By definition, a mystery is anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown.

Mysteries can be frustrating and perplexing – but they can also be fun! Project Linus would like to offer you a “fun” and mysterious challenge.

Let’s make a Mystery Quilt!

What is a Mystery Quilt?

It’s a quilt design that is presented in sections so that the quilter does not know what the final design will be until the last section has been received. Keep in mind that this is a Project Linus Mystery quilt… so it’s a little easier than most “Mystery Quilts” and it’s a little smaller than most “Mystery Quilts”. But it is a mystery none the less as you follow the instructions. Even the title of the quilt will remain a mystery until the end.

The construction of this quilt is divided into five sections. Anyone of any skill level can participate. Some of you will learn some new techniques from this, while other will simply breeze through the instructions. Either way – it’s a fun way to make a quilt!

Cecile M. Springer says “Above all, challenge yourself. You may well surprise yourself at what strengths you have, what you can accomplish.”

Part 1 – Gathering and cutting the fabric

You will need the following fabrics and materials for this quilt. This does not include the backing and binding… we’ll take care of that later.

• Fabric A: ½ yard blue (either a blue tone on tone or predominately blue fabric)
• Fabric B: ½ yard green (either a green tone on tone or predominately green fabric)
• Fabric C: ¼ yard yellow (either a yellow tone on tone or predominately yellow fabric)
• Background fabric: 1 yard white background fabric (solid white or tone on tone white)
• Pink or Red Scraps: Eight 6” squares – all the same or all different
• Pastel Scraps: Nine 6” squares (small prints or tone on tone solids work well – all different is best)
• Predominantly yellow fabric: ½ yard (can be the same as Fabric C or another yellow)
• Double sided fusible webbing: Steam-A-Seam-2, Heat & Bond Lite, Wonder Under, etc. You will need enough to be able to cut 17 6” squares from the webbing.

Cutting Instructions:

• Fabric A – Blue: Cut five 2 ½” strips x WOF (width of fabric)
• Fabric B – Green: Cut five 2 ½” strips x WOF
• Fabric C – Yellow: Cut two 2 ½” strips x WOF
• Background fabric: Cut five 2 ½” strips x WOF
• Background fabric: Cut three 6 ½” strips x WOF. Then cut the strips into 17 6 ½” squares.
• Pink scraps: Cut eight 6” squares (They can all be the same fabric or up to 8 different fabrics)
• Pastel scraps: Cut nine 6” squares (A variety of colors works best)
• Predominantly yellow: If your WOF is at least 42”, you will need 4 strips of 3 ½” x 42”
• If your WOF is less than 42”, you will need 6 strips of 3 ½” x 42”

That’s it for this part!

A Mysterious Challenge from Project Linus! - Part 2

Hopefully you have your fabric gathered, cut and you’re ready to start sewing!

From the fabrics that you cut in Part 1, you will be using the following in Part 2…

• 2 ½ strips of the blue 2 ½” strips
• 2 ½ strips of the green 2 ½” strips
• 17 6 ½” squares cut from the white background fabric

You will also need …

• Pencil
• Quilting cutting guide/ruler
• Rotary cutter and mat

Step 1

• Cut 34 2 ½” blue squares from the2 ½” blue strips
• Cut 34 2 ½” green squares from the2 ½” green strips
• You will probably be able to cut 16 squares per strip, so it will take approximately 2 ½ strips of each color depending on the width of your fabric.
• When you finish cutting you will have 68 squares total. Set aside the remainder of the blue and green strips for later.

Step 2

On the WRONG side of each of the 2 ½” squares, draw a pencil line on the diagonal of each square. This pencil line will serve as your stitching guide.

RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER – Place a green square in the upper left and lower right corner and a blue square in the upper right and lower left corner of one of the 17 6 ½” white background squares as pictured.

Stitch just along the outside edge of the pencil line.

Step 3
Place the ¼” line of your ruler on the stitched lines and trim the seam allowance to ¼” (this cuts off the corner). Make sure you cut on the OUTSIDE of the line (closest to the corner point), not the inside of the line (which will ruin your square). Discard the trimmed point.

Step 4
Press corners open pressing the seam allowance toward the corner (behind the blue or green). Square up the block to 6 ½” square if needed.

Congratulations! You have created 17 “Snowball” blocks! Set these blocks aside for another week. You’re not finished with them yet! =}

A Mysterious Challenge from Project Linus! - Part 3

Are you ready for Part 3 of the Mystery Quilt Challenge? The instructions for this part are very easy. If you are familiar with a 9-patch block, you’re home free! If not – a 9-patch block looks like a checkerboard with 9 squares, or a tic-tac-toe board. As you make you own 9-patch blocks, this will give you some tips on making sure that each of your corners match up perfectly!

Step 1
You will be using the rest of your 2 ½” strips for this step and will be making two sets of strips.

Seam allowances are ¼”!!

Make 2½ Strip Set BWG – Blue-White-Green – (that’s two full strips and ½ of a third strip of each color) by sewing a blue strip to a white strip (right sides together). Press the seam allowance toward the blue. Now sew a green strip to the other side of the white strip (right sides together). Press the seam allowance toward the green.

Make 1¼ Strip Set WYW – White-Yellow-White – (that’s going to take one full strip and ¼ of a second strip of yellow and 2 full strips and two ¼ pieces of a third strip of the white) by sewing a white strip to each side of a yellow strip. Press the seam allowances toward the yellow.

Step 2
Cut the strip sets into 2½” segments creating Strip Set A and Strip Set B You will need to cut 36 of Strip Set A (BWG) and 18 of Strip Set B (WYW)

Step 3
You will be using two of Strip Set A (BWG) and one of Strip Set B (WYW) for each block

With right sides together, sew Strip Set A to Strip Set B using a ¼” seam. Sew together 18 Strip Sets A to the 18 Strip Sets B. These strip sets have been pressed in such a way that the seams “butt” up against each other creating perfectly match corners. I like to pin directly into the seams to make sure the corners are matched. Press the seam allowance toward the Strip Set A.

Step 4
Right sides together and using a ¼” seam, sew another Strip Set A to the other side of the Strip Set B, only this time, turn the Strip Set A so that the blue and green end up in opposite corners from the ones already sewn on.

Congratulations! You completed Part 3 of the Mystery Quilt and hopefully you have completed 18 PERFECT 9-patch blocks! This part was easy… but the next will be a little more challenging… so stay tuned.

A Mysterious Challenge from Project Linus! - Part 4

Step 1
The attached images (flower, flower center and heart) are your appliqué templates for the snowball blocks. You will need to trace around the flower, flower center and heart templates several times, so it’s best if you copy them to card stock paper, template plastic or a stiff paper and cut them out.

Step 2
This is the step where you will use your fusible webbing. The Lite Steam-A-Seam-2 has three layers – a paper layer on each side of the fusible webbing. Other products have 2 layers – a paper layer on top of the webbing. Place the templates that you cut out, wrong side up, on the paper side of the fusible webbing and trace around each image with a pencil. You will need 8 hearts, 9 flowers and 9 flower centers.

Step 3
Roughly cut out the images from the fusible webbing. Do NOT cut on the lines but leave a bit of a margin around the pencil line. Once you fuse the webbing to your fabric, you will cut on the pencil line.

Step 4
If you are using a 3 layer product, remove the unmarked paper layer from the fusible webbing image. If the webbing appears to be sticking to the unmarked paper side, simply use a pin to peel the webbing off the unmarked paper and make sure it stays attached to the marked side as you remove the unmarked paper. Using a hot DRY iron, press the fusible webbing (paper side up) onto the WRONG side of your chosen fabrics. (Check instructions on your fusible webbing product to make sure you have the correct temperatures and fusing time.) Remember that you will be using the red or pink fabric scraps for your hearts and your pastel fabrics for the flowers. You will use a yellow fabric for the centers of your flowers.

Step 5
Using scissors, cut out the shape exactly on the drawn pencil line. Take care when handling the fabric to avoid fraying the edges. Carefully, peel the paper backing from the pattern piece. A fine layer of adhesive will remain on the fabric. For easy paper removal, I like to take a straight pin and strike it lightly across the paper – tearing the paper but not damaging the webbing or the fabric.

Step 6
Begin with the hearts since they are the easiest – and center a heart in the center of a snowball block. Make sure the snowball block is “right side up” – there should be a green triangle in the top left corner of the block. Fuse the heart to the block as directed on the fusible webbing instructions. Do the same for 8 hearts and 9 flowers. You can fuse the flower and flower center to the snowball block at the same time.

Step 7
Now it’s time to appliqué. The machine blanket stitch works best, but if your sewing machine doesn’t have a blanket stitch, you can also use a very tight zig-zag or satin stitch. Don’t be afraid to try something new! You’ll be SO HAPPY you did when you see the finished product. You can use any color of thread that you like for your blanket stitch. You can use thread that matches the heart and flower fabrics or you can use a black appliqué stitch for all the hearts and flowers – it’s up to you.

This was the longest and most involved part of the mystery quilt. Next time, we will put it all together! When you’re in the process of appliquéing your blocks on your sewing machine, go slowly and you will be very pleased with your finished product! In fact, it’s so easy that you will become a blanket stitch appliqué expert with your first heart!! It’s smooth sailing from that point on.