LIGHT/MEDIUM rectangles, and all of the DARK squares, make four strips as shown below. Press away from the DARK squares.

Using the remaining LIGHT/MEDIUM rectangles and the blocks, make three rows as shown below. Press towards the LIGHT/MEDIUM sashing strips.

Lay out the strips as shown and sew together. Press towards the sashing strips.

MYSTERY QUILT STEP 6

I am sure that by now some of you have been playing with the components, trying to figure out the block. Let's see how many of you are correct!

Subcut the 4 1/2" strip of FOCUS fabric into 4 1/2" squares. You will need 9.

Lay out the block components as shown below:

Stitch into rows. Press the center row towards the center (FOCUS fabric). Press the other rows away from the center.

Stitch the rows together. Press either way, or press seams open...whatever makes the block lay the flattest.

Voila!!

See you next month!

DEBI HUBBS CHOOSES "ZURI" FOR HER GIRAFFE!

and the winner is.....NICKI REID!!!

Here are Debi's own words regarding this contest and her choice:

"I want to thank everyone for such wonderful names. I really could not decide. And I changed my mind over and over. I hope some of you won't mind if I use some of those fantastic names for my future creations. I will give you credit of course. My biggest dilemma for choosing a name was this little giraffe's gender. I made him/her and I still cannot decide if he is a boy or she is a girl.

Here is the name I have chosen. Zuri. Which means beautiful in Swahili. I have a strong love for Africa and its amazing landscape, and spectacular animals. And most of all the beauty in the women and children there and how they persevere over challenges with such grace. Zuri represents all of the loveliness that is Africa for me."

We did receive multiple submissions of this name, but Nicki's was first! She will win a fabric kit with pattern. The others that submitted this name will receive a free pattern!

We are still probably about a month out from delivering this pattern...but we are accepting preorders now. Why order now instead of waiting until it is ready? The first 50 orders will received patterns signed by Debi Hubbs! This is the first time we have offered this! Debi is becoming very famous....this autograph is priceless!!

The pattern will cost $12 and the fabric kit will cost $46. As always, the fabric kit will include the pattern, all fabrics needed to complete the top as shown above, and the binding.

Call now (406-245-5718) or visit www.bigforkbaycottonco.com to order.

Oh yea, one more reason to order soon.....for a limited time, all Zuri orders will be 10% off!

MYSTERY QUILT STEP 5

Please read all instructions through before beginning!

Subcut the remaining four LIGHT, 2 1/2" strips into 4 1/2" lengths. You will need 36. Subcut the MEDIUM/DARK #1 strips into 2 1/2" squares. You will need 72. Using the method used in Step 1, sew the squares to the rectangles to create flying geese units.

Using these units and the units from Step 1, sew pairs of geese together to create the units shown.

*Hint: When sewing the two flying geese units together, place the one from Step 1 on top. That way, you can see exactly where the point is, and stitch just up to it without cutting it off!

Press towards the flying geese from this step.

You should have 36.