Friday, January 8, 2016

It's a Mystery

Every year on New Year's Eve I try to participate in a quilt mystery.  This year's mystery used a jelly roll.  I need a quilt for a wedding gift later this year so I decide this mystery quilt will be the gift.
It was a fun quilt to make.  

As we begin 2016 everyone makes resolutions.  I am breaking down my year into what I will be making by July.
Wedding quilt -1
Baby quilts - 2
Graduation quilts - 2
The wedding quilt and one baby quilt is already a flimsy.

I have decided I would have on going projects.  One of these projects is an Amish Quilt Kit.  It has many different blocks and I plan to make some blocks each week until it is completed.
Here is block #2 & #3.
Another on going projects will be using all the scraps I have cut and saved.  My first basket to conquer is 1.5" squares.
 I wonder how long it will take me to make all these squares into blocks and how many blocks will I have.  Does anyone have a suggestion on what quilt to make after they are all sewn into patch blocks?
Here is 400 little squares ready to be sewn into 16 patch blocks and you can't tell I have taken any squares out of the basket.
It is a mystery why I thought I needed to cut and save these little squares.  When this basket is empty I will not be saving anymore little squares.

I also plan on sewing string blocks.  These blocks will be my 2016 Rainbow challenge project.  January rainbow is blue.

20 comments:

  1. I do like the projects you have planned. Nice work on the scrap baskets!

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  2. Love the mystery quilt. Yes, it takes a lot of 1.5" squares to make anything. I use them a lot, but in building sections of various blocks. I've got a project that has been 4 years in the works that is all 1.5" squares and 1.5" HSTs and I hope to have done this fall.

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  3. Karen, have you tried using the fusible web to sew your 1.5" squares together? Makes it go a whole lot faster, and much easier to match the seams.

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  4. The key to saving is keeping only what you want to use. I fins individual 1.5 inch square to be fussy, but love to work with 1.5 inch strips. They would make a great center block for a star block. Hope you get them uses up soon.

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  5. A scrappy sixteen patch quilt sounds marvelous (although admittedly a bit tedious, too). I save 1.5" strips (but not squares). Love your string plan - and good luck with that richly colored Amish sampler..................

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  6. I actually like sewing together 1.5 inch squares! You can't beat PS quilts and string blocks for scrap busting!

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  7. I like Bonnie Hunter's tree pattern called Crab Apples. It uses 1.5" strips, but I'm sure you could convert it to squares. Love all of your scrappy projects.

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  8. The mystery quilt turned out beautifully. You've got some fun scrappy projects planned for 2016.

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  9. I did a quilt with 1.5 inch squares.... set as 10x10 for a 10 inch block. I was testing a pattern for a friend and it had awesome borders to really set it. Might be a solution for your blocks. It is called Quilters Scrapbook out on craftsy.

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  10. It is fun to see your scrappy 16 patches. I think I like them much more than my two color ones. Makes me wonder what would happen if I made a few like yours! Your blue string block is so pretty! That is a great idea too!

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  11. Your little scrappy squares will make a great quilt, and I like the string block too. You are off to a good start this year.

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  12. I draw the line at 2". Anything that won't cut to a 2" square is tossed.
    Your Mystery quilt looks great.

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  13. I just love string blocks! I use 1.5" pieces as well but like others find that using 1.5" strips a lot easier than 1.5" squares.

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  14. That's a very pretty mystery quilt, nice gift. Lots of cute little quilty things happening here.

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  15. Scraps have a way of multiplying when you aren't looking. Your 16 patch blocks might be good for leaders and enders if you can work that way. String blocks are a great idea for this year's RSC!

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  16. I love string blocks and may steal your idea for the RSC this year.

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  17. I'm only doing patches with 2 1/4 inch squares because I was given a popcorn tin full of them. I was trying to use them but now am using them for the soscrappy challenge.

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  18. I love your mystery quilt - I haven't seen that sort of pattern before - very effective! You have a nice variety of ongoing projects there - have fun!

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  19. Karen, I just love your mystery 'wedding' quilt! You are so on the ball, getting everything finished with plenty of time to spare, and making ongoing blocks inbetween for the pleasure of piecing! Good luck with all of your goals! XO

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  20. I am new to visiting your blog after seeing you visited mine. You do a lot of sewing and quilting and I admire that. I like to sew however I haven't done any real quilting. I believe 2016 will be an amazing year...

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