2018 Mystery Quilt - Diamonds are a Quilter's Best Friend

Clue 2

Ok, copywrite stuff first.... 

You have my permission to use my pattern for your guild or sewing group mystery quilt. You may make and share copies of my pattern as long as all copies have my name and blog name on them. If you would like a pdf file for your group, please email me and I will add you to my list.  atticthreads@yahoo.com

This month we’re going to be cutting and sewing.  There are 2 sets of directions, so choose the set for your quilt, either Layer Cake Mystery Quilt or Scrappy Quilts of Valor Mystery Quilt.

Layer Cake Mystery Quilt

This month we are going to use Bag 2, marked “A and B”

          12 squares from your layer cake

          Background fabric 60 squares 3 1/4” x 3 1/4”     24 pieces 3 1/4” x 6”

Let’s start cutting up those 12 squares from your layer cake.

          REMEMBER 3 1/4” IS OUR MEASUREMENT!!

Make the first 2 cuts WITHOUT MOVING THE FABRIC. 

Cut 3 1/4” strips from 2 sides.  Put the 3 1/4” squares in a pile.

Trim the longer rectangles to 3 1/4” x 6”.  Put the rectangles in a pile.

Make the next 2 cuts WITHOUT MOVING THE FABRIC. 

Cut 3 1/4” strips from 2 sides.  Trim all the squares to 3 1/4” x 3 1/4”.

Put the 3 1/4” squares in the pile.

Shuffle the pieces in each pile for a more Scrappy look.

Layer Cake Quilt AND Scrappy Quilt of Valor Mystery Quilt

Both quilts will follow the same piecing directions!

My only rule for myself? No pieces of the same fabric in a block!

We’re going to start with 4 patches. You will be making 24.  Easy  peasy chain piecing!

Start with 48 background 3 1/4”  squares and 48 layer cake (blue) 3 1/4”  squares.  

Sew a Background square to a layer cake (blue) square, press to the background fabric.  Sew 2 of these together, making a 4 patch. Press.  You will have 24 of these blocks. Set aside.

Sew the remaining 3 1/4” background squares to a layer cake (blue) 3 /14” x 6” strip. Press to the 6” strip. Put aside for now.

Sew the remaining 3 1/4” layer cake (blue) squares to a background 3 /14” x 6” strip. Press to the 6” strip. Put aside for now.

Block A—Paying close attention to the 4 patch orientation, sew a remaining 3 1/4” x 6” background strip to a 4 patch. Make 12 of these.

Block B—Paying close attention to the 4 patch orientation, sew a remaining 3 1/4” x 6” layer cake (blue) strip to a 4 patch.  Make 12 of these.

  

Use the sections set aside earlier to complete your blocks.

Block A

Using a section with a Background 6” strip and the 4 patch section with the added background 6” strip, sew 12 of these blocks.

Block B

Using a section with a layer cake (blue) 6” strip and the 4 patch section with the added layer cake (blue) 6” strip, sew 12 of these blocks.

Put these 24 blocks back in the bag marked A & B

I hope you have as much fun with strip piecing as I do. A good movie, or some music, a glass of wine or maybe hot chocolate and piece away. 

Please send me pictures of your blocks, I love seeing quilter's fabric choices!

Happy Quilting,

Ann