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!

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.

MYSTERY QUILT STEP 4

Please read through all instructions before beginning!

Subcut four of the 1 1/2" LIGHT strips into 1 1/2" X 4 1/2" rectangles. You will need 36 rectangles. Stitch these to the long side of the unit pieced in Step 2, opposite the side with the triangle.




Using the thirty-six 2 1/2" squares of FOCUS fabric that were set aside earlier, place a square on each unit pieced above, on the opposite corner from the light triangle. Stitch diagonally, fold open, and press.



Trim one or both inside layers to reduce bulk, if desired.

MYSTERY QUILT STEP TWO

As always, please read through these instructions before beginning.

More strip sets.........

Using 1 1/2 inch LIGHT strips and 3 1/2 inch LIGHT/MEDIUM strips, make FOUR strip sets.

(Please Note: I base my calculations on 40" of usable width. If you do not preshrink your fabrics, you can probably get by with only three strip sets.)

Subcut into 3 1/2 inch lengths. You will need 36.

Subcut three of the 2 1/2 inch LIGHT strips into 2 1/2 inch squares. You will need 36.

Place the square in either of the LIGHT/MEDIUM corners of the units from step one. Stitch diagonally, fold back and press. If desired, trim out one or both inside layers to reduce bulk. Because my light is so white, and because of the black dots in my light/medium, I have chosen not to trim out the inside layers. This could create a problem if I were going to hand quilt this quilt. In that case, I would be sure to trim out both inside layers. But since this quilt will be machine quilted, I will just leave the layers in.

You will need 36. (They do not need to be all the same....the triangle corner can be on either side.)

MYSTERY QUILT STEP ONE

Please read through these directions completely before you begin to cut and sew!







Using the 1 1/2" LIGHT and 1 1/2" LIGHT/MEDIUM strips, make nine strip sets. Set five strip sets aside for later. Subcut the remaining four strip sets into 4 1/2" lengths. You will need 36.

Subcut the MEDIUM/DARK #2 strips into 2 1/2" squares. You will need 72.

Lay a MEDIUM/DARK square on one side of the above rectangle. Stitch diagonally, fold open, and press. If it helps you, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the square. However, you can save time by eliminating this step and using a line marked on your sewing machine. See my previous blog post on binding for more details about this method. Whichever method you choose, it is helpful to sew at least one or two thread widths off the line, towards the edge of the rectangle. This gives you a little more room when you flip and press. It doesn't hurt to sew even further off the line....you will use the rectangle as your guide when you press.

Be sure to start stitching in the corner that covers the LIGHT/MEDIUM fabric.

See how the corner of the square just follows the line, but is just a tiny bit over?

(Oops! Blurry picture....sorry!)

Fold back the square, and line up with the corner of the rectangle and press.

Repeat for the other side of the rectangle.

If desired, trim out one or both inside layers to reduce bulk. I personally like to leave the rectangle intact....it keeps everything square and nice. Unless there is a shading issue, I do trim out the inside layer.

This is what your unit will look like. Take care to stitch so that the LIGHT/MEDIUM fabric is towards the point of the goose, and the LIGHT fabric is along the outside of the rectangle.

You will need 36 of these.

MYSTERY QUILT CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

Please note: Because I like borders cut on the lengthwise grain, the focus fabric is cut along the length, that is, parallel to the selvedge. All the remaining fabrics are cut the traditional way...

FOCUS FABRIC

Cut four strips on the lengthwise grain, (parallel to selvedge), 6 1/2" X length of fabric (These are border strips.)

Cut three strips, 2 1/2" X length of fabric

Cut one strip, 4 1/2" X length of fabric, from one end of this piece cut two squares 2 7/8"

LIGHT FABRIC

Cut seventeen strips, 1 1/2" X width of fabric

Cut seven strips, 2 1/2" X width of fabric

LIGHT/MEDIUM

Cut nine strips, 1 1/2" X width of fabric

Cut eight strips, 2 1/2" X width of fabric

Cut four strips, 3 1/2" X width of fabric

Cut one strip, 2 7/8" X width of fabric

MEDIUM/DARK #1

Cut five strips, 2 1/2" X width of fabric

Cut six strips, 1 1/2" X width of fabric (These are border strips.)

MEDIUM DARK #2

Cut five strips, 2 1/2" X width of fabric

DARK

Cut eight strips, 2 1/2" X width of fabric (Seven of these are for binding.)

NEW MYSTERY QUILT BEGINS SATURDAY!

Those of you that receive our newsletter already know that we are beginning a new mystery quilt on Saturday. Even if you cannot make it in to the shop, you can join us in solving this mystery! Each month, on the second Saturday, I will be posting a new step. This is a traditional, pieced quilt, finished size approximately 62" X 62".

Today, I am giving you your fabric requirements.

First, start with a Focus fabric. Just pick something you like....that's easy, right? You will need 2 yards. (This will include the outer border.)

The rest of the fabrics need to "get along with" the focus fabric, and with each other.

Light 1 1/2 yards (One and one half yards)

Light/Medium 1 3/4 yards (One and three quarter yards) This could be the same color as your light, with a value change, or a different color altogether!

Medium or Dark #1 3/4 yard (Three quarter yard) (This will include the inner border.)

Medium or Dark #2 1/2 yard (One half yard)

Medium/Dark #3 2/3 yard (Two thirds yard) (This will include binding.) Now....about this one....If you can pull a third color out of your focus fabric, great. That's what I did. But if you can't, don't worry.....you could also use your focus fabric or one of the other mediums, just be sure to add this amount to the yardage required above for the one you choose.

Although I used to be a stickler about prewashing and ironing fabric, since I've gotten busy with the business, I often bypass this step. Luckily, I have never had a problem. Certainly, if you use hand-dyed fabrics or suspect that a fabric might bleed, you will want to prewash.

I base all my yardage calculations on 40 inches of width. That allows for any shrinkage that happens when you prewash. It also means that those who don't prewash may eke out an extra cut or two out of a strip, perhaps meaning you may need a strip less than the directions indicate.... Don't worry if you have an extra strip....just throw it in your scraps!

Tomorrow I will post cutting instructions....and then on Saturday, STEP ONE!