A New Mystery Quilt Train Ride! Hop on-board anytime
 

Welcome to our second Mystery Quilt journey. This time, our train ride will be making stops at six weekly destinations, starting on May 26[SUP]th[/SUP]. This trip is for everyone who loves a good mystery, not just our returning passengers. We all had a great time on the last mystery train ride, and hopefully this one will entertain you as well. So climb on board the train, make your way to the club car, and join the fun; one and all are welcome. Your returning traveling companions are a hoot. The quilt should be fun for all, from the confident beginner to the experienced quilter.

Today is the first posting, and is the only clue that will not be given on a Saturday. I want to give you time to sift through your stash and/or visit the fabric store. From now on, a new clue to our destination will be posted on this thread on Saturday mornings, the next clue on May 26[SUP]th [/SUP]and the last one on June 30th. The clue on June 23[SUP]rd[/SUP] is shorter than the others to give any one that needs it, a chance to catch up. If you are unable to do a clue a week, no problem: do the project at your own pace and scroll through the thread as you need a new set of directions. No rush: even when the trip is over, the thread will remain here. Clues are being posted weekly at the request of so many of my previous mystery quilt participants, and all clues will be posted on this thread, so bookmark it so you can easily find it every week.

And now, I notice that our engineer has been given the okay to leave the station. By now you’ve found your way to the club car, met your fellow travelers, and made yourself comfortable. Finally, here is the list of what you will need for the trip.

You will be making a 44” square, perfect size for a table topper, a baby quilt, or a wall hanging. Below are requirements for yardage using 5 colors, and suggestions if you are using scrappy. (Sorry about the size, I just couldn’t seem to get it to be 42” so you didn’t have to piece the backing.)

As you can see from the pictures, I have chosen light and medium-light for a baby quilt. Below that is the assortment for the scrappy wall hanging. In fact, these are leftovers from 2 charm packs. (No, you will NOT be just sewing squares together. LOL) . And the assortment of blue fabrics will be used later, after I get these two done. Pretty much any combinations will look good with this quilt, the only requirement is for you to like the way the colors look together. Small to medium prints will work best; I would shy away from huge prints. A scrappy batik would be glorious, maybe put with one of the mottled blenders that are so popular now.

For the Five-Color quilt:
FOR COLORS A and B: 1-¼ yd each of two colors you like, preferably with nice contrast between the two colors
FOR COLOR C: 1-¼ yd to set off your chosen A and B colors.
Color D: 1/3 yard that will go nicely with A B and C.
Color E - 1/3 yard to give some contrast. (Here is the only hint you will get on this trip: color E is sashing) You will need additional fabric if planning on adding another outer border to make this larger than the 44” stated above.

Combinations to keep in mind as you go through your stash:
Light and medium-light (as in what will be the baby quilt);
Combinations of light, medium and dark;
Monochromatic as I used in the blue fabrics; or
Complementary color combinations that are pleasing to you.

Now for the Scrappy:
You will need:
Color C - 1-1/4 yard in a medium cool color, possibly a solid or a blender
Color D - 1/3 yard to go with all your scrappy.
Color E -1/3 yard for the sashing,
(I am using designation of Colors C D and E as I used in the 5-color quilt so I don’t get mixed up when writing the directions. Your colors A and B will be the scraps.)
As for your scraps, gather together a wide variety of scraps in light to dark (The more different of fabrics the better; and a mix of cool and warm fabrics would work out just fine.) Scraps should be a minimum width of 5” in lights to darks, using cool and warm colors .....the wider the range of fabrics the better. They do not have to be long pieces - 5” squares would suffice. I used a bunch of leftovers from two charm packs.

So this is it for now. I am off to finish packing, but will take a look at the thread tomorrow to see what you have to say. I leave Friday morning and can’t wait to read the chat when I get back late on the 23[SUP]th[/SUP] . At least I hope there will be interest and chatter on this thread! I’ll pop in to see you on the 24[SUP]th[/SUP], and don’t forget to watch for the next post on the 26[SUP]th[/SUP].

Approved by Patrice, April 15, 2012

Looks fun once again Judy!!! So glad the day has finely arrived. Now off to get my fabrics together!! :D

Welcome back, Sheri, can't wait to see your fabrics!

Hmmmm, velly intellesting...Let the fun begin. :thumbup:

Welcome, OKsew!

yeah!!!
found it !!

Judy, can any of these fabrics be considered a background fabric. I am thinking fall colors but can't seem to get enough contrast. What do you think?

So good to see so many familiar faces back for another mystery train ride.

Yes, Florence, one of these fabrics can be considered a background fabric. Knowing you, you'll find great fabrics to use and will look great in autumn fabrics and colors.

But how can some of you be thinking autumn and Christmas when the warm weather hasn't even begun in earnest? LOL, that's a quilter for you, always thinking ahead.

Thank you Judy that helps. We can think autumn and Christmas because by the time we get it done and QUILTED it will be autumn or Christmas. At least for me.

Ah ha, I found the new train. I'm thinking this might be a chance to use up a charm pack or two, but Christmas is a good idea. Today I have to make many HSTs for a bazaar quilt so I'll look later.

Off to the club car for rhubarb tea. I'll add some strawberry cream tarts.

I'm so glad the train is here, just in time for me to jump on. I haven't even finished the last train..but I hope to soon. With so many other projects in the works, some close to finishing, I don't know when I will start this one. But I am joining you on the train ride; I wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun in the club car!! Can't wait to see some of your fabric combos to be inspired!

Welcome, Evie, and welcome back, yaya.

If I don't have a bunch of unfinished, I feel there is nothing to look forward to in the morning in choosing what to work on! PUPs (or as our guild says, Poor Unfinished Projects) are not an excuse to not start a new project!

Judy, Judy, HELP. I have chosen 4 fabrics (see first pic). The dark brown to be the sashing and the light tan with brown to be the background. I need another fabric (see second pic). Which shall I choose. I do have more orange fabric but thought that might be too much orange and although there is some red in the first fabric not sure about using that red and the bright green might be too bright and the darker green might be too dark with the black background. Like I said help help help.

Judy, for a scrappy--will one charm pack have enough squares to use for both A and B if there are enough colors in the pack?

The sashing and the background fabrics will be perfect, and for the other fabric, I personally would choose the red or the dark green. However, you can always wait until it comes time to use that other piece of fabric and see which goes the best with your project.

You will not have enough with only one charm pack to make the project. Perhaps you have some other fabrics that could blend in with your charm pack?

Thanks for the info!

Cant wait till this weekend for time to hunt through my stash. It would be a pity to have to go the LQS,what a chore ,but we must do what we need to ,to board this train,poor me .

Thanks Judy, I will set aside the red and dark green to decide later. Maybe I will find another fabric before the 26th. Don't really need an excuse to shop for fabric.

I'll be hanging out watching for now :)

Morning all,

I have too much on my plate right now but will put the instructions into a word document so I can follow along easily when life slows down a little. Also, if anyone gets lost trying to find the directions, I will be able to send them.

Mind you, seeing the progress of everyone's wonderful blocks may just cause me to join in anyway. :)

SunlitenSmiles - how about making a 4th of July quilt? Then you can also join our patriotic challenge and kill two birds with one stone/project. http://www.quiltingboard.com/quiltin...e-t186260.html

Works, just noticed your little blurb at the bottom of your postings. Reminds me of a sign I have in my bathroom:

I'll bring some chocolate creams to the club car later to go with the other goodies! But right now I am thinking fabric. I'm thinking maybe a scrappy done in 1930's repro. fabrics with a tone on tone white for background... not sure of a color for the sashing - maybe a red or a bright yellow?:shock:. Any suggestions for the sashing color????

I've had a few PMs asking about scrappy and using charm packs. I think my original posting was a bit misleading, but can't seem to change it now. As to using charm packs, you would probably need almost 2 full packs (most charms packs have about 40 blocks I think) and then eliminate the 1/3 yard of fabric D. You will still need the 1/3 yard of sashing color E. So sorry for the confusion.

Maybe wait until the time comes to use the sashing before you make your choice. At least, that is what I did with my scrappy.

Judy, I am in again.. I love batiks so it my be my choice in scrappy. Now where is that club car. Hey girls I'm back again!!!

Carolyn

Hi, Carolyn, welcome! It would be beautiful in batiks.

SPLASH Down!!! I have landed in the new thread...lol....Im already thinking of two different color schemes. Packing the wine, cheese and crackers. You all don't forget to bring them fruit butters for us to try..and the applesauce. So off I run to play in my stash with all the new lovely fabrics I brought back from Kentucky.. Woot. Judy I think a few stray geese are nesting in the sleeping car from the last trip. LOL Hear its beautiful in California have a wonderful day Judy and everyone who's gearing up new and returning for this next mystery trip. :thumbup:

I "think" if you ask Patrice she can edit the original post for you with the correct info.

Also ... are you going to do a separate thread each week, with the new instructions?
That might be a way to make it easier for all to find the instructions .... and then tell them to do all the discussion back in this thread.

Failing that ... if you're keeping it to one thread, again, perhaps you could ask Patrice to add in the post # where the next instructions are located.

Just some thoughts that might help all that follow along or jump on in later stages.

And we are off! Really do need to finish last one before I begin this one but can choose fabrics! I enjoyed the last one and want to choose my fabrics carefully!

Hugs,
Cajun

So excited to start a new train ride! I also love batiks so I just might join Carolyn in doing a scrappy batik. I am still working on the last one. My goal is to have it done before I actually start sewing on this one. I cut some more geese last night. Still not sure how it will end.

Finished the binding on "autumn flight" so will post here. The last train was great, envied all of you in that club car but it doesn't come even close to Wyo. Maybe the next one I'll have to plan a road trip to jump aboard for a few days. Here's the outcome of the last mystery.....think it has a little much yellow.[ATTACH=CONFIG]334163[/ATTACH]

Jaba, looks great -- and this train will swing through Wyoming, so be ready to jump on board. In fact, it may be able to stop in every state except Hawaii and Alaska, but those people, come on down to the lower 48 and let us know where to pick you up. The more the merrier.

Jaba, I love the brightness of all your colors. Thanks for sharing.

Diana, So glad your on board!

I'm in and bringing the applesauce, Jenniky! Had to use the search function to find this, but glad the train hadn't pulled out of the station yet! My first mystery isn't done, but maybe we'll have more time to sew this trip. :-)