#8 mystery quilt train ride - it's scrap-alicious!
 

When I was designing Mystery #7, I came up with this idea and pretty much decided l wanted to do it for #8. I also did another scrappy and it will probably be #10 unless you all vote to do #9 as another scrappy when this one is done. Am I looking for scrappy converts? You betcha!! Fabric is too expensive these days, and we need to put some of those scraps to good use. And yes, I know they seem to multiply in the dark, so we will continue to do our best to keep the population under control!

So, welcome aboard for our 8th Mystery Quilt Train Ride. All returning passengers and new riders, please, climb aboard, and come to the club car for our meet-and-greet and some light refreshments.

This mystery will last four weeks, the final clues being given on Feb. 7th. Each Saturday morning, I would suggest you write down someplace (I write it on my desk’s blotter-sized paper calendar) what the clue number is for the next 3 clues, this way you will be able to find it much easier if you need to go back and refer to pictures or instructions.

The instructions you receive will make a top about 44” x 58”. Border fabric has not been added in. You can get to this final week and decide if you want to go bigger and double or quadruple (or more) than what you have already made. Then, after deciding how big you want to go, and it is assembled, I would suggest a small sashing, maybe cut 1-1/2” wide, to finish off at 1”, surrounded by a wider border. Your quilt, your choice. I have a few suggestions for scrappy borders that I will show you on Feb. 7th.

Normally, when doing a mystery quilt, I give specific yardage and samples of the colors I have chosen. But that would be impossible with a scrappy. All I can do is give number of blocks you will use and general color guide, such as light or bright or dark. I would suggest small prints as large prints will get completely lost, especially in the first two steps.

This is a scrappy quilt using dark, medium-dark, medium, bright, light and neutrals. (I didn’t use any bright white but do have neutrals in there) So gather your scraps. As you are going through the scraps, and see any 2-1/2’’ wide pieces, not necessarily WOF, set them asides, you may want them later.

For this first step cut 48 squares that measure 3-1/2’’ square. I was able to find all different fabrics. For this step you should use small prints. If you don’t have 24 dark and 24 medium, you can double up your fabrics, 12 squares of each. The more different fabrics you have, the scrappier it will look and the happier you will be. Using ACCURATE 1/4" seams, make 12 four-patch blocks that must measure 6-1/2’’ square.

For the second part, to be worked on next week, you will chose 24 different light fabrics and 24 medium-light prints. These mediums should be on these lighter side than used in this first week. As you can see in the second picture, I have a pile of 24 very light fabrics, and 24 light to medium-light in another pile. I will not tell you what sizes you will be cutting. NOTE: These are NOT 3-1/2’’ squares. I forgot to take a picture of my pile of scraps before I started to cut, so this will be part of the mystery, won’t it? But I wanted you to see what I am putting together. You will use these fabrics next week, and this gives you a chance to gather things together. When I was gathering fabric, I really didn’t have as many very lights as I wanted, and want to share with you what I do when necessary. See the third picture? I have used the wrong side of both of these fabrics and put them in the lightest pile. You still see a faint pattern, but it is not bold and in the quilt it ‘’reads’’ as very light.

Later on, you will also need some more medium and medium-dark fabric, small and medium scale prints would look best. I am just letting you know you will need bigger pieces than you are using this week and next. You may want to choose these fabrics when you get to this step.

Along the way, close to the end, you will need some dark and medium fabrics. Or if you wish to have a unifying element, you will need some yardage of fabrics. These are NOT borders but will be incorporated into the pattern.

So, is this enough to keep you busy for a week? Hee hee, hope so, don’t want you to get bored. This is going to be a fun train ride.

Thanks Judy, it is enough to keep me busy.:) Leaders and Enders as I work on the flannel Carpenter's Star.

This is mystery on steroids......what fun ................ thanks Judy ! Celery with almond butter, in the kitchen.

Looks interesting, will have to check out what I have. Just got rid of all my scraps, except the batiks. I'm sure I have enough of those.

Thanks Judy!!!! This is my first mystery with you and I'm looking forward sewing with everyone...
I'm off to my scrap shelves----afraid I don't have enough lights. I'm determined to use ONLY what is in my shelves. Thanks............

Thanks, Judy. I have some cheese biscuits in the club car that should go well with the celery and almond butter. Also some hot spiced tea (spiced, not spiked for this early in the morning).

Hmm -- Jaba, you might be onto something. I have a ton of batiks that are calling to be used.

Off to get started!

Woo Hoo!!! Here we go! I am collecting and making four patches! Thanks Judy!

Wow! This should be lots of fun.

Thanks, Judy. I plan to start this evening & lucky for me I have a container of 3 1/2" squares so just have to pick some out. Belfrybat, I'm be right there for cider. It's such a cold day down here in the south!

WOOHOO! The train is leaving the station & I'm on it again! Perfect size for a new Grandbabie's quilt too! Now to go stash diving!

Wonderful! Been waiting all day! Now it is evening, so I'll fine-tune my fabrics in the morning! :) Thank you Judy!!

Off to sort...and hunt for darks.

on the dark and med dark. do we put all dark tog all med tog ord mix dark and med dark tog?

did I make that clear. is it all darks together and all mediums tog or mix it up

I can hear the train pulling into my station. Am gathering my scraps to jump aboard.

This looks like so much fun, I'm on the train. Have a sweet potato pie cooling in the club car. Congratulations on the new great grandson haylillian!

Jan

As I responded to your PM, and for anyone else in doubt - as you can see from the second picture, I mixed up the darks and mediums in the 4-patch.

I am a little confused about that too.

So excited to be on this train ride...my friend and I have done the last few together----a new year and we both needed a new project!! We are both on diets so we will try to resist the goodies this time LOL LOL

As I responded to your PM, Lynnie, and for anyone else in doubt - as you can see from the second picture, I mixed up the darks and mediums in the 4-patch.

Oooo Belfry, interesting avatar. Wonder where you got that from? LOL Lookin' good!

Seems as if the food is rolling into the club car, you gals must have packed heavy this trip bringing all your scraps AND food to start out with.

beautiful baby, enjoy him and spoil him.
Judy, thank you for taking us on this fine, fun ride again.
chocolate wine is in the club car for those who'd like to try it.

Oops, Florence - somehow I thought my message disappeared from the reply screen, but then it appeared and I added more to it. Wierd. Anyway, hope all is clear now, I guess I didn't make it too clear in my instructions. And love the new avatar.

I made 24, since I'd like a larger quilt. I'll make more later, if I need them. It seems every scrappy quilt I make has cows in it! This one also has a villain. :)

Angelina, slow down, girl, and check out the pecan pies I put in the club car. The sweet potato pie is gone already, but Lynnie, I'm all for a taste of the chocolate wine. Yum, this is going to be a fun ride. Thanks, Judy! Ready to roll! YAY!
Haylillan...just give that sweet baby a hug for me. :o
P.S. Gotta go find those red glasses I bought for just such a time!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]505503[/ATTACH]Here are the first 12. I think I am also going to make more. I say....Go Big or Go Home!!!!

I am in again,guys. Got my scraps ready. Just finished a Bonnie Hunter MQ too. So glad to see all of you again. Put a deep dish pizza in the club car.Jo

Gosh you guys are fast!! I just went through my scraps and was able to come up with 48 different darks & mediums. Yay. Didn't think I could. This is such a nice size to fancy cut. Threw them all into a duffel and am running to catch the caboose. Can't miss a deep dish pizza. I threw some local micro-brews in my duffel to go with it.

just spent 3 hrs searching, ironing and cutting my sqs. Gonna sit down and have some deep dis pizza and some Chocolate wine. I also brought a bottle of Hot Sex, it's good warm. for those of you that haven't had it yet. it's a bit like a chocolate milk liquor, great with the cheese cake I just dropped off. gonna sew these sqs together and take a look around and see what others are doing. pictures please.

You go Angelina!!! After seeing yours I wondered if I could use I spy fabrics. I've had the Hot Sex before and we made it a blender drink...yum! Just like drinking a milk shake.

Jan

I have my blocks completed and heading for the club car. Would you like a cheese cake???? Oh my, this is going to blow my diet.
Hot Sex drink??? Never heard of it-could we have the recipe please???

Whoooo I finally got on board. Been to AM sewing at my Guild. What do I punch so that I am notified each day when there are new addition to this thread ? Who brought he chocolate fudge ? Yummy.

Right above the beginning of Judy's first post, on the right hand side you will see Thread Tools. Click on it and choose Subscribe to this Thread. Under Notification type there will be several choices. Just choose which you prefer. I have instant notification by email, but there are several you can choose from. Then click on Add Subscription. I hope this makes sense.

WOW!! off to a great start. I am hoping to get aboard this train. The two little guys in my avatar have been taking up a lot of my time. But that is ok. They will not be small forever. I am enjoying it while I can. All the food sounds wonderful that everyone is bringing. And Hot Sex? Sounds delicious. Congratulations on the new baby haylillan. Love the avatar beflrybat. Thanks Judy for another ride. Can't wait to see where we go.

It comes in a bottle with everything in it and ready to go! Just pour and drink.

I will as always be following along. Thank you once again Judy.

Lillian: He's so cute! What a great picture. Congratulations.

This looks like fun! I have never done a mystery quilt but I love scrappy quilts so count me in! I found the 48 different fabric in record time, gosh I guess it will be good to use some more scraps up :o I just finished making costumes for Aladdin Jr at my son's high school so I get to keep all of the scraps. I have a disappearing 9 patch on the design wall and I'm sewing up the selvages left behind.

hot sex is a premed drink, just drink like it is, or warm it up or make with slusshy ice,.yummo anyway you make it.

I am in again, thanks Judy.