joe'smom

Those of you who have done the mystery quilts before, what sort of information can we expect with the first clue? Could you describe what your first clue consisted of last time around?

SooBDo

The suspense is a killer, isn't it? Once the first clue is laid down, it's exciting, and the action doesn't stop. The first clue usually uses a couple of the colors, and Bonnie gives cutting and assembly directions for one little piece. Gets your feet wet. As she says, just do what you can, but do some of each step at least so you are up to date, and can play along at the end. Sometimes that works for me, other times I just can't. In fact, one of the times, my procrastination played a big part in my changing my colors altogether! Most of all, have fun (and no whining)!

SueSew

Joe'smom, I am now confused about your deliberations on colors.
I think the colors you chose are all great, but what is this about proportions? Won't BH tell us what color to put where in each piece?
Does this have to do with how much dark vs light shade of each color? Or how much white is in the print?

I'm still piling up fabrics (going for lollipop shades and 'grape' instead of black.) but now I'm sure I'm missing something!

colorfulom

The proportions are based on Bonnie's recommendations for how many yards of each color we'll need. That gives a little bit of a clue how prominent each color will be in the finished quilt.

Rhondals

I don't have a fabric stash, except for a few fat quarters, so I ordered black (for this and another project) on a flash sale today. But I put the beginning date in my phone (black Friday, I'll start the next day), and 2 dates before the end date. I job travel some years. My black has a bit of dark blue in it. But a grape color would also be pretty. I might go with more purple, as opposed to pure turquoise. I'll see what I can find at the shop.

I'll be visiting the quilt shop near me, and watch the sales for the rest. pink? hmm...I wonder how a coral would look, or a lavender colored pink would look? I've only made one quilt, and the one I'm working on now. I hope I've got enough experience.

I also need to get the 6 1/2 inch angled ruler.

jal

If the top is 88x88 or 7,744 sq inches why call for 13 yards (19,656 sq in) of material? Would these requirements include the back?

SunlitenSmiles

wow the mystery deepens......and IF it includes the back......would the back be black, black and white......wooo,wooo only the shadow (err, Bonnie) knows

Rhondals

If I wait till I'm paid again next Friday, I could do the entire quilt, except the black and neutral in Joel Dewberry...there we go, a designer scrappy quilt.

Kassaundra

I wondered that too, seemed even w/ seam allowance and small pieces to be a very excessive amount of fabric.

colorfulom

It does seem like a lot, but if you think about it, the seam allowances do eat up a bunch of fabric. For example, a 2.5 inch square of fabric is 6.25 square inches (2.5 times 2.5). It finishes out at 2 inches in the quilt, which is 4 square inches (2 times 2). That's only 64% of the fabric you started with. And since Bonnie tends to use fairly small pieces, the seam allowances will acccount for a lot of fabric. Hope that helps!