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Holiday Mystery Project ~ Part 1

by Shelly Hazard

Step 1: Fabric Selection

For this pattern, you will need a small amount of a bunch of fabrics. Try to avoid directional fabric and large designs. You'll need:

• fat quarter of a dark blue print
• fat quarter of a beige, or light tan, fabric, preferably a solid
• fat quarter of a brown print
• fat quarter of a gold print
• fat quarter of a white print - preferably something without a lot of color
• fat quarter of a pink print
• fat quarter of a dark pink print
• fat quarter of a maroon print
• a small scrap of a pink solid (at least 2" block size)
• fat quarter of a green print (used for a border)
• 1/4 yard of a gold print (used for a border and for binding)
• 1/2 yard of a light solid (used for backing)

This design will also need a small amount of blue floss, and if desired, 1 yard of narrow gold ribbon. Note: The pink print, dark pink print, and maroon print may be substituted for any other colors of the same contrast medians.

Cutting the Fabric

Read through all of the instructions before you begin. For this mystery quilt, you will be doing a combination of cutting and piecing throughout the project, rather than cutting everything and then piecing it all. Machine piecing is recommended. To download the templates required for part 1 of the project, click here. These templates are actual size so you may cut them out and use them directly. NOTE: There is no seam allowance on these templates. You must add a 1/4" seam allowance to all fabric!

You may use a rotary cutter, but remember to add the seam allowance. For rotary cutting, you'll need a rotary cutter, a cutting mat, and a long cutting ruler with 1/8" markings.

Note that each of the templates has a letter written on it. Throughout these instructions, the templates will be referred to by the letter written in each one. For example, you may be asked to cut four blue A pieces. Also, some templates you may be required to cut out a reverse piece as well. These will be signified by the letter plus an "r". For example, you may be asked to cut two blue A pieces and two blue Ar pieces.

Step 2: The Beginning

To start, you must cut out some pieces and then you will sew them together. This section is set-up in a step format to make it easier.

1. Using the template marked LL, cut two LL pieces out of the brown print fabric and two LL pieces out of the yellow print fabric.
2. Using the template marked MM, cut one MM piece out of the beige fabric.
3. Using the template marked JJ, cut one JJ piece out of the brown print fabric. Then flip over the template and cut one JJr piece out of the brown print fabric.
4. Using the template marked OO, cut two OO pieces out of the brown print fabric.
5. Using the template marked II, cut one II piece out of the dark pink print fabric.
6. Place the two brown LL pieces with the right sides together and sew along the two short sides.
7. Trim the corner just sewn and turn them right side out.
8. Pin the two remaining long sides of the joined brown LL pieces onto one side of the beige MM piece as shown below.
9. Place the brown JJ and JJr pieces together and sew along one long edge and the adjacent short edge.
10. Trim the corner just sewn and turn them right side out.
11. Pin the two remaining edges of the joined brown LL pieces onto two sides of the beige MM piece as shown below.
    
12. The picture below shows a number on each side of the MM piece. In the steps below, sew each piece as directed onto the numbered side referenced by this drawing.
    
13. Sew one of the yellow LL pieces onto side 1 of the beige MM piece.
14. one of the brown OO pieces to side 5 of the beige MM piece.
15. the second yellow LL piece onto side 3 of the beige MM piece.
16. Sew the second brown OO piece to side 7 of the beige MM piece.
17. Set in and sew the dark pink II piece to side 6 of the beige MM piece and one side of each of the brown OO pieces.
18. You should now have an assembled piece, which looks like the picture below. Note: This piece will be referred to as Group 1
    

You have now completed Part 1 of the Mystery quilt. The second part will continue with some cutting and some sewing and the third part will contain instructions for putting it together.

Note: If you wish to use the gold ribbon, cut it into twelve pieces each 3" long. Part 2 of the Mystery quilt will explain where to appliqué the pieces into place.