Got clue 2 and in it she says:

So in Part I, in the broken dishes unit, I used two aquas, two pinks, one black and one yellow, with that yellow being the only constant in all the units that was the same – everything else was many fabrics within those color families. Not matched pairs of triangles.

AARGH... I did all my broken dishes blocks with matched pairs of triangles! Wish I'd caught this BEFORE I did all the work! How many others did the same? I'm too quick to jump from picture to picture without reading all the text, I guess, but it would have really helped if she posted pics of some of her finished units, as she did with clue 2, and not just the solid color illustration from EQ.

I wonder how important this is... and if I should go and fix them all.

Your quilt, your rules! I saw some just like this on her link page. I would just consider it a controlled scrappy!
I am only using one color for all the pinks and the other colors so mine will not be as scrappy as hers.

After reading the directions about 6 times I decided since I don't have an easy angle ruler and my printer does not print templates the correct size that I will be doing the third method but I will be wasting. No way am I interested in using those tiny leftovers anywhere! Poor manual dexterity and poor vision makes it too frustrating to bother.

I wouldn't fix them. She said it was ok to use just one fabric for each color so it shouldn't matter if you have matched pairs in your blocks.

sewbizgirl, your blocks are beautiful as is. To tell you the truth, I didn't even notice they were matched! Just consider it a design choice. It will not interfere in any way with the quilt working.

I was hoping I could avoid making a decision on neutrals for awhile longer. How will I decide what works best without knowing how everything interacts? I have one neutral I love, that reads as plain white, which I have enough of to use throughout, but wonder if it would look plain and empty. On the other hand, I have a variety, and could mix it up, but wonder if it would look cluttered. Normally, I would lay it all out on the wall and make an informed decision.

Maybe I'll just keep working on clue #1 . . .

I dont think matched triangles will matter. When you get all those tiny pieces sewed together and view it from across the room, you will not notice they are matching, all you will see is the color family.

Sewbizgirl, I totally agree with everyone that your matched pairs won't show a bit.

joe'smom, This is my first BH so I know nothing and I'm mostly using one fabric for each color. I originally was going to use a white on white for the neutral but then remembered that there is more neutral fabric needed than any other color. I am going to change my neutral from the white on white to a more busy fabric, just to make it more interesting but if you want the white to stand out then maybe stick with the piece you like. The picture of the Grand Hotel in winter has a LOT of white.

Sunliten, Did you post your first step? I think I missed it.

I don't know whether I will continue with this mystery quilt. This 2nd clue is confusing to me & I can't get the pdf file to download so I can print it out. How big is the pdf file? Anyone know? My internet connection sucks...
I'm a bit discouraged.

Is it my imagination or are the blocks for #2 going together a lot faster than #1 did? I am going with white for the neutral, I know I am running the risk of the neutrals being next to the whites but decided that in an effort to slightly simplify the design I would risk it. I've made an Irish Chain and several scrappies with a lot of white and always like the fresh crisp look.

Josie: Your colors are beautiful! Rust is one of my favorite colors.

nope, did not even take a photo yet :o but I will.....mine are just the colors of the paint chips and I matched the aquas and the rosy pinks.....oh, well ........have 25 of the unit two ready to press now and just read the instructions again that they are to be sewn in pairs....so 25 more, no wait 50 more......have to read this when my DD prints it...reading on the screen gives me a headache................I think I am going to have a constant neutral, yes I am.

Thank you for your thoughts, whitepine! I'm sure either would work, but I don't have any idea which I would like better in the context of the whole quilt. I guess this is part of the challenge of an MQ! I'm thinking I will mock up a bunch with just the white, and a bunch with varied, and see which seems nicer when viewed near the part 1 units.

On the technical side, it appears I will have to use method #3, as my computer does not print PDF templates the right size, even though it is set to 'no scaling'. From a close look at the photos, it appears there would be no way to accurately position the ruler without the template taped to it. Maybe I could draw the template myself, since Bonnie has given the measurements for the lengths of the sides?

I understand what you're saying. I decided to go with the option that gives you leftover, smaller HST because I did that method on one of her other quilts (Star struck?) and it went fairly quickly once I got into a groove. I don't understand pdf files.... I hope you'll at least play around with them a while before giving up. I'll bet you can figure it out and everyone here is so helpful. I think it was Emma who came up with an alternate idea for a tricky block last year that was much easier.

Somo: No, No, No,....let us help you. Clue #2 has multiple ways to make the block. The last way can be done with just the rotary cutter and a simple ruler. The neutral is cut 2.5 by 4.5 and the pink and black are cut 2.5 X 2.5. Mark your line diagonally on the squares and sew to the neutral. Just be sure to have the slant going the right way. Please don't give up, this step is simpler than the 1st.

my DD just stopped by with the printout.....it is the third way​.....yikes I said the second, reading on screen I read 1 and 2 as the same.....I know she will read this link at lunch or break...........I really am doing the neutral as constant because I have one I like so much best.....and it looks great with this unit.....pictures soon, promise.

Faster? I hope so. I won't have time to work on them today, but I'd love to get a lot accomplished quickly tomorrow!

somoquilter, you won't have to deal with the PDF file if you choose option #3. Then you're only working with squares. It looks very similar to the line-drawing method of making HSTs.

Emma S, did you mean, 'run the risk of the whites being next to the blacks'? Do we not want our whites next to the blacks?

did quilt blocks with template taped to ruler once............ oh it turned out great...but....never, ever, ever again !!!



25 on the ironing board now.....getting flashbacks of the 50's "Blue Suede Shoes" "Party Girl"
ruffled petticoats under felt 'poodle skirts'

I love yellow, but totally not a pink fan. I have decided to use red instead.

Joe's mom: No I meant as we go along, putting the quilt together, the whites may be next to the neutrals. In my case it could leave a large just white area. My guess is that Bonnie won't put the neutrals next to the whites so I will probably be okay.

lots of geraniums are red :thumbup:

Emma S, but aren't the whites the neutrals?

Joe's Mom: I may have it wrong, but I thought Bonnie listed whites and neutrals. The neutrals ranging from tan to white but avoiding yellow tinted. Maybe I am wringing my hands needlessly?

Maybe others will weigh in. I was thinking the whites were with the neutrals. If not, then my problem of choosing is solved. I'll use my white that reads solid as the white, and my other white prints as neutrals.

Joe's mom: Went back and read the list of materials. The whites are the neutrals. I just opted to go with one white (neutral) so long ago that I forgot my decision.

As I understand it the white/neutral category is all the same bunch. 3 yds total.
You have your pinks, greens, blues, yellow, blacks and then neutrals.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one to have music running through their heads and doing a singalong while quilting.
Certain quilts seam to have there own "theme songs" for me.

Scroll down to where it says "**Option #3**".
Have you ever made a snowball block? Making this unit is similar to that. You are taking a rectangle and inserting a square at each end then trimming it up to be a triangle. Look at quilters cache and look for the snowball block directions. See how the little square is put on the bigger one. After sewing you trim off the back and lower end of the little block and it is pressed to look like Bonnies. That second sewn line is not necessary. Bonnie just doesn't want any wasted fabric. I'm sure there are a lot more people who can explain it better than me but this step will be fast and easy when you understand.

Relax and just hang in there and help will come to you!

Three times I read the instructions on Quiltville for week 2 and decided the easiest looking method was option #3. To use a neutral reactangle and 2 triangles on the top/ bottom. All those other angles confused my brain. I've never done triangles let alone wonky angled diamond shapes...

My goal is to get cutting and sewing tonight after work- starting with week one.... In between getting a tree purchased and decorated for Christmas... Haha!

I agree that option #3 looks the easiest, even though the triangle will end up waste (I don't bother to keep such small components). I've also wondered if sewing three strips together and then cutting at a 45 degree angle might not work also for those of us using one fabric per colour? I might play around with that as well.

It would probably work but your outside edges of the blocks would be bias and stretchy, and you'd have to figure out the ratio of sizes for the neutrals.

I thought the whites were the neutrals. I'd better take another look!

Guess I should have read further before responding. Please disregard!

Here's something someone on FB posted. Maybe this will help those that can't print out the triangle pattern.

This is for people who can't get to a printer 1. Cut out a rectangle 4-1/2 X 2-1/2 inches. 2. Fold one corner over to other side to make a triangle. Flip paper and repeat so you have 2 diagonal lines. 3 mark 1/4 inch on the outside of both folds. 4 cut on the lines you just drew and you have your template.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...018abdeb5c3dbe




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I believe that the only method where you would not have bias edges would be option #3 - but you would have more waste.

Part of me wants to try the method with the easy angle ruler because I liked it so much for the HST's. Part of me wants to avoid bias edges ... but they didn't give me any problems when sewing the HST's together.

Fortunately (!??!) I'm at work so I have the rest of the day to mull it over :)

Pam H ... indeed ... or you could print 200 of them and paper piece them (laughing hysterically!)

Thanks, Pam H! I think I'll try this.The thought of drawing 400 diagonal lines isn't all that appealing.

Thank you to Nilla, EmmaS, joe'smom, susiequilt!!!
Y'all are right. I will try another method.
And I managed to print the instructions without the printer friendly page.

Ok so maybe I'm in the doghouse... but I could make a paper-piecing hoozie and probably fit 12 on a page. I just did this for the HST and it was a breeze.

The problem is with her template!!!

I just printed it and have the following comment
[ATTACH=CONFIG]501266[/ATTACH]
Something is not measuring right here. she said that the rectangle is at 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" but not according to her templates.
Beware!

Clue 1 - her photos did not illustrate correct color positions on the HST
Clue 2 - her templates don't measure up
Is this a time to worry?

SueSew, did you make sure you turned off the scaling when you printed it? Mine printed out just right.

Hmmm... I take that back I just looked at the instructions and re-measured, the template is off :confused: