The more I looked at my flat black neutrals the more uncomfortable I got w/ them. So I stopped this morning on my way home from work and found a mostly black, black and white print, I will use it w/ my pin dot black for the 2 neutral option. It is still going to be black neutrals, but add some interest I think.

Here are the 4 neutrals I am trying to decide about. I know for sure I'm using the print and pin dot, not sure if I am including the splotch and solid.

Yes. The second one will be half-scale so it will be a smaller project. I've been using my Stripology ruler to cut all the strips, and it has been a huge timesaver!

Lightening bolt flash, maybe a fussy cut square w/ the black print! OHHH so many descisions on just the first clue!!!!!

Kassaundra, I think I would include the splotch, not sure about the solid.

Almost done getting my neutrals sewn - I sure love how they are turning out!

I also used my stripology cutter for cutting the pairs of blocks. So much faster to line up three rows and cut them all at one time.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pslbipjs5x.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...pseakenhrs.jpg


Here are the blocks.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psi0e81bqi.jpg

Here is another new tool that I'm really loving. I cut around so I would not have to remove it to change teh bobbin, and DH melted a hole so I have access to the oil point.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psigtaqxhi.jpg

Here's my 4-patches!

It's finally completely finished, binding and all. Here is my color version of last year's BH mystery. I did the quilting straight line and used a QAYG method I thought of myself, if worked for me but was very "fly by the seat of your pants" kinda thing. I am especially pleased w/ my binding and mitered corners. I didn't do the scalloped border / binding, just the normal kind, but this is the first big project that ALL my corners are about as perfect as you can get!!!!

Kass, it looks great in these colors. Nice work on those corners.

Kassaundra I love your quilt. Everyone's pics are so inspiring. Here are my four patches:[ATTACH=CONFIG]562852[/ATTACH]

I love your 4-patches, Pagzz. So beautiful!

Beautiful Kassaundra!

9 pages already. wow. lots of bonnie hunter lovers here. me included. i'll have to go back and re-read what she is writing about this mystery quilt. I completely missed the colors, and the rulers. only thing I got was 211 4 patches. made from 2" strips of neutral. and had looked at it 2 different times. there is so much on her blog.

I did catch, after a cousin pointed it out, that u could just chose to do l 3.5 inch cut square, if you want. how many are going 2 do that?

Fabric tragedy struck, my new black print fabric is crap!!!!!! I was pressing it and thought my eyes were screwing up but no the fabric visibally shrunk while I was pressing it a 3.5 inch square shrunk by 1/2 inch!!!! I tossed it all in the trash.

Glad you figured that out now. Before any stitching was done!

Just finished pressing all the 4 patches - ready for clue 2

My thoughts exactly!

Kassaundra! A sure sign of there being polyester in the content!

I bought it in a hurry and didn't even look, it was in w/ other quilting fabrics, but I already knew the quality wasn't what I usually get felt thinner then I usually get, but I liked the print. But I bet you are very right.

I love your pink fabric. I waited too long to order the Triangle tool. I'm anxious to hear if you like it.

I was on the fence with this one, but after reading all the posts and seeing all the pictures, it was just too much!! I cut all my neutral strips last night and will sew today.

Story - I bought a nice, no steam iron that I loved, but DH knocked it on the floor. I thought it was Ok but turns out something in the thermostate got broken, and it was staying on heat all the time. Not sure how hot it was getting, but it was hotter than it would normally be on high.

For 100% cotton, it was great! It was pressing really fast and nice. I started working on a scrappy project with poly/cotton in it - and started having serious shrinkage/melting problems. So I took out some of the fabric and it was OK - switched over to another and changed my thread to a black poly. Ironed that and melted the thread! At least I had not sewed much as everything ironed came apart. Looked the iron over good, and realized it was starting to melt through the rubber insulation around the wires where they entered into the iron. DH took it apart and said it was not salvageable.

Working with poly is fine, but you can't use a really hot iron on it with satisfactory results LOL!!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]562884[/ATTACH]
Here are my first couple of blocks - only 33!! That's ok - I have a lot of strips cut and
have some pairs already to sew up tonight.
Not sure how I feel about my neutrals - but I received the fabric stash of an
acquaintance's mother, including a bin full of neutrals. They're not really my taste, but I
figured this was a good project to use them on!

Wow - sorry for the super big picture!!

Path 50, I LOVE your neutrals:) Beautiful!

[QUOTE=mawluv;7707763]I was on the fence with this one, but after reading all the posts and seeing all the pictures, it was just too much!!

That's how I feel:) I'm still on the fence, but, gee! It's tempting to get off and make at least a half size! But my UFOs keep staring at me and making me feel guilty. I keep telling myself quilting is a hobby, not a job... So I can have half finished work!

This is the PERFECT way to use up those fabrics that were "donated" or that you look at now and say "What was I thinking?!?!?" As Bonnie says, "If it's still ugly, you didn't cut it small enough!"

Thanks NZQuilter and I keep thinking about how beautiful Bonnie's quilts look with the wide variety of fabrics and hope mine will turn out similar - they're growing on me!

I have 177 4-patch blocks done. Back to cutting board for more strips and different fabrics. Sure gets monotonous after a while but I love the results. I'll post pics of blocks later.

I have a couple sets of paint chips if anyone still needs them.
Kirsten

Got them done (with some extras--when will I learn to count?). :)

Sew pretty.

Thinking this mystery will be beautifulest

Kassaundra, I love your Allietare! Great finish! Mine is awaiting binding.

I work w/ other fabrics besides 100% cotton, depending on the project but I didn't want to putz w/ a "special needs" fabric, especially on a project that would be as iron intensive as a small pieced mystery quilt.

BonnieI-My local Joann's had 2 or 3 hanging in the quilting section. EZ Quilter brand, but the same tool. PM me if you still need one and I will check for you.
BTW - what's up with this board!?! The last lines I typed would not take the spaces between words. I had to go back into the line and add them. These sentences are doing fine.

Beautiful neutrals, Angelia. I love how you have intermingled the varying tonalities. I wish I had thought to do that with my initial strip pairings.

I have sewn and pressed my strip pairs and matched them up for the 4-patches. Now to get cutting and sewing!

I am joining in. Didn't know about this group until is was mentioned over at members swaps and round robins. My fabric is all selected and I will make my neutral squares this week. Most of the fabric will be Batiks.

fabric pull
 

Hello all,

This is my first mystery quilt. I considered doing Alletaire last year but didn't like the color scheme. I ended up loving the end result and hope to make one someday. To be honest, I'm not a fan of the color scheme this year either, but I am going to go give it a go anyways.

Here is my fabric pull in both color and black and white. Please let me know if you think there is something I should leave out or change. I'm not sure on the three purples in the bottom right corner. I'm leaning towards getting rid of the batik on the left and the very light one that reads almost neutral. I think I might add that middle purple to the row of dark purples.

I've just started to cut my neutral fabrics into strips and I know I will end up needing more.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]562902[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]562903[/ATTACH]

Clue #1 is done. Whew!
Bonnie's colors in batiks.

Holly I think your colors look good. Fraew the batik 4 patches look good.

Holly, what a stunning group of fabrics. I think that's the best magenta I've seen. I think all of the fabrics you mentioned will work just fine, so I'd keep it just as is.

Gorgeous, Fraew!