Get ready for my Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt, starting next week, January 21. Each month in ’17, you’ll find a complete quilt block tutorial posted on my blog, using fat quarters* (18″ x 22″ fabric rectangles) from a 24-piece bundle.
So how do you get ready? Here are the simple steps:
First—Gather Fabric
All 12-blocks will feature my Garnet Fabric collection. You’ll need:
- One Garnet 24-Fat Quarter Bundle for the print fabrics
- 2-1/4 yards of a neutral or background fabric. (I used Cream from Riley Blake Designs Shades collection.)
- 3/4 yard binding fabric–we chose Garnet Red Vine.
Note from Nancy: Of course you may use any other 24-fat quarter collection and neutral background fabric.
The third Saturday of each month during ’17 you’ll receive a new quilt block idea in this blog. We just finished the quilt (Sorry, it’s a mystery so you can’t see it yet.), which measures 57″ x 75″, upon completion.
Second—Sharpen Your Tools
Well, not really, but do make certain that you have a sharp blade in your rotary cutter. Gather your cutting mat and ruler. The other main notion used each month is the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge. Okay, that’s one insight, there are half-square triangles in this Fat Quarter Mystery Quilt. Best news yet, they’re easy to create with the No-Hassle Triangle Gauge.
Basic Supplies for the entire 12-month mystery:
- Cutting Mat
- Rotary Cutting Tools
- Quilter’s Ruler
- Scissors
- No-Hassle Triangle Gauge
Other BoM Quilt Projects
Did you follow along in or ’15 or ’16 for our Block of the Month projects? If you finished part of all of the quilt blocks or the entire project, please share photos. We’d love to see and share them! Post your pictures to my Facebook Page or email them to [email protected].
In 2015 we jumped in making two blocks each month. The blocks were bold and bright. Using various templates from Clover USA, we created an interesting large sampler quilt. Join the fun anytime. The patterns are free and online at the 2015 Adventure Quilt link on my blog.
In 2016 we finished a block of the month project, which featured the Carefree Curves Template set. The possibilities are endless with this template; it is one of my favorites. We used pieced fabric strata each month to yield a very scrappy finished quilt. Just like the 2015 project, this Block of the Month is always free and online at the 2016 Quilt Extravaganza link on my blog.
Note from Nancy: Fat Quarters are a 1/4 of a yard of fabric created by cutting a half of a yard and then cutting that section into two 18″ x 22″ pieces. Contrary to what non-quilters might think, a fat quarter is not a body part! Little humor, very little.
Watch for the first block of the month on January 21!
Bye for now,
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Is this a mystery quilt or a block of the month quilt?
It is a block of the month quilt. Hope you will follow along!
Thank you for asking, Mary! It is both a mystery and block of the month.
I would like to do a quilt as you go. Is it possible to do the bomb with this design?
Leonore Barna,
Thank you for following our blog. We don’t quite understand your question. Perhaps there is a typo in the sentence “Is it possible to do the bomb with this design?” Please write more details to your question at i[email protected].
Thank you,
Nancy and staff
I love the mystery quilt blocks and was wondering if the “summer breeze” fat quarter pack would be a good fabric choice for the quilt.
I’m not a big fan of the color red so I thought I’d try something else. With that being said, I have a difficult time visualizing what colors look good so I’m turning to you, the experts.
Please let me know if you think the summer breeze collection would work well for this mystery quilt.
Thank you
Mary
Love the Garnet collection, which I intend to buy just as soon as I figure out how to print the cutting/sewing directions in regular-size page form. (when I click “Print PDF”, I get a blank page.)
how do you print off instructions – besides screen printing? is there somewhere where it is in a sheet page form or pdf? thanks
Lorene,
At the end of the blog, you’ll find a PDF icon. Click and print!
Thanks for following along,
Nancy
If we are using only FQ’s and a background fabric then we don’t need yardage for a border, correct? I am going stash diving for FQ’s and see what I come up with.
You are correct, thanks for following along!
want to participate in the Block of the Month but use some of my stash. wondering if you can do this with 12 half yards or if you need the 24 variations?
Sue, you can definitely use fabric from your stash. Twelve, half yard cuts will be enough! Enjoy!
Can hardly wait, got everything ready in my sewing room, all cleared out, vacuumed and dusted and got the containers ready for the bits and bobs! Now I need my quilt shop to open on Friday!
I have not done a BOM quilt before, so this will be my first. Very excited! I will be using Rhapsody in Blue Fat Quarter Bundle.
Kristy
I am very excited to try your mystery quilt, as I am still a beginner and love to watch your show.
I am a beginner quilter. I would like to try the 2017 mystery quilt but in looking at the 2015 and 2016 quilts, I feel intimidated. Is this something a beginner can do? Trying to decide before I purchase fabric and tools.
Nancy, there is one basic technique in the 2017 mystery quilt, making half-square triangles. It’s a basic skill; I think you can do it. Consider reading tomorrow’s blog on the first design to see if it is workable for you. (The January block also has a 9-patch, but most other months are made-up of the half-square triangles and squares.) Good luck!
Nancy
I am intrigued by this mystery!
The only quilting I’ve ever done was a couple appliqué quilts 40 years ago with my grandmother! Is this quilt something that’s doable for a beginner? I love your new fabric line and would really like to try this project!
Rhea, this is definitely an easy project to stitch.
Hello Nancy!
Happy New Year to you all, hope it’s a good one! I have never done one of these BOM things but I’m game! I like a challenge! and will try to keep up as I give myself projects for gifts etc throughout the year! Excited ;o)
I’ll attack my precious, growing and eclectic stash of fat quarters this year and follow along with your mystery quilt blocks. I guess if I get prepared with eight dark, eight medium, eight light and a background to suit them all I should be fine. Just wondering if solids (such as displayed in Amish quilts) might work……
This sounds like fun, but what I really need to do is use some of the fabric I already have. Do you think this quilt would work well as a stash buster?
Absolutely!
Sandy, this quilt is a perfect stash buster!
Looking forward to it!
I cannot wait to start this! My girlfriend and I did and completed the 2015 quilt. It was so much fun. I’m looking for some good photos to send to you, Nancy. I did the green and she did pink! We sure learned lots by sewing the blocks…..arden
do you give us an alternate method of making the half/square triangles so we don’t have to buy any special tools? I’d like to do the quilt, but don’t want to buy a “gadget”
Yes, we will give you an alternative technique!
I am interested in making the 2017 mystery quilt. I have been sewing for years but just getting into quilting. Would this be something that I would be able to do? What if I have a problem with something, would there be help available to answer questions.
The technique is easy. We are always here if you have questions.
Ethel, look for the blog posting on the 21st of the block for January. I am confident that you’ll be able to make all blocks, month by month. If you have questions, contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for following along,
Nancy
I love the colors of your fabrics. Can you list how many dark, medium and light as well as how many tans needed. I have a large stash I am committed to using and have a whole lot of reds. Thanks for new ideas. I enjoy your emails.
I think I have been avoiding triangles for awhile so I could use the practice. This looks like a project for me.
This is just the kick in the pants that I need to get back into sewing. I had brain surgery in December and things can still get fuzzy. The quilts from 15 and 16 look amazing. I would love to create something just as beautiful.
Nancy I want so much to make a quilt from scratch. Is this mystery quilt a project for beginners? Thank you, Barbara
Barbara, there is only one basic technique, perfect for beginners. Plus, we are always available to answer questions.
Barbara, yes this quilt is easy. There is one may technique—half-square triangles. I am confident you can create this!
Nancy
I am excited to start your new project. I love your past project.
Sounds like fun! I enjoy mysteries, been reading some during winter days.
Hi Nancy,
I think I will do this project. Your 15 & 16 quilts are beautiful.