Mystery Quilt 2010

Mystery Quilt Directions Step 4

Step four uses medium and background fabrics. Cut three 2 ½ by width of fabric (40-42) inch strips from medium fabric. Cut twenty 2 ½ by 4 ½ inch rectangles.

Cut three BG 2 ½ by 27 inch strips. Cut them into forty 2 ½ inch squares. Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the BG squares. Save the remainder of the strips.

Make flying geese by putting a marked square on the left side of the rectangle, right sides together, the line going from the center down to the left corner. Sew on the line, a scant bit on the outside of the triangle. Trim ¼ inch from the seam on the outer side of the triangle, press open. Sew, trim and press all 20. (You may discard these trimmings.)

For the second half, line up the marked square on right sides of the rectangle, right sides together with the line going from the center, down to the right on the rectangle. Sew on the line, a scant bit on the side of the outside of the triangle. Trim ¼ inch from the seam on the outer side of the triangle, press open. Sew and press all twenty, 4 ½ by 2 ½ inch flying geese blocks.

Sew geese together in four groups of nine geese. Alternate dark and medium geese; beginning and ending with medium geese. (See Photo) Set aside and wait for step 5.

Mystery Quilt Directions Step 3

Wait for the next step. !

Mystery Quilt Directions Step 2

Step two uses dark and background fabrics.  Cut five 2 ½ by width of fabric (40-42) inch strips from dark fabric.  Cut 18 ½ inch strips from four of the strips.  Label and set aside.  Cut sixteen 2 ½ by 4 ½ inch rectangles from the remainder. 

            From background (BG) fabric, cut a 4 ½ inch by 27 inch strip.  Label and set aside.  Cut four 2 ½ by 27 inch strips.  Cut them into thirty-two 2 ½ inch squares.  Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of the BG squares.  Save the remainder of the strips.

            Make flying geese by putting a marked square on the left side of the rectangle, right sides together, the line going from the center down to the left corner.  Sew on the line, a scant bit on the outside of the triangle.  Trim ¼ inch from the seam on the outer side of the triangle, press open. Sew, trim and press all 16.  (You may discard these trimmings.)

            For the second half, line up the marked square on right sides of the rectangle, right sides together with the line going from the center, down to the right on the rectangle.  Sew on the line, a scant bit on the side of the outside of the triangle. Trim ¼ inch from the seam on the outer side of the triangle, press open. Sew and press all 16, 4 ½ by 2 ½ inch flying geese blocks.

Do not sew flying geese together.

SAVE ALL SCRAPS.

Set all aside and wait for step 3.

Mystery Quilt Directions Step 1

Fabric requirements; 5/8 yard each for dark and medium fabrics, ¾ yard for light background (BG) fabric.  It is up to you whether you prewash or not

When cutting, save all scraps until top is completed.   Cut off all selvedges. Use ¼ inch seam throughout.

Step one uses dark and background fabric.  From dark fabric cut a strip 7 ¼ by 22 ½ and then cut two 7 ¼ inch squares.  From BG fabric, cut a 7 ¼ by 27 inch strip and cut two 7 ¼ inch squares. Save the leftovers.

Mark a diagonal line across the back of each background square.  Place a dark square, right sides together under the marked BG square.  Sew a scant ¼ inch seam on each side of the line.  Cut apart on the line.  Iron to dark side.

Take two of the squares and place right sides together, butting the seams and lights and darks opposite each other.  Draw a diagonal line across the block at a right angle to the seam.   Sew a scant ¼ inch seam on each side of the line.  Repeat with second set of squares.  Cut on drawn line.  Iron seam to one side.  You should have four 6 ½ inch hourglass blocks.

Keep all blocks, fabric and scraps together.

Next step will be in May’s newsletter.

Mystery Quilt Introduction

This year we will be doing a six month “Mystery Quilt.”  We will use two colors and a background.  You may use a dark and a medium or light fabric of the same color; or a dark and light fabric of different colors that are compatible.  Fabrics may be prints but the background should “read” as a solid color.  Try to avoid very large prints and obvious directional prints.  Tiny prints are okay but try to vary the kinds of prints on the fabrics.

You will get to keep your finished 34 inch wall-hanging or you may purchase extra fabric and make it a lap quilt or the center of a larger quilt.  It’s entirely up to you.

Watch for the fabric requirements and first cutting instructions in the April Newsletter. Have fun with it.