Wow! Just Wow!
I am always amazed at the amount of talent that is on the board.
I am grateful for the support that we give each other and how we encourage each other.
Thank you!!!
Now to rip out a few and plug along a bit more today.
The quilts are just gorgeous....
Kirsten

Finished
 

I have finished my 12 block version. It measures 71 x 87 which is a bit small for a queen but a very generous full size. I decided to go with Bonnie's border suggestion, but wonder about adding something more to "hold" it all together. What do you ladies think? It doesn't seem as bold as some, but that is probably because I used the wrong "value" for some of my greens and purples and my magenta was really more pink than magenta. I am just very happy to have it completed.

Carol, I think it's gorgeous and I like your color choices. I'm also making this size. It won't fit my bed but I ran out of fabric and patience to make any larger.

Carol I think it is nice w/ the lighter pink, makes the 3D looking yellow squares more of the highlight. This is the size I am making too, I have a full sized bed so should be perfect.

Carol, that is very lovely. The pinkish stars are great. You could always add another, solid border if you wanted to make it larger. I think the yellow would look nice on the outer edge also. What color do you plan to use as backing?

Carol, I think it is beautiful. A small pink border might be nice.

Carol - your quilt is fabulous. I like the fact you used a constant yellow and that you subbed the Tri-Recs to make the circles. If you want it larger, I'd be tempted to do a narrow border of magenta (pink) or green and a 4" outer border of neutral or perhaps yellow. Although I love the fact Bonnie ran the stars into the first border, without a stop strip around it, the stars appear to just fall off.

Carol in WI, pink and purple goes together so nicely. You've got a nice pastel feminine looking version. The backgrounds to your pink star tri recs being the same fabric on each star is a nice touch. I'm making that size too. It's a different finish to have a light border-- it's not as common as a dark border. If you think your top need something to 'hold it together' it's easy to add a strip around the outside. Don't quit until you are satisfied! :-) Your wood floor is wonderful. Those must be very thin strips of wood (as we know the size of your quilt pieces).

Beautiful finish, Carol! I especially like the way your greens sparkle.

Wonderful finish, Carol. Personally, I like the way the pink stars "float" around the outer edge of the quilt. If you don't need it to be any bigger but want to bring some color to the outer edge, I would suggest using your pink for the binding.

I love your top, Carol. I love those pink stars, it's gorgeous!

Thank you ladies for your kind comments! I'm still auditioning the final border, but also considering just binding it in a neutral or one of the colors mentioned. At this point I plan to back it with muslin and use the extra neutral 4 patches for a border or perhaps even place a purple or pink star randomly within that border. I need to let it rest for awhile while I think about that. Givio, you are right about the flooring. We live in the family homestead (almost 100 yrs old) and that is 1 1/2 inch solid maple flooring.

Beautiful - you're units are very defined with your colors.

All of the quilt tops are beautiful! You must all be so satisfied and proud of your accomplishment!! Congratulations to all of you!! I haven't started yet but I am getting my fabrics ready for cutting and I am hoping that I can get busy and make this my February project.

I have a few questions about this project - I'm sure that most of the info has been mentioned here somewhere in the discussion so sorry for any repetition of questions.

Does anyone know when Bonnie is removing the instructions? Is it Feb 1st?

Any advice summarries on what to do or what not to do when starting, cutting and sewing for this project?

I really apppreciate this board and all of the terrific knowledge that you all are sharing - sooooo helpful!!
Thanks!!
Deb :)

Oh I just checked Bonnie's site and yes she is removing the instructons on Feb 1st :)

Any advice to someone just starting?

Hi Deb,
I hope that others will weigh in on this as this is just my second mystery quilt from Bonnie, but my only advice is:
Decide now if you will make the original design and size or change it a bit like some of us did - to make circles instead of the more diamonded shape that Bonnie has. Several of us did not include the yellow QST's from clue # 7 and used purple tri-recs instead. I have all of my yellow blocks left over as well as many others because I made enough for the full size before deciding to make it just 12 blocks.
I am more comfortable with a "controlled" look so if I did another one, my neutrals would be just creams or white tones. It is a wonderful learning experience and I'm sure you will come up with something special in the end. It is so nice to see how others have changed up the colors and design and you are right about this group - they are wonderful mentors! Keep us posted on your progress.

I'd suggest instead of doing the clues in order separately, cut what you need from each fabric all at the same time. That would eliminate unnecessary unfolding and folding (if you are using yardage or fat quarters). When the fabric is already out on the mat, it's handy to finish with it rather than needing to put it out on the mat at a later time.

Carol, love your quilt top, very serene.

Deb, I would suggest trimming as you go. I waited till the end and had a clump 7X6X1" of scraps that were just slivers but it took a long time and hurt my back to stand for too long. I did cut in sets of 20 and then went and did something else where I could sit but I really found myself regretting that I had waited till the end to do this part. Also, I had to remake a few tri rec units. If you're new to them, make sure your points at the top match and you will get a much more accurate unit. And read every line before you start, and again as you're completing each week, just to make sure you don't miss anything. Good Luck to you.

Great advice! Thanks!

Any more suggestions?

Were there any problems cutting/sewing any of the steps or were there any things difficult to handle while peicing?

I must admit that I can get caught up in matching up points and seams and there seems to be a lot of points in this project :shock: . I am going to try to not stress about the process and will try to just enjoy the "ride" ;)

I've just started sewing together the little 3-inch blocks. I am struggling to keep the little blocks orientated correctly. I've had to rip way too many times now. My biggest mistake was completing the entire block and looking at it and wondering what was "wrong" until I finally realized that one of those blasted green hourblass blocks was upside down so the purple was not connecting in the center star. That was three rows of ripping and re-sewing.

And I'm only making half the blocks, so I can't just toss the mistakes aside and not use them.

I can only work on this while my mind is clear and refreshed.

for anyone interested in this quilt pattern. If Bonnie is going to remove it Feb 1st, then get it printed ASAP!!!
This isn't a difficult quilt if you have some experience and move slowly and accurately.
Make sure your seam allowance is correct.
I did all my fabric from my stash and used the colors as prescribed. I am not a control freak but am not a scrappy either. I just trusted Bonnie and her choices.
I couldn't overthink things and colors or I would never get this done.
However, I am having to work the blocks slowly or I get all cattywhampus...
Have fun!!!
Kirsten

Sheep Farmer, sorry you've had so much ripping! Don't get discouraged!

costumegirl, don't start worrying about matching points now, lol. Just be as accurate as you can with your cutting and sewing, and it will all fall into place. I would suggest you sew and test just a few of the tri-recs units to make sure they are coming out right. Those are persnickety units if you use the tri-recs tool.

You're really in the driver's seat, starting this after seeing so many finished ones (especially if you follow the Quiltville page). It looks less busy with a lower contrast between the lavender and purple, and of course, with quieter, more consistent neutrals.

Lisa, you make a good point about making only a few and testing each unit to make sure they're coming out right before sewing a whole bunch. And being new to quilting (this is only my sixth quilt and my 1st mystery quilt), I did stay within the confines of Bonnie's suggestions for fabric colors. Maybe once I've made a few more quilts, I'll be more comfortable substituting colors because I really did enjoy seeing the variations other quilters did.

I'm done. It measures 56 x 72". That is my preferred size for charity quilts. The six blocks don't have the impact of 12 or 16, but I'm basically happy with it.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566147[/ATTACH]

I finished quilting the black thread quilting on the squares, now on to the white thread, then assembly.

Belfrey great quilt.

Belfreybat, I love your blue and yellow combination with the green border. It is beautiful!

Beautiful, Belfrybat! Your color choices worked out great.

So nice to read the encouragement from others on this thread (thank you) Belfreybat I really like your quilt, I wish I had known your measurement's before I went with 3 across & 4 down.
Here is where I am at for the moment.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566185[/ATTACH]

Belfry--looks great!
Skipastitch--wonderful progress!

Belfrybat, I like the constant fabrics you chose. It makes a calmer look. Someone will be so happy to have it!
Skipastitch, I like yours too. In retrospect, I think I'd have liked mine better with more constants. I added the constant green in mine, which helped me to like it better. It's growing on me... as Sewbizgirl mentioned about her top too.
Kassaundra, I love your little progress updates. :-)

Everyone's tops are looking lovely! You have all been sew busy:) I put mine down for the past week; I don't want it to become a UFO, but I was getting really sick of it! I might pick it up again next week though, after seeing all the inspiring finished here.

Gotta love it when a plan comes together!!!! My idea worked. I should have done all the white thread quilting on all the blocks, but instead I did it on one block then joined them in the way I had planned. I took lots of pics of each step the way I did it. I'll work on getting those edited and loaded soon.

Here is a sneak peek at the finished joining. [ATTACH=CONFIG]566221[/ATTACH]

There are many, many ways to QAYG. This is the way I came up w/ to do this quilt w/ wider pieced sashing strips. It is working well for me, but I haven't started the long ones yet. I don't anticipate any problems just will need to be vigilant about keeping true seam allowance.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]566232[/ATTACH]
Two blocks, a sashing front and back and a batting piece to fit in the sashing space.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566233[/ATTACH]
Trim the two edges that you are joining. (I don't trim backs until just before sewing to keep fraying at a minimum)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566234[/ATTACH]
You will be pressing a 1/4 inch fold on the edge of your pieced sash, a hot iron and stick glue will be your friend.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566235[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]566236[/ATTACH]
Just one long edge is done this way.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566237[/ATTACH]
You will line up the edge of the block w/ the raw edge of the pieced sash (right sides together) and the back sash to the back of the block (right sides together)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566239[/ATTACH]
Pin matching seams and points. I am not a big pinner, almost never pin, but here it is a MUST for good results.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566241[/ATTACH]
Stitch, a 1/4 inch seam allowance is important so you won't lose points.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566242[/ATTACH]
Press your back sash in normal position (leave your front sash as it was sewn for now) I use sizing on the back sash seam as I press it to keep things more steady less likely to shift.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566243[/ATTACH]
Now sew the next square to the sashing edge matching raw edges right sides together. (the right side of the new square back and the 1/2 sewn sashing) pin here too, it will make your life easier.

Seems I've reached my pic limit so to be continued.

Now, the rest of the story...........
[ATTACH=CONFIG]566244[/ATTACH]
Stitch 1/4 inch you could do a scant 1/4 inch here to be sure to hide the stitching in an upcoming step, but the 1/4 works for me.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566245[/ATTACH]
Now you have both long edges of the back sashing sewn to the blocks and 1 long edge of the front sashing. I press the back sashing seams just to set them and w/ some spray sizing. I don't want any shifting and puckering or tucks. Measure the area of the sashing between the seams, this is the width of your batting sash. For me, for this quilt it was 2.25 inches.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566246[/ATTACH]
Place the batting so it is nested into the sash and not sitting on any of the side seams adding any bulk to them.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566247[/ATTACH]
Fold over your pieced top sash, press in place small spot gluing is helpful, pin matching points and seams, covering your joining stitch.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566249[/ATTACH]
Top stitch it down. You don't have to stitch both sides but I think it looks on purpose if you do. This is why I stitch the back sash by machine so I have complete control from the front w/ the top stitching. You will need to do some sort of quilting stitch in the sash b/c it hasn't been sewn to anything yet.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566250[/ATTACH]
Those same stitch lines as seen on the back

[ATTACH=CONFIG]566252[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]566253[/ATTACH]

I am doing a 12 block layout, so I will make 3 columns of 4 blocks then join the same way w/ a long sashing strip between them.

Kassaundra, thanks for posting directions and pictures for QAYG. I've heard of this but never understood how to sew it all together with the sashing strips. Thanks to your directions, I'm more likely to try this at some time in the future!

Kassaundra, Thanks for showing your method. It might be helpful to take a look at your pictures and explanation as a refresher later-- you could make that a blog entry. It will be a bit tricky to find it again here in the thread after time passes. Doesn't linking to it only link to the thread, not to the post number?

My version of the mystery
 

Clue 6 and yellow just didn't work for me. I borrowed ideas from others on the QB and came up with this.

playswithcolor it's very pretty