Stash Buster Scrappy MYSTERY QUILT Mini-train Ride
 

Hope on board the Mystery Quilt Train and enjoy this short ride! Welcome to all passengers, returning travelers and first time mystery riders. We had a blast the last three train rides, so settle into the club car, grab a snack and something to drink, and away we go.

In January we all seem to be in limbo or at odds with ourselves. The holidays are over, and whether good, bad or indifferent, there usually seems to be a bit of a let-down by the first of the new year. So, let’s do a quick mystery quilt to rev up our spirits and get us through January. This was designed as a child’s quilt and finishes at 40” x 56” (perfect size for Project Linus) but can easily be doubled to about 56” x 72“ for a nice sized lap quilt. Just double the fabric requirements, and I will let you know as we go along how many extra pieces to make if you are doing the larger quilt. I will put the larger directions in parentheses and in caps to make it stand out. Hope it doesn’t confuse anyone.

Today, Clue 1, you will get fabric requirements, some cutting, and assembly of a few blocks. I think this will be enjoyed by all levels of quilting experience. After all, most of the fun is trying to figure out where this train ride is headed! Clue 2 will be given next Saturday, Jan. 5th, and the final clue on the 12th and I will post by 9:00 a.m. MTS. All clues will be posted ON THIS THREAD so bookmark it for easy access, for whenever you want to check in. I know it will sometimes seem like a lot in one clue, but you can do this at your own pace. I need to get all the clues posted before I go on vacation. And nothing says you have to have it done by the time I get back online, probably on the 28th.

As in the past, I will try to help answer questions about the A and B fabrics, or you can wait until next week when you will find out how the A and B will be used.

For those of you who want to go completely scrappy, I am not going to write the directions out, but you will see what needs to be done after you read Clue 2. Color A can be substituted with scrappy if you plan your scraps right, but I would suggest Color B be kept as a single unbusy pattern, or you will lose the pattern of the quilt top. You will need the same yardage for Color B for this version, and just a lot more scrap pieces in place of the A fabric..

I am using 4-½” blocks, simply because I have a box of them. They are cut as I accumulate small pieces of fabric not big enough to bother keeping, and then use them for the scrappy flower quilts I make.

So, you will need the following --
Color A - ¾ yard - will be cut next week
Color B - ¾ yard - will be cut next week (LARGE SIZE: COLOR A AND B -- 1-½ YARDS OF EACH)
I have used 2 colors with strong contrast. I did not use any of colors A or B in my scrappy blocks.

From the picture, the gold fabric is my color A and the light is color B.

You will need 54 (LARGE: 108) assorted colors and patterns of scrap fabric cut into 4-½” squares, the more different fabrics, the more attractive your quilt will be. (I was lucky enough to have 54 different patterns.)

Cut 44 ( LARGE:60) assorted colors and patterns of scrap fabric cut into 2-½“ x 4-½“ rectangles. (Wasteful, I know, but I used my pre-cut 4-½” blocks and cut off a 2-½” strip, giving me my 2-½ x 4-½” size, and discarded the leftover.)

And you will need four 2-1/2" assorted squares for both the small and large.

If you do not have the 4-½“ squares already cut like I did, an easy thing to do would be to cut a 4-½ x 7“ piece, then cut off 2-½“ giving you a 4-½“ square and a 2-½“ x 4-½“ rectangle.

Using accurate ¼” seams, make 6 (LARGE: MAKE 12) 9-patch blocks from your 54 (108) assorted 4-½” squares, and press well. They will measure 12-½” square. Adjust your needle position if you are not getting a ¼” seam. See the second photo.

I guess that’s enough work to keep you busy for this week, see you a week from today for the next clue. Have a happy new year, and now you have something to do this weekend if you aren’t a football fan!

Approved by Patrice 12/16/2012


ETA by Moderator:
Moonwork PMd me to ask how to note a particular post in your thread so that other members can go there. Since members can have a different number of posts per page, as chosen in General Settings, it's best to link to an exact post. Members have the ability to post a link to the exact post you want to refer to. It is explained here Question about posting links

And away we go
 

The train is ready to roll!

I hear the train coming and I am making a mad dash for the scrap bins. :thumbup:

Woo hoo Caroline, Welcome back!

Thanks Judy, I am going to make this as a Project Linus quilt.

Oh, that will be a great use of your scraps, Florence, some child will love it. So glad you are on board this train ride.

Hang on it's going to be a bumpy ride!!!!!!

Ack! I haven't finished the 3rd Mystery Train yet, and here I am jumping on board for yet another. TODAY I will finish assembling the blocks for the 3rd, and begin cutting/ finding the fabric for this one. I might not stay kept up, but I figure we can all catch up while Judy is off on her holiday. It's nippy here this morning so I have hot spiced tea with cheesey biscuits in the club car. Come join me!

One cannot have too many projects Belfrybat. My 3rd train top is not finished either and I am NOT feeling guilty at all, LOL. I will bring some butter and carrot marmalade for the biscuits. See you in the club car after I dig myself out of the scrap pile.

thanks judy im ready to sew. this my weekend to work so off to work i go

Well, Belfry and Caroline, I thought we might be on a diet train ride after the holidays, but guess that is not the case! LOL But I must say I am up for carrot marmalade for the biscuits. Sounds yummy.

Welcome back, Esther, glad you are on board.

I will bring two jars of the carrot marmalade, one hot and one regular. I spice mine up with habanero peppers. I sort of like my sweets that "bite a bit".

climbing out of the 'charm' bin

did someone say carrots

Happy I'm not the only one who's not finished the last train ride mystery. LOL I am plugging along tho. And boy do I have some charms in there and a whole mess of fq's that need to be used up. whoooooohooooooooo stash busting is fun. Thanks Judy Big hugs but nothing fattening from Retta on the FL Gulf coast, ohhhhhh cold bitter winds today

Cold today here, too, well cold for us. Low 30s and I think we had a freeze last night. Right now it's up to 40. I know, I know, you northerners are calling up southerns whimps. But I lived in upstate NY for 33 years and do remember the winters and I sympathize, honestly I do.

I don't know that I'll be anything but a bystander for this train ride, but I did bake a fresh Cinnamon Chip cheesecake for all! Looking forward to seeing the fabric choices!

Sorry to be such an ignoramus, but how does one " book mark" so they can find the thread? I'd join,but I want to not get lost on the train! I'll bring the coffee and the fruitcake( full of OR hazelnuts!)

Oh come on, frenchfry, join us, it's fun, in fact it's more fun than should be legal -- tell her, gals, all you returning riders know what a good time this mystery journey has been in the past, and I think will be just as much fun this time.

I too have oodles of 4-1/2" squares so I'm hopping on this train too. See you all in the Club car for awhile than off to my sewing room to get started. Let the fun begin. Hope to meet with some old friends and hopefully will make some new friends along the way.

I haven't finished the last one either as had to set it aside until the holidays were over.
We were supposed to get together with the children and grandchildren this afternoon but with the weather forecast it was decided to reschedule to next Saturday. So, I have a ton of salad ingredients that I was bringing for today so will share with you instead. I need to get back to more healthy eating but also still have a lot of sweets left in the house that need to disappear so will also bring along some Maids of Honor.

I am going to jump on and hope I can keep up. I have a bunch of I Spy Fabrics from other swaps I think I will cut down to size. Do you think these will work?

To "bookmark", you can click on Thread Tools (above the 1st post on a page, on the right) and then "Subscribe". You will be notified each time someone adds a post.

i'm on board, with a hamper of oven fried chicken. got the progam, and away i go. glad i caught the train.

Still working on the 3rd train ride quilt... it's cold and snowy today here in Cleveland so the gas logs are on and a quilting I will go! Have a box of scraps so I'm gonna jump on this train ride too! Woo Hoo! "I hear that train a rollin'!"

I've never done a scrappy quilt so I am really looking forward to this one.
I just made a huge kettle of taco soup. Get it while its hot!

I'm working on the 3rd train ride today, but I think I will use the 4 1/2" squares are leaders and work on both:)

Oh boy! Am I ready for something new! I've nothing to work on!! And if you believe that, I'll sell you the Brooklyn bridge really cheap!! Headed to the stash bins to get this train under way. THANKS JUDY!! I've a ton of charms that can be cut down to size!
It's cold here in Texas, I'll add the chicken & dumplings! That's what for dinner tonight!

Oh, you are so brilliant! I started putting my 3rd train ride together and discovered I had mixed up the last step and put the wrong colours together. :hunf: So a frogging I will go. Can you say "ripit, ripit, ripit"? THEN I will follow your lead and work on them both at once.

This looks like it is going to be another hoot of a train ride. Love the comradery! Can't wait to see those 9-patch squares start to show up! I love scrappy, it really is a favorite of mine, and glad to see some of you who have never tried a scrap quilt join in with us.

I would like to do this.

I have a question, Judy I have a ton of blue/yellow scraps that would be perfect for this. Would that work if I had a deep blue that reads solid for A and a white on white for B (or vice versa) if my scraps for the other is blue/ yellow?

Yes, as in marmalade. Sooo good. I will dig out my recipe if any one wants it.

I doubt that I'll be able to join in but I'll be following this thread just to see what you all come up with. I'm hoping to buy an Accuquilt GO which would help greatly in cutting the 4.5" squares. I need all the help I can get with my bad back.

Getting started tonight! TY Judy!

TY Judy. This will be my first scrappy too. Can't wait to get started sometime this weekend. Need to decide what size I want to do though.

Just got home from dialysis cant wait to start. A bunch of 5" squares I can cut down no problem! Oh goody another project.. think I will go with the small one this way I can get it done in the three week period. I have never gone true scrappy this will be a challenge for me.. I sort colors and such so its scraps but color based lol..

Ok need a low phosphorus snack um.. pretzels without salt! a small handful anyone? a tiny apple? are you as excited as me? i am skipping the snack. eat two for me please. I have to cut it down by 30 percent. ugh thought I was doing good too :( bad bad brat.

i havent finished train ride #2 much less started on train ride # 3. but I love scrappy quilts and Paintmejudy always gives us such beautiful instructions for pleasing results. so i shall blunder along behind the train--eventually it will slow down enough for me to jump aboard.

I wanna try ?????

I have my 9 patches done. Mostly cut from left over kiddie charms and some scraps from others Linus quilts.

Janie, yes, blue and yellow scraps would work very well. If it were my quilt, I would use the dark blue for the A color and the light for B.

Woo hoo, Dotty, so glad to see you!

Sustraley - if you are undecided as to size, remember, for the lap you will be making twice the number of blocks (and it is all scrapp, lots more where that came from, right?) so if you like the way 6 of them look and you have enough of the A and B you can easily make 12 for the lap. I have decided I am going to make a king quilt for my bed -- going to find the thinnest, lightest weight batt I can (probably the junkiest batt Joanns carries LOL) and make a summer quilt. I figure I need 4 times the number of things made for the small quilt.

Elisabrat -- I call that controlled scrappy LOL

Roseirish, so glad you are here again.

Gingerpie, grab a bunch of scraps and dive into the pool!