Add a flying geese to each side of the 4 ½” square. 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
How is it possible for it to be the last Monday of July? That means that the summer is half over! But if I want to have a glass half- full attitude – that means that we have at least a month more of summer!
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! Are you tired of hearing that there is no progress on this 2nd quilt using panels?
#2 It’s another secret … I’m working on my September Island Batik project!!! Woohoo!!! I’m using these fabrics: Aren’t they absolutely great?
Nothing at the moment!
I FINALLY finished this quilt this week. There was a LOT of unstitching and I must admit, a few silent words that are not nice!!! But it was a quick finish once I had all the unstitching done. And it was a HUGE eye-opener to me to change my needle more often!
You can read more about this quilt HERE.
I’m aiming for at least 30 minutes a day. Many days there are more than a few hours spent in my studio. And contrary to a popular rumour, I do not quilt 24/7! (grin)
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!
By finishing the Amish Panel quilt, that brought my total of UFOs finished this year to 12! Yay!!! Now … to just make sure I finish everything I start and I’ll be well on my way to my PHD in 2021!
Take the 68 pieces from Step 3 and make 34 (4) patches.
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
Yes, I finished UFO #12 for 2021!
This seems like it was a difficult finish. First, I didn’t have the right red to go with the panel. That made is necessary to BUY fabric. I found some grunge and … it worked … and was perfect for enhancing this panel block!
Then I quilted it and was very pleased to be done … until I looked at the back … on the last 2 rows of swirls … GROAN … 2 and a half days later, the stitching was all removed.
I changed the needle and started re-doing the quilting … and I was checking every 12 inches or so … but it was fine! YAY!!! Doesn’t this look much better?? Perhaps this lesson taught me that I need to change the needle more often??
Yesterday, the binding went on … photo shoot happened and it is DONE!!! YAY!!!
I’m so pleased that it is done!!! Another UFO kicks the dust!!! This also means that I have completed the minimum number of UFOs to achieve my PHD in 2021. (HUGE GRIN!)
This quilt was made from 2 separate panels … one bought at St. Jacob’s in Ontario and other bought in Pennsylvania … probably a few years apart. The batting is Hobbs 80/20 and the quilting is done with Glide thread.
Andree from Quilting and Learning – What a Combo featured my Island Batik “Never Too Early” project! You can read about it HERE.
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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!
Take the 68 pieces from Step 1 and make 34 (4) patches.
If you want to follow along on Instagram, here are the tags to use:
#quiltinggail #2021summermysteryquilt
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 made this quilt eons ago … it was a wedding gift. I received a picture today … evidence that it is still in use! AWESOME!!! That’s what I want … my quilts being used.
I really dislike it when people say that they put it in the closet and are saving it. What are they saving it for? Use them. (Enough of my rant!) This quilt is being used and I LOVE that!
I had forgotten that I had put a verse from Philippians on a label … it might have been on their wedding invitation or … who knows … but it reminds me of how fitting it is for the couple that received it! They have both grown in grace and gentleness!
Here’s a picture of the whole quilt. Designed by me with input from my daughter. The colours are more true in the picture above. The quilting was all stitch in the ditch.
Jennifer from Wednesday Wait Loss featured my July Island Batik wall hanging! As did Denise from Put Your Foot Down. You can read about it HERE.
Midweek Makers @ QuiltFabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss @ Inquiring Quilter
Happy Needle and Thread @ My Quilt Infatuation
Muv / Free Motion Mavericks @ Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing
Put your Foot Down @ For the Love of Geese
Finished or Not Friday & TGIFF @ Alycia Quilts
Sherry @ Powered by Quilting
Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty
Off the Wall Friday @ Creations – Quilts, Art, Whatever
Peacock Party @ Wendy’s Quilts and More
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
It’s Never to Early is the Island Batik theme for this month! And this is what the instructions said, “No one typically thinks of winter in the summertime but it’s the best time of all to get an early start on Christmas and holiday projects! No matter what special holidays you celebrate around the end of the year, this challenge has something for everyone.”
I’ve always wanted to make a log cabin wreath. Like forever. And THIS is the year to make it. I googled Log Cabin Wreaths and there are a TON of patterns out there. But none that I really liked. SEW … EQ to the rescue.
I drew my own block since I wanted the finished size of the blocks to be 7″ and I wanted the centre red square to be 1″ square.
I gathered various Island Batik green scraps, some from Mystery, some from Napa Valley, the red is Wavy Dots Cherry BE. The light background is Coconut.
It definitely needed a bow … so many to choose from! I found one I liked. It’s not perfectly even on both sides and that fits my style completely! Besides, when a bow hangs on a wreath, it’s never symmetrical. Well, at least mine aren’t!
I decided to trapunto the bow and here is a picture of the extra backing being cut away. Again, I used Wavy Dots Cherry BE for the bow. Although, you can’t tell in the picture below!
And, even though I absolutely HATE applique, that’s how it was sewn down. (I’ve been known to call it “CR-AP-plique!) An obvious sign that I need to practice it more! (right?)
I decided to try a double batting to see if I could get the bow to pop out even more. So 2 layers of Hobbs 80/20 were used. And, the white stars popped out, but the green ones did not.
In the centre and the 4 corner blocks, I used a Silly Moon “Twinkle” ruler for the stars. Then did a fairly small stipple so that the stars would pop. I used Aurifil #2600 – Dove to do this part. I quilted the stars in the green portions of the blocks with the same thread. Then I stippled with # 2890 – Very Dark Grass Green.
Since it is July, this little wall hanging decided to lounge in the pool and hang out by the flowers …
This Fusible Batting Strip package from Hobbs batting inspired me to make a Christmas basket!!!
Fabrics for the basket were some of the same fabrics I used for the log cabins above, some strips from stash builder bundles and a red large dot fabric that I bought at a booth selling Island Batik fabrics . (Obviously a few years ago since there have not been “in person” quilt shows for quite a while.)
I started by joining 2 1/2″ strips of fabric together (the same way you would join binding. Then I pressed them in half. Opened it up, placed the batting strips on the wrong side of the fabric, folded the fabric and batting towards the middle and then in half … pressed it together.
I tapered the end and sewed a 1/4″ seam along the edge of the strip. Then I placed about a 7″ piece together, scrunching the ends and started sewing. I used the Schmetz Microtex Chrome 70/10 needle and it sewed through all the layers like a dream!
Once I had about 3″ of a flat surface, I started to curve up the sides.
And here is the finished basket!
Disclosure: The fabrics, thread, batting and needles were generously supplied by the following companies:
Make sure that you visit the other Island Batik ambassadors for your holiday inspiration this month!!
Megan Best ~ Best Quilter
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Elizabeth DeCroos ~ Epida Studio
Jennifer Eubank ~ Archipelago Quilting
Jennifer Fulton ~ The Inquiring Quilter
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania For Quilts
Jane Hauprich ~ Stitch By Stitch Custom Quilting
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke, Fiber Artist
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads
Brianna Roberts ~ Sew Cute and Quirky
Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Andi Stanfield ~ True Blue Quilts
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt
Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore
Take 4 strips of background 2 ½” WOF and 4 strips of Contrast #2. Sew strips lengthwise.
Cut these strips into 2 ½” pieces. Pieces will be 2 ½” x 4 ½” You will need 68 pieces.
Label these pieces “Step 1”.
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.
** WOF is Width of Fabric
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
Oh WOW! It seems like this month has flown by! And how can that be? We’ve had a travel restriction for most of the month. We haven’t gone anywhere. We haven’t been visiting friends … but the time has gone by ….
This month’s challenge for the Table Scraps is the colour purple. And I made this coaster (similar to others I made) … eventually, I will have a very pretty collection! The embroidery pattern is a free pattern from Kreative Kiwi.
And … since I did Drop Everything And Make It … it also qualifies for this month’s DREAMi!
Yes, the coaster is made with Island Batik fabric and Hobbs 80/20 batting.
Ugg … somethings take a lot of time! I was hoping to have this finished by today … but I have to do some unsewing! Do you see what the problem is? Thankfully, I hadn’t quilted those last 2 blocks on the right!
Susan, from Quilt Fabrication featured this quilt: (you can read about it HERE).
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I have almost finished my July Island Batik challenge and here is a close-up of the progress. I’m using Aurifil #2600 (Dove) quilted on Island Batik Coconut and using Silly Moon’s “Twinkle” ruler. There are 2 layers of Hobbs 80/20 to make those stars pop!
#1 Town Table Topper: This panel will be a table runner … and yes, it is that curved! One of the main reasons that I highly dislike panels … they are NOT straight! And fudging is the main focus of putting them together! It is a UFO that is headed to the Finish line!
#1 Island Batik July’s project: in progress
#2 Amish panels: put into one quilt top, sandwiched and ready to quilt. (I decided that this is it … no more borders …)
No shopping, no buying … nothing finished … well, I did finish this panel, but I didn’t buy the fabric and I didn’t use any of my stash … so it doesn’t count.
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 “To Do” every week. You can check out her blog HERE.
Tish, the Madd Quilter from Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland featured this quilt … Thank you, Tish for the feature!
Quilting Gail 