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Here is the introduction to the FREE Mystery Quilt Patterns for Block-of-the-Month.
First, this is a collection of blocks for free mystery quilt patterns which are originally revealed monthly for my quilt guild. Anyone can start and finish this quilt any time!
When I agreed to head up the Block-of-the-Month program for my local guild, I decided to make the quilt a collection of free mystery quilt patterns. I have to say, while the first reveal is yet to come, I’ve had a lot of fun already!
After an exhausting online search a set of patterns, I decided to create one myself. Since my guild is called River Heritage Quilters’ Guild, I thought a quilt depicting river life would be appropriate.
Here is an over-view of what to expect.
While this quilt will have special meaning for those who live near river life, and especially for those near the mighty Mississippi in southeast Missouri, it can be appreciated by most as a beautiful sampler of blocks in a lovely setting.
River Heritage free mystery quilt patterns will feature nine traditionally-pieced blocks in a lovely setting which will finish at 66 x 66 inches.
- Most of the quilt blocks have a common river-life theme and a couple of them have regional and local references.
- This will be a nice quilt for gifting to a loved one (you’ll see why when we get to that block) or to have as a keepsake, especially if you are a member of River Heritage Quilters’ Guild. While members of the RHQG will recognize that the names of the blocks have a connection to our guild and the general region of our country, the quilt itself is very appropriate for anyone around the world and would be considered a sampler quilt in a beautiful setting.
- I suggest hitting your stash for your light, medium, and dark fabrics in three colors. You’ll also need some light neutrals (ranging from white to light beige and gray). The blocks themselves can be scrappy, so you can add to your collection as the mystery and the year unfolds!
- The setting for this quilt will be striking and yet easy to put together. Instructions and specific fabric requirements for the setting and borders will follow the last block instructions. In general (in case you want to plan ahead), one yard for the dark border and 1 ½ yds. for the three light, medium, and dark setting pieces and binding will be sufficient. (Your nine mystery blocks will be in the light gray squares.) This picture is very similar but not exactly how your setting will look (it is a MYSTERY, after all!).
Block instructions are published individually for nine months. There is a final reveal post, as well (River Heritage Mystery Quilt Reveal).
Note: Seams are ¼ inch unless otherwise noted. When piecing rows, alternate pressing direction. (For example, I press row one to the right, row two to the left, etc. for easy nesting of seams.)
Fabric selections, blocks, and quilts are shared using the hashtags, #mysteryquilt and #riverheritage on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.
Therefore, this is a spoiler alert for those who wish this to remain “free mystery quilt patterns”!
Check out some Fabulous Quilting Tools here!
Introduction; Printer Friendly Version
River Heritage Month One
Enjoy your quilting journey!
Very Excited!
Are mainly thinking tone on tone fabrics?
Hoping this is where I sign up for your Mystery Quilt. I live in Northern British Columbia Canada and our river is the great Nechako.
Please add me to your mystery quilt challenge Thank you!
I’m interested in joining this mystery quilt. Is there a list of total yardage of fabrics needed?
No, there’s not a complete list of yardage because the nine blocks are scrappy. However, I do give you the setting approximate yardages in the introduction. Glad you can join!
Hey Debra, so glad you are interest in the block of the month mystery. I may be mistaken, but I couldn’t find your email address showing as following the blog. You should be able to do that at the bottom of each post and that will get the posts sent to you automatically. If you are having trouble with that, let me know! Thanks, Karla
Hey Billie, I so happy you want to join in this mystery! I didn’t see your email on my “following” list. You should be able to “subscribe” at the bottom of the posts. If you are having trouble, let me know! Thanks, Karla
Hey Susan, I’m sorry I didn’t answer sooner – I thought I had, but it doesn’t show that now. I don’t give total yardages because the blocks are meant to be scrappy – so you could actually use only a 2 1/2 inch square of one fabric in the entire quilt. I do give general amounts which will cover the setting pieces in the Introduction blog post. I will give exact amounts with the setting instructions. As far as the blocks go, grab from your stash and add to it if you find you are repeating fabrics. There are nine 12 1/2 inch (unfinished) blocks in all.
Hmmmm, not necessarily. For my blocks I am combining a variety of fabrics including batiks, prints, tone-on-tone, grunge dots, and more, paying attention to their value. The nine blocks (eight in a circle and one in the center) will be scrappy with lots of different fabrics in them of the three-color scheme I chose. My setting pieces (light, medium, and dark) are not scrappy and will tie them all together. ie. my coral fabric in the setting is all the same. Hope this helps! K
Thanks for jumping right in, Barb! That was fun to see the first block at our guild meeting!
Thank you!
We are down here at the beach anxiously awaiting 9 AM!!!!!
What were you guys doing up so early while on vacation? lol