17th Mystery Quilt Train Ride Sept. 9, 2017
 

Good morning! Is everyone glad to have summer almost over? It’s been a long, hot one in Phoenix and this heat will still be around this month and next. Ugh!

Are you ready for another mystery? Hope so, because I a’raring to go! Let’s get this train ride under way! Settle into the club car for a no-calorie snack and beverage while we say hello. As always, these mysteries are a non-fattening train ride but we do seem to eat a lot, don’t we?

A warm welcome to all returning passengers and to all new mystery train riders. Confident beginners and experienced quilters will enjoy this trip. Clues are posted Saturday morning by 8:30 MST – Arizona does not observe daylight savings time. Arizona time will be the same as PDST. You will begin working next week and the last clue will be given October 7th. At that point you will have all the directions needed to complete your runner, and I will show you my completed project.

We will make a table runner that will finish at approx. 21” x 53” with the sashing and border. Make 3 times the number of blocks and you will have a wall hanging or a table topper. I am using spring fabrics, because it is what I had in my stash. . I’m sure many of you will using fall, Halloween, or Christmas. A few days ago, I came across an adorable simple-to-make tree border if you are doing Christmas. (Will show you on the final day.) Can’t wait to see your fabric choices.

Choose fabrics that have small or medium scale prints that do not have a lot of blank background. Batiks would be terrific. Small prints with lots of empty background will not work well with this pattern for the A and B. My background C is a small print, tightly packed without a lot of white space. The D fabric was given to me as a hostess gift and I have been waiting for the perfect project to use it in, and think this is where it belongs! D is the only place where a larger scale print will work but still needs to be a print that does not have a lot of empty background. Keep in mind, be bold with D, it has a lot to say. In the picture, the background on C looks cream, but it is white.

NOTE: At this point, don’t stress over the sashing or border. I changed my mind on what to use three times as I was working on my sample. When you get to the place where you need the sashing, you will know exactly what your project is calling for, if you want colors from the runner or something different. And I am not going to show you my sash or border because I don’t want to influence your thinking on what to choose for the ABCD fabrics.

For this runner, the lengths of fabric shown will be WOF. I have allowed a few inches of each in case you need to recut anything. You will need:
A – 28”
B – 16”
C – background – ½ yard
D – a fat quarter will be more than enough for this. And even tho’ it be a wee piece it will make a dramatic impact!
E - sashing – 1/3 yard
F – border – ½ yard
G – binding ½ yard
And you will need additional fabric for the backing.

So, I will check in, as usual, a few times a day to see how you are doing and to answer any questions you may have; of course feel free to send a PM if you wish. But my work is done for the moment; I’ll be in the club car. I smell breakfast burritos and cheese quiche.

Oh my I love that heart D fabric. I'm not into orange but the combo you have I really like too. Your just so good at this Judy. I've missed the train ride. Glad a new one is starting. Thanks Judy.

Yay Judy!

You know my inevitable question--by what should I multiply the number of blocks for a big quilt? Do I need to stick with multiples of three?

Thanks so much for doing this! :)

Mary -- I loved this D fabric, too. Was given a FQ but haven't ever seen it, would have like to go buy a couple yards. It is a perfect focus fabric, isn't it? Colors on the pix are not true, they are rose and pinks, not orange. I'm even less of an orange person than a pink person, but this is what I had. And I made it to donate to my guild's small quilt auction, we raise money to buy the batting for our charity quilts.

I knew you would ask me this! Should have figured out an answer beforehand. Send me a PM - let me know how big you want to go.

This will be fun! While we are hunkering down for a storm--maybe you've heard!--I think I have time to look at my fabrics.

I'm going to jump on the train!! I love table runners. This will be my first ride. Thank you Judy, this will be fun.

Thank you Judy a table runner this time a year is perfect! Now to go look and decide batiks sound good but so does a holiday table runner :thumbup:

Chasezzz, naturally I am concerned about this one, too. Having friends in central Florida (hmmm, now who else cold that be? LOL) I've been watching this storm as closely as I did the last one, as my daughter lives in a Houston suburb.

D.Hensen so glad you are joining us. We all have a good time, and I think there have been no complaints on the design. At least I hope not!

frustrated, welcome back. Yup, I thought a table runner would be a perfect little gift for the upcoming festivities!

Angelia I sent you a PM

Yep. I'm here hunkering down, too! Just getting rain now, but it sure is depressing between the overcast skies and the TV warnings! I think finding some pretty fabrics for this might be just the pick-me-up I need right now! Also its good to see my old friends back on the train! :)