And the Mystery Begins ... Now!

Churn Dash by Maggie Shaw - 1912 is the year she moved to Malaga, Washington

 

 

To complete this mystery quilt you will make a variety of blocks that were popular in the 1930s.
You will need:

2 - 12 inch blocks 

7 - 9 inch blocks

17 - 6 inch blocks

5 - 3 inch blocks

Finished quilt size is 36 x 42 inches, add borders to make a larger size.

There are no Quilt Police in sight.  If you don't like one of the mystery blocks, don't make it.  Substitute a repeat block or add your own choice.

The blocks are all pieced and I have avoided tiny pieces and difficult joins.

There will be half square triangles and flying geese blocks.  There are many, many ways to piece these, make them in any way you like.  If you are not familiar with these basic building blocks, just use google to find a how-to page. 

half square triangle

two flying geese

I am allergic to cutting pieces to 6 and 7/8 inches or 3 and 1/8 inches.  I always round up and then trim afterwards - much less room for mistakes.   I write 2.5 instead of 2 1/2; " means inch for my young metric friends. 

Are you ready? Let's begin!

Week One

The first block is the old time favourite Churn Dash with two friends.  These blocks are all 6 inch blocks - trim to 6.5 inches, finished at 6 inches. You are making three blocks this week; one Churn Dash, one Greek Cross and one Grecian Design.

Churn Dash

 

 A - 2 light and 2 dark squares 3" x 3". Cut diagonally to make 4 light and 4 dark triangles.  Make half square triangles and trim to 2.5" x 2.5".

B - 4 light and 4 dark rectangles 2.5" x 1.5".

C - 1 light square 2.5" x 2.5".

Block measures 6.5 inches.

The next two blocks use the same layout as Churn Dash but with the light/dark or plain/print in different places. Use the directions above to cut the block pieces.

Greek Cross

Greek Cross is found in Ruby McKim's 101 Patchwork Patterns.  "This Greek Cross is one of the many variations of nine-patch, that old-time favorite upon which so many little girls have learned the gentle art of stitching.  However, Greek Cross is quite an elaborate version, and made up in the analagous color harmony suggested above, three kindred colors in about the same light and dark value, it is a beautifully unusual quilt."

analogous - Analogous colors are groups of three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel - Wikipeida

Grecian Design

Grecian Design from Carrie Hall "Romance of the Patchwork Quilt", no commentary by the author.

Any questions? You can write them in the comment section below.  If you are sewing along you can put photos of your finished blocks on the Facebook page.