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Member since 7/27/05
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Posted on: 11/19/10 5:32 PM ET
I really like mystery quilts but haven't done one since last Christmas. Right now, I know of several:

Bonnie Hunter on Quiltville is running one called Roll roll cotton ball. Her quilts are big with lots of little pieces.

Through my yahoo groups:

apocketfullofmysteries has one that starts the day of/day after Thanksgiving with the sewing day being Christmas or so. Dorothy, the designer, makes nice quilts with larger pieces so you usually can get it all sewn in one day if your pieces are cut out ahead of time. This'll be a 2 color scrappy quilt.

mystery_quilts has one being contemplated but no date is set yet; it'll be a 2 color scrappy quilt

QTMysteryQuilts has a New Year's Eve sewing day for its mystery. This'll be either a scrappy or a 3-4 color quilt. The first cutting step is going up Dec 1.

I'll definitely do pocketfullofmysteries one because I do it almost every year. I'm contemplating doing another but haven't decided yet.

JEF
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." --Abraham Lincoln
  
Member since 4/4/08
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Posted on: 11/20/10 4:12 AM ET
For entertainment I did the last two Bonnie mysteries and they were great fun, lots of sewing. The quilts are large but my goodness its a good way to weed out fabric from the stash and sew it up- fast!
Not doing it this year, have other gifts to sew and some other sewing that has to take priority at the moment. But I do recommend them, you don't end up with an ugly quilt, Bonnie's designs are always nice.
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Keep calm and sew all the pretty fabrics!
  
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Posted on: 11/20/10 10:14 AM ET
In reply to iSewQuiltArt
I'm still working on Bonnie's Double Delight from 2 years ago!!! Heck, it's my hobby, I can take my time. I skipped her mystery last year but thought that quilt was gorgeous. I was thinking about jumping in for this one. Not positive yet.

JEF
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." --Abraham Lincoln
  
Member since 8/14/05
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Posted on: 11/20/10 10:33 AM ET
In reply to JEF
What is a mystery quilt?Elucidate!
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama
https://eyeletsintheseams.blogspot.com

Pfaff 1222E, Elna eXcellence 720, Brother Innovis PS500, Brother SE400, Brother 1034D, Sunbeam irons ;)
  
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Posted on: 11/20/10 11:49 AM ET
In reply to Mufffet
Well... a mystery quilt is one that you do step by step and you don't know what the final quilt will look like until you're done!

Normally, it starts with the fabric requirements. It will be along the lines of: 2 yards dark, 2 yards bright that contrasts with the dark, 3 yards of neutral color.

Then, you'll get your cutting clues: Cut dark into 10 2" by 40" strips, cut neutral into the same but also cut 12 6x6 inch blocks etc

Then, sewing: Sew a dark strip to a neutral strip then subcut into 6 inch by 3.5 inch rectangles.

Sometimes you'll have more than one cutting step, you'll usually have at least 4-5 sewing steps - sometimes 12 or more. So, it's all broken down into sections that you can get done in X hours. For Dorothy's quilts each step can usually be done in less than 2 hours (sometimes as little as 15 minutes). For Bonnie's, her stuff is more detailed so each step takes longer.

Some mystery quilts run for a few weeks of sewing (clues are posted days/weeks apart); some are for 1 day of sewing (clues are posted hours apart).

I like mystery quilts because they're not boring. I like sewing quilts but will completely admit that after I've gone through 1/2 of it or so, I'm bored with the same shapes, same colors, that I've been sewing. With the mystery quilt, each step is broken up in a way that there is less slogging through boring parts (IMHO). It also can put a very detailed quilt that you'd never want to start within reach (I'm thinking of Bonnie's here specifically).

There's also, for me, a freedom in not having to pick the pattern and in picking colors without knowledge of the coming pattern. There's just less to worry about or to have your ego tied up in. If your quilt comes out not-so-great, just blame it on being a mystery!

You can look at the designer's previous quilts to see if they are generally in a style you like. I really like Dorothy's. Like I said, I've done most of hers and I'd rate them 70% excellent, 20% good, and only 10% misses. Again, that's just all about my taste. The odds are good enough for me to keep doing hers.

Finally, there is quite a bit of camaraderie on the mystery quilt boards as people are sewing (again, thinking mostly about Dorothy's here). It's a fun way to connect with like-minded individuals over the quiet holidays.

So, have I sold you on doing a mystery quilt yet?

JEF
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"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." --Abraham Lincoln
  
Member since 4/15/07
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Posted on: 11/20/10 9:53 PM ET
Funny you should ask about mystery quilts because I immediately thought of Bonnie Hunter. I started the Carolina Christmas last year but never finnished - the final quilt was posted before I was even half way and when I saw the final quilt I drop it right there.

The danger of mystery quilts is you may not like the actual quilt when it's done. I did to Double Delight and loved that quilt because of the indigo color and general color scheme. The Carolina Christmas was too busy. I have some blocks and other have done that I will piece into something else.
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Member since 7/19/03
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Posted on: 11/20/10 10:22 PM ET
In reply to JEF
Quote: JEF
Well... a mystery quilt is one that you do step by step and you don't know what the final quilt will look like until you're done!



...I like mystery quilts because they're not boring. I like sewing quilts but will completely admit that after I've gone through 1/2 of it or so, I'm bored with the same shapes, same colors, that I've been sewing. With the mystery quilt, each step is broken up in a way that there is less slogging through boring parts (IMHO). It also can put a very detailed quilt that you'd never want to start within reach (I'm thinking of Bonnie's here specifically).



...There's just less to worry about or to have your ego tied up in. If your quilt comes out not-so-great, just blame it on being a mystery!

You've pretty well summed up what I like about Mystery Quilts.

Thanks for the reminder!


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blog: goodworks1.wordpress.com
  
Member since 8/14/05
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Posted on: 11/20/10 11:12 PM ET
In reply to JEF
Thanks JEF! Good to know. Sounds like there are regular known sources for these. Be good to see what you make if you do this again!
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"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama
https://eyeletsintheseams.blogspot.com

Pfaff 1222E, Elna eXcellence 720, Brother Innovis PS500, Brother SE400, Brother 1034D, Sunbeam irons ;)
  
Member since 10/1/06
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Posted on: 11/21/10 6:00 AM ET
sounds fun. I hope you post photos of the finished quilt
  
Member since 7/19/03
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Posted on: 11/21/10 3:32 PM ET
In reply to Warbler
Quote: Warbler
Funny you should ask about mystery quilts because I immediately thought of Bonnie Hunter. I started the Carolina Christmas last year but never finnished - the final quilt was posted before I was even half way and when I saw the final quilt I drop it right there.



Isn't that interesting!!

I took a look at the Carolina Christmas final quilt and wished I would have done that one rather than the one that's coming up.... lol


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blog: goodworks1.wordpress.com
  
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