Mystery Quilt Step #2

I'm excited to share part 2 with you! I've been MIA over the past week or so, down with this nasty flu bug. And last night when I was putting the finishing touches on the instructions, it occurred to me that with the way I'm feeling, it's hard to tell what I'm typing lol. So hopefully it all makes sense, but if there's something you question, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Darlene’s Mystery Quilt 201

Step #2

From your stash of fabrics, 

• cut a total of 15 - 5 1/2” squares from the dark and medium fabrics
• cut a total of 15 - 5 1/2” squares from the light background fabrics

For borders, like last time, you may want to wait and cut these when you get a measurement of the quilt. 

• cut 2 - 1 1/2” x 36 1/2” strips and 2 - 1 1/2” x 34 1/2” strips of a dark fabric

Using a pencil, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each of the 30 light squares.

With right sides together, position a light square onto a dark square being careful to match up all four edges. Stitch (using the drawn line as a guide) 1/4” on either side of the line. You can chain stitch these to speed up the process.

Now using your rotary cutter or scissors, whichever works best for you, cut directly on the drawn line. Now you have two half square triangle units. Press the seam allowances towards the darker fabric. 

On the wrong side of these units you need to draw another diagonal line, in the opposite direction that you’ve sewn the seam.

At this point, you want to work with random units, don’t try to match things up, just keep the scrappy look flowing by going with whatever. 

Position two of the half squares units with right sides together, but with dark and light sides reversed. If your seam allowances are pressed well, they should fit together nice and snug. 

Again, stitch 1/4” on either side of the drawn line. Cut directly on the line. Press. 

At this point, you’ll need to square up the units to measure 4 1/2”, this is very important. All four sides may need a bit taken off to get a good even block.

Now you can start stitching them together, again, don’t be too choosy about what colours go where, you want it to look scrappy. You’ll end up with 30 - 4 1/2” unfinished hourglass blocks. You’ll need 2 strips of 7 blocks and 2 strips of 8 blocks. 

Pin the strips of 7 blocks to either side of your quilt, and stitch in place. Press the seam allowance toward the new border. Pin the 2 strips of 8 blocks to the top and bottom of the quilt. Press. Your quilt at this point should measure 32 1/2” x 36 1/2”

Pin the 36 1/2” borders to either side of your quilt and stitch in place. Press towards the border itself. Continue with the 34 1/2” borders and stitch one onto the top and one onto the bottom of the quilt.