grugirl

huh? Why Do They Call it a Mystery Quilt Anyway? Is it cause you just choose fabrics and don't know how it will turn out?

cnolan

That is it exactly. You don't know what it is going to be as you purchase fabrics and begin the work. I generally wait to do Mysteries until they are posted (don't like that kind of surprises.) hehehe :lol:

CoyoteQuilts

Yep, it's a 'mystery' what it will look like. I have yet to do one, 'cause I want to know what I am getting myself into....

Jim's Gem

Yes, usually all you know to begin with is how much fabric to buy of lights, meds, & darks.
Most are then given a little bit of the pattern at a time. First you cut some and piece some
then more. You do not know what it is going to look like until you get the last instruction.

I have made about 5 of them and have had a lot of fun. The ones I have made were in my quilting group at church and there would be anywhere from 5 to 15 of us working on it at the same time.

Dina

Funny, all my quilts are mystery quilts. I am simply unable to visualize what a finished quit will look like. I had the same problem when I sewed my own clothes for 30 years. I always felt really really pleased if I even liked my finished product.

Quiltforme

I didn't realize how much I didn't like the mystery quilts so I waited till they were done. It's a win win :)

grugirl

I just downloaded 3 of Judy Hopkins free mystery quilts.
They are here if anyone is interested. She passed away this past few months ago. I thought it would be nice to collect a few mystery quilt instructions that were free. I have NEVER done a mystery quilt.

http://www.marshamccloskey.com/mysquilsin.html

Pamibear

The mystery is exactly what quilt pattern you will be making. I have made several and enjoyed the whole process. With the first month's instructions, you are given the list of what you will need. (darks, lights, etc...) I chose my favorite colors, of course, and asked the ladies at quilting store to advise me. It is a lot of fun! Try it!

AudreyB

I have made about six mystery quilts and have enjoyed each one. Several of them I liked the pattern enough that I made another quilt with different fabric.

I have taught mystery quilts and the quilters have always been pleased with the end result. The quilters are all detectives and we use suspects (instructions to make the blocks) and clues (how to put the blocks together) to solve the mystery (the completed quilt top)..

Ariannaquilts

I made my first mystery quilt a couple of years ago and enjoyed it so much. We were given the name of the designer but not much else, then we were told how much fabric to get and the best clue was make sure there is alot of contrast between the fabrics. Then once a week we would get more instructions I think it was for 4 weeks. It was great because there were so many of us doing it that the fabric choices and even the finished quilt was incredible and they looked so different. Many of the participants made more than one at the same time, some were scrappy but I didn't have the nerve to do that. I believe my first was a Deb Caffrey design and I think it's my avatar. I made 2 of the same design with different fabrics because people liked it as much as I did. If you have the opportunity to do one, you might like to give it a try. So much fun!!