Take 36 Flying Geese from Clue #2 and (72) 2 ½” Background squares, adding a neutral square to each end. Press seams open.
If you want to follow along on Instagram, here are the tags to use:
#quiltinggail #2021summermysteryquilt
June 26 Introduction
July 3 Cutting Instructions
July 6 Clue #1
July 10 Clue #2
July 13 Clue #3
July 17 Clue #4
July 20 Clue #5
July 24 Clue #6
July 27 Clue #7
July 31 Clue #8
August 3 Clue #9
August 7 Clue #10
Linky Party: August 24
Are you following along with the Summer Mystery Quilt? You can see the latest clue HERE.
#1. Country Panels: No work on it this week!
#2 It’s A Secret: you’ll see it in October! (And yes, I HAD to start something NEW to give myself a break!)
#1 Amish panels: I finished the quilting and when I went to put the binding on I discovered that the rows of swirls in the border were HORRID!!! So bad that I’ve spent more than a couple of days taking it out. That’s why it’s not finished, the quilt above isn’t finished piecing.
Quilting #2: Island Batik August is ready to quilt – but I have to fix the other one first!!!
I didn’t need any more fabric this week and I only finished my Island Batik project which used 1 yard of fabric for the backing.
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes all days this past week. And, I’m including “unsewing” as part of my 30 minutes / day!
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.
This week it was hard to get everything done. Like most people, I highly dislike unsewing. OK … if I’m honest, I HATE it!!! Its taken me ages to get all the horrid quilting out … and I’m not finished yet! GROAN!!!. I do have a personal policy of taking out the mistakes before quitting for the day … but more than a couple of days of unsewing is discouraging! It’s OK … it’s almost all done … and then I can start moving forward again!
This clue will go faster than the last one … I promise!
Edit: Take 4 strips of background and 4 strips of Contrast #3.
Sew Fabric #3 to the 2 ½” neutral strips lengthwise. Press towards the neutral strip.
Cut these strips into 2 ½” pieces. Pieces will be 2 ½” x 4 ½” You will need 68 pieces.
Label these pieces “Step 3”. Set aside.
July 3 Cutting Instructions
July 6 Clue #1
July 10 Clue #2
July 13 Clue #3
July 17 Clue #4
July 20 Clue #5
July 24 Clue #6
July 27 Clue #7
July 31 Clue #8
August 3 Clue #9
August 7 Clue #10
Linky Party: August 24
I’m really enjoying our lovely summer days! It’s cooling off at night – so I think the weather is lovely! However, it’s so tempting to spend a LOT of time outside! The garden needs weeding, the tomatoes are ready for picking – almost every day!
I finished my latest project for Island Batik! You can read more about it HERE. This wall hanging used Hobbs 80/20 batting, Aurifil thread, Schmetz needles and of course, Island Batik fabric!
Are you following along with the Summer Mystery Quilt? You can see the latest clue HERE.
#1. August Island Batik project: Moving right along!
#2. Country Panels: No work on it this week!
#1 Amish panels: Lots of quilting done … not quite finished.
I didn’t need any more fabric this week and I only finished my Island Batik project which used 1 yard of fabric for the backing.
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes all days this past week.
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.
I did work on a few projects and was not distracted by squirrels! And the studio got a cleaning for 30 minutes! However, I think that I need to spend more than 30 minutes this week – but I’m going to leave my To Do list at 30 minutes! ~grin~
No further finishes. I started my August Island Batik project.
This is a “No Waste” method of making flying geese. And, once you do it, you will like it! Promise!
Take the (72 ) 2 7/8” squares of Contrast #1 and mark them down the middle.
Take (18) 5 1/4″ background squares
Lay the Contrast #1 squares on top of the background square with right sides together.
Line up the drawn lines of the Contrast #1 squares as shown in red in the picture. Sew a ¼” line on each side of the marked squares (shown in black in the picture.)
Cut on the drawn (red) line. Press towards Contrast #1. You will have 2 pieces that are like the picture. (I know it’s weird, but bear with me!)
Take a 2 7/8” Contrast #1 square and place it on each of the Step #3 pieces (as shown in the picture. Sew ¼” line away from the marked centres. (the black line)
Cut along the centre (red line) and press towards Contrast #1
You will have 4 Flying geese from each 5 ¼” neutral square.
The flying geese block should look like this and there should be 4 flying geese blocks from each 5 1/4″ square.
Make 72 Flying Geese If you wish, label them “Flying Geese.” Set aside
Now … wasn’t that easy? And you don’t have any pesky waste triangles to worry about!
Here is the schedule and links to the previously posted clues.
July 3 Cutting Instructions
July 6 Clue #1
July 10 Clue #2
July 13 Clue #3
July 17 Clue #4
July 20 Clue #5
July 24 Clue #6
July 27 Clue #7
July 31 Clue #8
August 3 Clue #9
August 7 Clue #10
Linky Party: August 24
Thank you to all that offered your sympathy and concern for us surviving the heat wave. It is over and the temps are way more comfortable … around 30C (86 F). And it is cooling down at night! So sleep is possible!!! YEAH!!!
Although, in the wake of the heat wave, there are a LOT of fires burning in British Columbia, lots of lightening strikes … one town was burnt totally to the ground … the residents had less than 15 minutes to flee the town. Lots of sad stories …
But this blog is about quilting … so here goes …
The Summer 2021 Mystery Quilt fabric amounts and cutting directions have been posted. You can see them HERE and HERE.
I still don’t have a lot of energy, but Zoom sewing with Island Batik Ambassadors on Friday helped! I got a start on my August project … using a BEAUTIFUL line of fabric (Autumn Wings) and Studio 180 rulers. It’s a secret, so no pictures … sorry!
#1. August Island Batik project: a bit of progress
#2. Country Panels:
I started working on another UFO … 2 different country panels that I’m putting together. I’m using the burgandy grunge fabric for sashing and a first border. But I don’t have enough … so I had to go shopping … More about that further down …
#1 Amish panels: 2 panels, put into one quilt top, sandwiched and ready to quilt. No progress on this. But the machine is threaded with the thread I want to use, bobbins are wound … just need to start.
I needed some more burgundy grunge for the 2 country panels that I’m putting together … so I went to Essem Textiles … and they just happened to have a skinny bolt sale on a “black dress” grunge and a “grey” grunge. I might or might not have bought them. Well, I can’t lie, of course I bought them … Sew … that adds 3 yards to my total of fabric bought!
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes all days this past week.
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.
No further finishes. I started my August Island Batik project.
How are you doing with your PHD in 2021?
A couple of blog followers have commented on part of my weekly “To Do” list where I say “Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS.” And most of the time, I am not distracted by them!
Squirrels are those enticing projects that just want to be done NOW. You can read a blog post about them HERE.
So … how do I manage to (mostly) avoid squirrels? Well, as I wander through many different blogs, I get several new ideas, see new patterns, see cute quilts, and see tons of things I just want to do. I know that you all feel the same way!!! Right? The temptation is there!
I will take a screen shot, download the pattern, or something so I can remember the fantastic idea I saw. Then, I say to myself, “If I still am really wanting to do this in a few days (or a week), then I give myself permission to do so.” Well, usually it works. Usually. As you can see in my tally sheet, there is a LOT more “Starts in 2021” than my monthly Island Batik projects … but for the most part … they get done!
Another UFO was finished the other day! The town Table Topper. Once I fixed the mistake (see HERE) and finished quilting, it didn’t take long at all.
Link up and show us your PHD in 2021 progress:
Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs hosts a Favourite Finish Monthly Link up.
Oh, it’s HARD to choose my favourite quilt for this month? Is it one of the two quilts I made as an Island Batik ambassador using Accuquilt dies? Or the Follow Your Own Path quilt?
It was hard to choose! I put all 3 into the “tiled” image and it made the one with red maple leafs the biggest … so I thought I’d let the program choose! But then I had 2nd thoughts … and decided that I’d go with the Follow Your Path Quilt … I wasn’t sure how it would turn out with the background and I was super pleased with the result … so that’s going to be my choice for this month! (You can read more about the quilts HERE and HERE.)
The Summer 2021 Mystery Quilt has started! Fabric Requirements were posted on Saturday. (See HERE)
A serious heat wave. This is so unusual for Canada’s west coast! But our temperatures are over 41 C (translates to 106 F) and it’s not cooling off at night. No fun!!! It’s hard to have any energy to do anything … oh … and did I mention that our air conditioning is called a fan?
I have been working to get the Summer 2021 Mystery Quilt ready to roll. It takes time, but I was able to post the introduction on Saturday! You can read about it HERE.
Sew, even though not a lot is happening … here’s this week’s report:
#1 Town Table Topper: This table topper is not finished, yet … On Friday, I showed the “unstitching that I needed to do … It’s now unstitched and the 2 offending blocks are switched around … but that’s as far as it’s gotten!
#1 Island Batik July’s project: Still in progress … 2 days of ripping out did not help my progress or my mood with this project!
#2 Amish panels: put into one quilt top, sandwiched and ready to quilt. No progress on this.
No shopping, no buying … nothing finished …
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes most days this past week.
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.
No changes from last week!
Have you ever done a mystery quilt? They can be a LOT of fun. Yes, they take you out of your comfort zone, mostly because you don’t know where you’re headed. But you end up with a quilt that is maybe something you would have choosen, maybe not … but it’s all fun!
This mystery has 10 clues. The clues will be announced each Tuesday and Saturday. There will be a linky party at the end where you can show everyone your quilt. (If you don’t have a blog or IG to link to, you can email me the picture and I’ll post it.)
This quilt is 44″ x 59″ with one border.
** WOF is Width of Fabric
These amounts are pretty close to the exact amount you will need. Please add additional fabric if you “want to be sure” that you have enough.
| Fabric | Amount |
| Background / neutral | 2 ¾ yards 2.6 m |
| Focal Fabric | ½ yard or more if fussy cutting 0.5 m |
| Contrast #1 | 2/3 yard 0.6 m |
| Contrast #2 | 1/3 yard 0.3 m |
| Contrast #3 | 1/3 yard 0.3 m |
Fabrics used for Test Quilts
| Fabric | What I used | What my quilt tester used |
| Background | soft white | off white |
| Focal Fabric | dark floral | mint with mauve |
| Contrast #1 | dark green | 2 different purples |
| Contrast #2 | teal | soft mauve |
| Contrast #3 | purple | mauve |
July 3 Cutting Instructions
July 6 Clue #1
July 10 Clue #2
July 13 Clue #3
July 17 Clue #4
July 20 Clue #5
July 24 Clue #6
July 27 Clue #7
July 31 Clue #8
August 3 Clue #9
August 7 Clue #10
Linky Party: August 24
Warning, this post is very picture heavy!!!
I am SEW very proud of the Quilt Guild I belong to!!! (Boundary Bay Quilters Guild). Whenever there have been urgent needs for quilts, the guild members step up. Just going off the top of my head, there have been quilts made for the Saskatchewan hockey bus tragedy, the shootings in Nova Scotia, blocks for the wildfires in Australia, banners for a public stabbing in Lynn Canyon, and the regular donations from our guild (baby quilts, comfort/cancer quilts and Quilts of Valour.)
Recently, the guild decided to donate quilts to local Healthcare Heros. They are doing such a fantastic job and working extremely hard! As a former nurse educator, I can only imagine what stresses they undergo daily!
There have already been a LOT of quilts donated and many more are in the line up. Unfortunately, I don’t know who made all of them, but I do have pictures of the ones previously donated to this cause … If you are in the guild and want your quilt acknowledged, please let me know and I’ll edit the post.
I have a LOT of finishes to show you. In January, I hosted a mystery quilt for our guild (Boundary Bay Quilt Guild). It’s a lot of fun for me!!! This mystery was written by Sue P … a member of the Peace Arch Quilt Guild. I did it as a mystery several years ago. I repeated it again this year. Thank you, Sue, for permitting me to share this quilt pattern with the guild! This post is dedicated to YOU!!!
I absolutely LOVE how the same design looks SEW very different with different fabrics and different layouts! And THANK YOU to all the guild members that sent me their pictures!
This is Kathy S’s: I love the tree’s!
I made the Moorewood Mystery, designed and hosted by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs. This pattern is extremely well written. The monthly instructions are easy to follow and very doable during the month! The pattern is available on the website. Thank you Cheryl for this unique and fun design!
This quilt counted as one of my UFOs because it could not be completed in 2020 … (my own rules as to what makes a UFO).
And a closeup of the quilting:
Jennifer featured the quilt with all the ruler quilting on it. You can read more about it HERE.
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Just to remind you … SAHRR is Stay At Home Round Robin. If you missed the previous posts about this year’s SAHRR – you can see them
Today is the day that Susan told us to add Log Cabin blocks. Again, I’m rebelling! I am not going to do the blocks all around the quilt. Just in the middle of the next round. This quilt is getting bigger than I had planned and this will keep the size down. The logs started out at 1.5″ wide strips and finished at 1″ wide. As you can see, I paired the colours with the white fabric.
Again, I continued to use a variety of fabrics from Island Batik’s Ohana collection.
Next week will be our final round!!! I’m loving the variety of quilts that are being made!!! Aren’t they wonderful? MARK you calendars for March 29th !!! I will have a linky party for everyone to show their final quilts or tops!
Make sure to visit all of the other co-leaders and link up to Susan’s linky party to show us your blocks! HERE
Here’s their links:
Island Batik’s blog hop “Create for a Cause” is over. I hope you enjoyed it!!! If you want a lot of wonderful eye candy – you can go HERE to see all of the quilts in one place!
As well, one of our ambassadors has put together a wonderful video that shows all of the beautiful quilts. You can view it HERE.
AND … just in case you forgot – I had a giveaway on my blog when I posted my “Create for a Cause” quilt (see HERE.) And the winner is …. drum roll … Donna H. She has sent me her address and I hope to get it in the mail soon!!!
I’ve started the Echo Lake t-shirt quilt that has been on my UFO list for … well, um … ah … yes … well … It’s about time I started on it!!!!
There’s a huge pile of t-shirts. I’ve cut some and I’ve learned 2 things.
I’m working on my March Island Batik project. Sorry, no pictures yet!
I finished the guild’s Jan / Feb mystery quilt. I used Island Batik fabrics for the top, but I did back it with flannel from my stash. So that fabric will be included as “used this week.”
You can read more about this quilt HERE.
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
Chris from ChrisKnits is hosting it “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.
Well, I worked on everything that didn’t get done, but I was successful with a few things! And, even a little progress is moving forward!
I organize the mystery quilts for the quilt guild (Boundary Bay Quilt Guild). Of course, I HAVE to make each mystery prior to presenting it to the guild. Our latest mystery was designed by Sue Pontifex (of Piece Arch Quilters) and I originally made it around 2013.
Here it is! It is an alternate layout to Sue’s original. And yes, I used Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread and Hobbs fusible 80/20 batting. The free motion quilting is a simple hook with flower petals around it.
Here’s the original one I made in 2013, following the directions!
Members of the guild that have made this quilt will be forwarding me their finished tops and I’ll put them all here on the blog. From what I’ve seen, there’s going to be some pretty fantastic quilts!
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Just to remind you … SAHRR is Stay At Home Round Robin. If you missed the previous posts about this year’s SAHRR – you can see them
Today is the day that Roseanne & Sue instructed us to add checkerboards … These took me forever to make. I used scraps, 1.5″ squares, no strip piecing … uggg … it took forever! But I like it! Here it is … !
Again, I continued to use a variety of fabrics from Island Batik’s Ohana collection.
Make sure to visit all of the other co-leaders and link up to Roseanne’s linky party to show us your blocks!
Here’s their links:
#1 I’m working on my March Island Batik project. Sorry, no pictures yet!
#2 Moorewood Mystery: You can find out more about the mystery and all the clues HERE at Meadow Mist designs. I have the top pieced together. I like it!!! Now to decide how I’m going to quilt it!
I finished quilting the current guild mystery quilt. Sorry, but until the guild members have the final clue, I can’t show it to you.
Nothing finished, nothing bought! No change from last week!
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
Total success this week!
Last week I said that the Winnie the Pooh quilt needed some more quilting, specifically Winnie, Eeyore and the moon. A loving friend told me that if I left it, they would pop. So, I’m going with her advice and am considering this a UFO finish! That made for a super quick finish!!! This will be another donation quilt for the guild. It was a fun quilt to quilt. There is Hobbs 80/20 batting in it. It was quilted with CanSew beige thread.
Somehow, I missed putting Valda’s quilt on my blog last week. It’s a beauty!!! You can see all the other ones from my guild HERE.
#1 I’m still working on the SAHRR but can’t show you any current pictures. Want to know more about the SAHRR? check it out HERE. We started the reveal of our centre blocks last week. See my centre block and the centre blocks that many others have made HERE! Tomorrow, we’re showing the 2nd round! Be sure to check out all of the bloggers that are co-hosting with me! We’re taking turns hosting and having a linky party. It’s Emily’s turn this week!… here’s the list:
#2 The fabric is stilled pulled for the RSC21 Table Scraps Challenge table runner. I have an idea of what I’m making, but I haven’t gotten any further than that!!
#3 The February Island Batik challenge is up on my design wall. I’m using some wonderful fabrics and they are all so pretty!!!
#4 Moorewood Mystery : Half of Block A are pieced. I’m doing them as leaders and enders … so they will be done before the next clue comes out on Feb 4.
Nothing being quilted at the moment …
Winnie the Pooh was 2 yards of fabric
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day.
I have stitched for over 30 minutes each day
For more Stitchin’ Time, you can check out Kate’s blog: Life in Pieces
I’m linking up to Roseanne & Sue’s “TO DO” Tuesday. Their blog is “Home Sewn by Us.”
Even with sewing a LOT this past week, I didn’t get much on my list completed. But I’m fine with what I DID get done!!
OK … the Winnie the Pooh quilt was a quick finish this week. All it took was a decision! (grin)
I KNOW that not all my UFOs will be finished this quickly. But it is nice to have 3 considered done!
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Remember this? It was a mystery quilt that happened between Christmas and New Years in 2020!
You can find the links to all the clues HERE.
Here are my 2 quilts, the 2 colour quilt and the scrappy quilt!
Here are some of the quilts that members of my guild made.
First up is Heather’s … She made this as a pattern tester …
And then she decided to change the pattern and make some lime green blocks along with the purple! I LOVE it when people take a pattern and make it their own!
And here’s Barb’s, also one of my pattern testers … all scrappy and quilted. And, I really like the bright colours and the scrappy binding!
Donna chose to do the 2 colour version. SEW pretty! I like the 2 borders!
Patricia’s: used scrappy for both the background and the “coloured.” But she chose a totally different colour for the 4 1/2″ squares. It looks great! All the music fabric and the different borders! Love it!
Here’s Alice’s quilt … scrappy blues … well blue is my favourite colour … I love how this one turned out!
Yvonne’s is a bright scrappy with a crisp white background …
This is Fran’s creative quilt. Here’s what she had to say, “I had to improvise a bit as I discovered when I had finished cutting the background fabric that I was short approximately 3 inches, hence the red blocks. I used a red inner border to tie the red blocks together with the rest of the quilt. “
Here’s Susan’s … Christmas fabric with snow flakes.
Here is Ioleen Kimmel’s. You can follow her on Instagram ioleen.kimmel A 2 colour quilt with that pretty teal!
And Pat’s. It’s got a LOT of extra blocks for a bed sized quilt! She’s going to bind it with chocolate brown. Won’t it look fantastic?
Robin made her’s bigger and has her hubby holding it for her! Such pretty colours!
Have you been following this week’s blog hop?
You can see the entire schedule HERE. There is a huge variety of heart quilts … no two are alike! If you want some heart eye candy, it’s well worth visiting each of the blogs.
My quilt is below and you can read more about it HERE.
And the blogs that are up for today are listed below!
First , from Jennifer from Inquiring Quilter featured this quilt on Wednesday Wait Loss.
2nd, from Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation
The perfect day to stay inside and quilt … or write blog posts!
I have another UFO finish!
This is my Holiday Seclusion Mystery … scrappy Island Batik fabrics (from Stashbuilder bundles) and Island Batik solid grey. Graffiti or Wild quilting was done … lots of different motifs, swirls, feathers, flowers, vines, McTavishing, pebbles … It was SEW fun to quilt! Hobbs fusible batting was used. I LOVE it! No shifting at all. This will be a comfort quilt, so I backed it with a grey flannel … so cosy!
Yes … I made this bigger … However, I started planning the design with 9″ blocks and quickly realized that most people would not want to make a quilt with smallish pieces in such a short time frame. I then switched the pattern to a 12″ block for the mystery. But of course, I didn’t want the work I had done to go to waste, so I just continued piecing the smaller blocks. Same pattern, different size!
For Instructions on the Holiday Seclusion Mystery, see the Holiday Seclusion Mystery tab at the top of my blog HERE.
I’ve been working on a few things … A few Zoom quilting days keep me focused! And steadily sewing away!
I’m still working on the SAHRR but can’t show you any pictures. Want to know more about the SAHRR check it out HERE. We start the reveal of our centre blocks tomorrow. So make sure you return and visit each of the SAHRR co-hosts!
AND … Hearts on Fire quilt just needs borders and the RSC21 Rainbow Scrap Challenge table runner needs to have a fabric pull!
January Island Batik project is almost done! Pictures to follow later in the week!
A Winnie the Pooh panel is in the process of being quilted. I thought I was done with the quilting – but there’s a few areas that need something.
Holiday Seclusion #1 Mystery was finished this week:
Gather Step 1 Pieces
Mark a line down the diagonal centre (from one corner to the other) of either the background or the coloured squares. (Shown as the black line)
With right sides together, sew ¼“ from the centre black line (red line). Repeat on the other side of the black line (green line).
Cut down the centre line. This will yield 2 Half Square Triangles. See Picture #1 below: shows the line drawn down the centre with the sewing line on each side. Picture #2 shows the opposite side where you can’t see the line.
Press open. (Picture #3 below).
Trim to 4 ½” squares. (Picture #4 below)
Repeat this with the rest of the squares. You should now have 36 Half Square Triangles.
Quilting Gail 