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

Finally, what you've all been waiting for:

2018 Mystery Quilt - Diamonds Are a Quilter's Best Friend
Final Directions!!!

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 all those blocks into a quilt top.  There is 1 set of directions for both tops, Layer Cake Mystery Quilt or Scrappy Quilts of Valor Mystery Quilt.

Last time cutting, I promise!

This month we are going to start with  Bag 4, marked “E and F”  

We need to cut these blocks before we put the top together.

I recommend that you starch and press these blocks first. We will be cutting on the bias and this will help to keep them from stretching.

Take all 6 of the E blocks out of the bag. The E blocks have the red or layer cake pieces on the two sides.

Place 2 E blocks right sides together,

Make a mark 3/4” down from the UPPER LEFT CORNER of the long side,

Make a mark 3/4” up from the LOWER RIGHT CORNER of the long side

Cut on the diagonal from mark to mark.

Repeat for the remaining 4 E blocks. 

Place back in the E/F bag.

Take all 6 of the remaining F blocks out of the bag. The F blocks have the red or layer cake strip in the center.

Place 2 F blocks right sides together.

Repeat the above cutting technique.

Repeat for the remaining 4 F blocks.

Place back in the E/F bag.

Enough with the blocks! Let's put that top together!!!

There is 1 set of directions for both tops, Layer Cake Mystery Quilt or Scrappy Quilts of Valor Mystery Quilt. 

This quilt is on point, so I recommend that you lay out your blocks BEFORE sewing the top together. Pay close attention to the orientation of the blocks. This picture does not include borders. I am leaving borders up to you. Because the edges are on the bias, pin your border on and then SEW THE BORDERS ON WITH THE BORDER FABRIC ON THE BOTTOM! This will allow your feed dogs to pull in any extra bias fabric. It will also help to keep you from stretching the bias edges.

*****Sew all the rows together first, leaving off the 4 outer corner triangles.  After all the rows have been sewn, and the rows sewn together into the top, then you will be sewing on the 4 last corner blocks! ****

Now that you have sewn all the rows together, we will add on the final 4 corner squares. Use the remaining E blocks. Sew the blocks on, pay attention to the orientation and then square up the corners.

Here is another chart of the quilt layout showing the block letters.

Wow! This year has been a wild ride so far! Between all my travels, teaching and quilting, I have met some awesome people! I hope you've enjoyed this Mystery as much as I have. Please send me pictures of your finished quilts.    atticthreads@yahoo.com    I love seeing all the different fabrics you use.

Happy Quilting!

Ann

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

So, before we get started on this month's Clue, I thought I'ld be that person who shows you all her pictures. LOL, feel free to scroll down! Here's what has been happening in my life....

This month has been so much fun! Bob and I have started our traveling adventures. OK, so we went to southern Missouri camping, but, we had sooooo much fun. The dogs loved it and my cat, China, had her longest camping trip to date. Our best traveling friends, Skip and Denise and their 2 dogs went also. A few pictures of what we like to call the McNew Family Campground. 

Our Home Away from Home, Brandy is protecting it.

Gazebo up, Hammocks hung, Break time!

Skip and Denise, all moved in.

McNew Family Campground, a park like setting!

BarBQ pit with new pit rack, ready for grilling, made by Skip! We love it!

Breakfast before a ride at our favorite Houston (MO) restaurant, The Frying Pan.
Best food in Houston!

Brandy loves joining Mommy in the hammock.

Knitting the old fashioned way, by lantern light, thank you Sherry for my light!

Supper in the camper, even China tried a bite.

Last month I had the honor of teaching in Sandy, Utah at UQSM. This was my last National teaching event. I am officially retired from teaching! What a great show for my last. Everyone is always so friendly, it was my favorite show! My quilt, "Ha, The Breath of Life" took an Honorable Mention, follow this link to see more info on this quilt.

Ha, The Breath of Life

This is my quilt "Flourish", my entry into the Moda Fabric Challenge.

And my quilt for the AdornIt Fabric challenge.

And finally, my quilt "Over the Rainbow", my ShowMe LongArm Guild Challenge Quilt,

Alright, what you've all been waiting for:

Clue 4

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 is going to look familiar, because the first half of this block is made using the same technique as last month!

This month we are going to use Bag 3, marked “C and D”  

** Make sure you have Bag 3, we’re a little out of order!

          10 squares from your layer cake

          10 Squares from your background fabric cut 10” x 10”

Start sewing, you can strip piece thru this quite quickly!

Place a layer cake square right sides together with a background square.  

Sew 1/4” up 2 opposite sides. Repeat for all 10 layer cake squares.

 Cut 3 1/4” from each stitched side.  Press to the layer cake Piece. 

Trim the center pieces to 3 1/4” wide. 

Mix up the Pieces for a scrappier look.  Sew a center piece to one Side of each stitched pair. Make 10 of each of these blocks.

Block 1

Block 2

                   
 Layer Cake Mystery Quilt—Step 2

Remember, this month we are using  Bag 3, marked    “C and D”  

** Make sure you have Bag 3, we’re a little out of order!

Place a Block 1 right sides together with a Block 2. The seams should lock

Together.  Sew 1/4” up 2 opposite sides, stitching ACROSS the seams.

Repeat for all 10 Block 1s.

Cut 3 1/4” from each stitched side. 

Trim the center pieces to 3 1/4” wide. Mix up the Pieces for a scrappier look,  Sew a center piece to one side of each stitched pair, Make 10 of each of these blocks.

Wow! Wasn't that a great way to use a layer cake to make 9 patches?

Quilts of Valor Mystery Quilt

This month we are going to use Bag 3, marked       “C and D”  

** Make sure you have Bag 3, we’re a little out of order!

           From your RED fabric

                    90 pieces 3 1/4” x 3 1/4”

          From your background fabric

                    90 pieces 3 1/4” x 3 1/4”

Start sewing, you can strip piece thru this quite quickly!

               Piece 30 of each of these sections

                Using 20 of each section, make 20 of these

           

Sew on the remaining sections to make 10 of each block!

Put these blocks back in the bag marked "C and D".

Next month we'll be putting it all together! Are you getting excited? I am! I can't wait to see pictures of your finished Mystery Quilts, "Diamonds Are a Quilter's Best Friend".

Happy Quilting!
Ann

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

It's been a wild month! Hubby and I drove to Sandy, Utah for the UQSM show. I had the honor of teaching some AMAZING quilters in my 7 classes! It was so much fun, but exhausting. The drive thru the mountains was beautiful. I was able to re-connect with some great friends and spent waaaay to much $$ at my favorite vendors! I promise to blog next week with lots of pics! But, on to what you all have been patiently waiting for......

Clue 3

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 4, marked “E and F”  

** Make sure you have Bag 4, we’re a little out of order!

          6 squares from your layer cake

          6 Squares from your background fabric cut 10” x 10”

Start sewing, you can strip piece thru this quite quickly!

Place a layer cake square right sides together with a background square.  

Sew 1/4” up 2 opposite sides. Repeat for all 6 layer cake squares.

 Cut 3 1/4” from each stitched side.  Press to the layer cake Piece. 

Trim the center pieces to 3 1/4” wide. 

Mix up the Pieces for a scrappier look.  Sew a center piece to one Side of each stitched pair. Make 6 of each of these blocks.

 

Put the 12 blocks in the bag marked "E & F".

Quilts of Valor Mystery Quilt

This month we are going to use Bag 4, marked       “E and F”  

** Make sure you have Bag 4, we’re a little out of order!

           From your RED fabric                    18 pieces 3 1/4” x 10”

           From your background fabric         18 pieces 3 1/4” x 10”

Start sewing, you can strip piece thru this quite quickly!

Sew a Red strip to a background strip. Make 12 of these pairs. Press to the red fabric. 

Sew a remaining red strip to the background strip of a stitched pair. Press to the red fabric.

Sew a remaining background strip to the red strip of a stitched pair. Press to the red fabric.

Make 6 of each of these blocks,

 

Put the 12 blocks in the bag marked "E & F".

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 ice tea and piece away. 

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

Happy Quilting,

Ann

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