Have you ever made a mystery quilt? What was your experience? Did you like it? Love it? Was it challenging? I'd love to hear your experience!
Happy Monday to you!
Monday, March 18, 2013
mystery quilt Monday
I've never done a mystery quilt before, but I always thought it would be fun...and completely challenging. I'm a bit of a control freak. Heh.
There is a library in a neighboring town that runs a mystery quilt program a few times a year. Each week a new clue for the quilt is given, then several weeks later they host a night of show and tell. A friend picked up the clues and kindly sealed them up in a series of envelopes so I couldn't peek. :) The reveal meeting is next Tuesday night. Today I'm jumping in with both feet. I've got my fabric pulled, so it's time to start cutting. I'm excited!
Have you ever made a mystery quilt? What was your experience? Did you like it? Love it? Was it challenging? I'd love to hear your experience!
Happy Monday to you!
Have you ever made a mystery quilt? What was your experience? Did you like it? Love it? Was it challenging? I'd love to hear your experience!
Happy Monday to you!
I've never done one!!On the bucket list though....lol
ReplyDeleteI've never done one!!On the bucket list though....lol
ReplyDeleteI've never done one either. I've always felt that I need to know where the fabrics are going in order to choose them. I should just jump in and do one. I'd love to try to design one!
ReplyDeleteWe do a mystery quilt every year at quilt retreat. They are a lot of fun. Bonnie Hunter does mystery quilts on her blog several times a year and I have done a couple of those. It is hard to decide on colors when you don't know the ending but lots of fun. The funniest part is we have fourth women at retreat make the same quilt and you would swear half of them used a different pattern. Different colors make them look totally different. Good luck. Can't wait to see it when you are done.
ReplyDeleteI've never made one before either because I can't get past the fact that I don't know what the end will look like before I start. :) I guess I'm a control freak, too.
ReplyDeleteI have done a mystery quilt weekend retreat for several years. Some of them I've liked... and some of them have become different quilts just to use up the pieces. It can be kind of a toss up.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to give the mystery part a pass this year. The cutting directions make it sound like a very crazy quilt! (Is there room in the control freak corner?)
I did one... it came out hideous LOL I am sure your's will be lovely though.
ReplyDeleteI Love mystery quilts! I did so many of them when I first began quilting, and I still like them. It encourages you to think on your own when making choices. Some you don't particularly like, some you love, but all are a great learning experience. When making scrappy quilts, it's a good way to use up fabric, and I just love the whole mystery of not knowing what it will end up looking like!
ReplyDeleteYour fabrics are so bright and happy. They just shout spring!
ReplyDeleteI have done a mystery quilt and it was really a fun experience. The anticipation was half the fun and then seeing how the quilt comes out so different from everyone else's based on fabric choice - just a fun time.
I'm too much of a control freak to try a mystery quilt :)
ReplyDeleteI've done a couple. I think the secret is to accept that you do not have complete control over the process and pick fabrics you love. The mystery quilts I've done that I don't like all used fabrics I didn't really care about. I was too chicken to use my "good fabrics" for a project with an unknown ending. As a result, I didn't like the finished quilt. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMystery quilts scare me. I want to know how it's going to look when it's done! I LOVE those colors though. I guess if the fabric is good enough you just cant go wrong!
ReplyDeleteI have also never done a mystery quilt, but with the fabric selection you have chosen, I am certain you will be able to make your mystery quilt a beauty!
ReplyDeleteI have done one before and they are a blast. It is fun to see what will happen next and how you will peace it together I currently am doing 2 mystery quilts right now. My first one was beautiful. It can be frustrating because you are not sure if the colors you picked are going to work. Good luck I cannot wait to see the final product.
ReplyDeleteI have done one before and they are a blast. It is fun to see what will happen next and how you will peace it together I currently am doing 2 mystery quilts right now. My first one was beautiful. It can be frustrating because you are not sure if the colors you picked are going to work. Good luck I cannot wait to see the final product.
ReplyDeleteYour fabrics are so happy, I'm sure your quilt will be lovely.
ReplyDeleteI've made a few mystery quilts. There was only one that was a bad experience at a retreat weekend. The supply list included a light blue, darker blue, green, white and yellow. Sounds nice, right? The quilt worked up into a sailboat scene. There were some horrible pieces made that day, including mine! We ended up with sky fabric for water, or water in the sky. My green boat was made of grass! It's still in a pile of UFOs, at least 10 years later. I know I should just throw it away, but I can't. It makes me laugh every time I see it.
Yes I did once and did not like it. Color choices were recommended - so I followed those. As we got further into the project and I could determine where the design was headed I realized my colors were not right. In fact it was awful so I bought more fabric and changed several blocks. I spent way too much on fabric trying to make it work. I ended up with a smaller version of the quilt and called it a day. Still using all the original fabric in other projects.
ReplyDeleteI have never done one myself, but the fabric you have picked out is great.
ReplyDeleteI did one, and it was fun, but, the fabric choices would have been different had I known where I was headed... There ended up not being enough contrast in the light and medium values I chose. Here is a link if you want to see it.
ReplyDeletehttp://elmo-lifescraps.blogspot.com/2010/02/flannel-beauty.html
I did Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Quilt 2012, which is a mystery quilt. Like you, I like to know what is happening, but I surrendered to the process (though I did choose my own fabrics), and for me it was quite liberating. The best part is sharing your progress, so your meetings sound fun.
ReplyDeleteIt was my first, but hoping there will be another in Nov 2013.
Have fun with it!
I'm probably the only one who has never even heard of a mystery quilt! Sounds interesting! Love your fabric selections & I can't wait to see how it turns out!!
ReplyDeleteI've done 2. One turned out to be a huge hot mess! The pattern turned out great but the colors I chose, blech!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried one, and am not sure I ever could! Sounds stressful, lol. Your fabrics look gorgeous and I bet your mystery quilt turns out to be a stunner :D
ReplyDeleteHATED it the way most kids hate green vegetables! I felt like I wasted my fabric!
ReplyDeleteI've never done a mystery quilt along, but I've done mystery knit alongs and I love them!
ReplyDeleteAlso for the time that I am investing (don't have a lot of it with a job & family) I want to like what I am doing! There are many ways to piece a half square triangle - From what I gather, Bonnie Hunter (as one example) uses a special triangle to piece them... Not that big a deal, but if I don't like that method or the resulting quilt - then I have a new tool that I don't like either.
ReplyDelete(Some other mystery can have you draw on the back of a square to make the HST's - I'm not a fan of that method either... See what I mean.)
Sounds like fun and a great way to get out of a comfort zone!
ReplyDeleteI did a Mystery Quilt Along that Sheila Bluepatch Quilter did a couple of years ago. It was fun and challenging. I had to learn to do paper foundation piecing.
ReplyDeleteI think I would do it with a friend. I have been intrigued but never been brave enough to do it.
ReplyDeleteI see mystery quilts but my problem is that often I do not like the pattern at the end. So am too much of a control person to put all that effort in without knowing what the result will be!!
ReplyDeleteI love mystery quilts. And I love your fabrics. They remind me of Sherbet. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI have done mystery quilts and enjoy them. Since I don't get overly 'attached' to my quilts (virtually 98% of them are for donation) I can do a mystery and enjoy the process. If I'm not overly thrilled with the pattern in the end it's no big deal. For me it's the cutting, sewing, ironing, ripping, sewing, and just PLAYING with fabric that gives me enjoyment. I hope you enjoy your foray into the world of mystery quilts.
ReplyDeleteI've done quite a few mystery quilts. I've been quite happy with them. The hardest part is the fabric pull because I can't visualize the final outcome.
ReplyDeleteI did one when I went to retreat last year. It was fun to see how different and beautiful they all looked. BUT....during one phone call I told my husband, "I may wring that little, blonde Texas cheerleader's neck if she keeps taunting me with the next clue." I would have been better off waiting until the end so that I could sew it all at once.
ReplyDeleteAll of that said, I am actually hostessing one on my blog and FB right now for friends and family. Next week is the last week. I better sew soon!!
I'm not a total control freak but I want to make informed crafting choices so not sure I'd enjoy the mystery ;)
ReplyDeleteI've done several and really enjoyed them. I really like the ones that show you different colorways and possibilities so you can make good choices for yourself. I've done some Bonnie Hunter's and some others. Enjoy! It is so much fun to lose that control!
ReplyDeleteI have both participated in a mystery quilt workshop with my guild and designed mystery quilts for my guild.
ReplyDeleteA good mystery quilt pattern will give you specific instructions as to the VALUE of the fabrics and where those values fit into the quilt.
For example Main Fabric A - Inspriation Print. Fabric B -Dark. Fabric C - Medium. Fabric D -Light.
Then there should be some hints as to which kind of fabric will work best. ie: This pattern is not suited to large prints. Pick a colour from your inspiration fabric and choose a dark and medium value of that colour.
This information will help the person participating in the exciting process of creating a mystery quilt choose fabrics that will result in a successful quilt. It isn't fun if the end result is something you hate.
The lap sized Mystery I designed for our guild was made by about 34 people but all of the quilts looked different because of the different fabrics.
IF you pay attention to the instructions for fabric selection you should end up with a quilt that works.
The most important ingredient in a mystery quilt is a quilter who is preppared to take a leap and have fun with the process. Enjoy!!
I recently did my very first mystery quilt at Christmas time with Bonnie Hunter. I found it a bit addicting! I couldn't wait for the next clue, and it made me want to finish the previous clue so I could get on to the next. It was a wonderful experience for me, I loved the end result, and I can't wait to do another one now.
ReplyDeleteI have done one, it was so fun! Can't wait to see yours!
ReplyDeleteI have never done one. Our guild does one every year but I am a total chicken! (Could be misconstrued as a OCD!) I did however download Bonny Hunters Easy Street but of course it is no longer a Mystery! Looking at enough of them finished is my way of working up to actually doing one! Good Luck with yours, your colours are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI've done a few in the past through my local quilt shop. Right now I'm doing one with Connecting Threads. They are a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteLove the colors you've picked :)
Blessings & Hugs ..
Lani
www.SimplyFreshVintage.com
I love mysteryquilts, in fact I´m working on one right now ☺
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! If I didn't have so may WIP's and a long list of what I would like to sew next I'd be tempted to ask for the instructions!
ReplyDeleteI did Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Mystery the end of last year/beginning of this year. I absolutely loved the process and the finished quilt. I got a little bit behind around Christmas time, so mine isn't finished yet, but all the pictures of everyone else's tells me that it will be amazing. Some people participated in a flickr group, so you can see pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/easystreet_mystery_2012/
ReplyDelete-Bobbi
I've not make a mystery quilt and I'm sure it's out of fear but after reading some posts here, I think I would like it only if I pick the fabrics that I LOVE!
ReplyDeleteHave to put on my list if quilts to make! Love your fabric choices, can't wait to see yours finished!
Tee
I took a mystery quilt class at a LQS and really liked it but then felt like I just HAD to make it again with fabrics that I chose because of the end design. I'm kind of a control freak.
ReplyDeleteI've done Bonnie Hunter's the past two years - last year was totally stash fabric - this year I did purchase. THey were lots of fun - and I talked my friend into doing them with me. Have a blast. But it is hard going into the unknown of will you like it in the end - but if you dont'- there's many things you can do with it - donate it, sell it, give it away....so still is a useful but fun project!
ReplyDeleteI've done two at quilt camps. It's scary at first not to
ReplyDelete"be in control", but once you see how it turns out,
it's liberating to know you don't always have to be.
It's fun- everyone should try it at least once!
i've never thought of doing one. i'm a bit of a control freak as well. however, your fabric choices just may make me change my mind. can't wait to see where you go with this. best of luck in not knowing what's coming next lol
ReplyDeleteI did one once, reluctantly. It was during a small "quilty" sleepover at my house. It was a lot of work..and I complained quite a bit. But, it is one of the best/prettiest quilts I've ever made. I wouldn't choose to do so many small pieces in advance. I'm glad I stuck it out and finished. =)
ReplyDeletehugZ,
annie
I did Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street mystery last December, too. It was the first time I'd done a mystery quilt. I love my color choices together but not the placement of them in the finished blocks. Had I known the layout beforehand, I would have used the same fabrics but just in different places. I don't think I'll do a mystery again. I hope you enjoy yours!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite quilt shop has a mystery each year.... Every month I get ordered to make blocks or borders, applique or stitchery or patchwork. Sometimes the assignment is huge, sometimes it is an easy one..... I love it. It is like getting a present, every time a pattern (same day of the month every time) arrives with the post. It is so much fun to finally being able to sew the whole thing together in November of each year. The last two were 2.50 by 2.50 mtr, HUGE! I am working on my fifth mystery now, part five is on my desk. SOOOO. YES! Go for it, you will love it!
ReplyDeleteSounds exciting! Xx
ReplyDeleteI haven't done one yet but I would be interested. I do like the colors/fabrics you picked out so it will be fun to see where this goes.
ReplyDeleteOne of my first quilts was a mystery quilt! They are a LOT of fun! The tricky part is fabric placement, as in colours and values.
ReplyDeleteI led my guild thru a MQ last year. I offered bribes (drawings) for each clue finished on time, providing tools to help them with the process.
ReplyDeleteAt the end two local quilt shops donated gift cards. One winner from all clues and tops completed and one winner got 2 chances each for a completely done quilt.
If you would like to see my post on this and some of the quilts....http://kwiltypleasures.blogspot.com/2012/11/sunday-snippet-mystery-of-wonky.html
One of my very good friends does mystery quilts 4 times a year on her forum thequiltandneedle.com. I am one of her testers. I LOVE doing mystery quilts, They are so much! Then again, I read mystery books too, I love trying to figure things out :) Have a great time!
ReplyDeleteI did Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay mystery quilt 2 years ago and LOVED it. I did not do her Easy Street mystery quilt this last fall because I have not finished Orca Bay just yet :D. I am doing a mystery quilt as part of Quilt Maker's Block Party sewing conference in Portland, OR (starting the day after tomorrow - woo!) and I'm really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI have never done a mystery quilt. I haven't even made any of the blocks from this year's Sugar Block of the Month deal. I'm waiting to see how many aren't paper pieced and then I will go from there. Having all of your clues at once would make it more bearable (for a control freak). Getting one block a month is a long time to wait!
ReplyDeleteI've never done a mystery quilt. I'm a control freak like you and a planner. I just don't think I could handle all the uncertainty of a mystery quilt! But good luck to you. Can't wait to see it! With those fabrics you picked it's definitely going to look great!
ReplyDeleteI have given up on mysteries. I've had some fun with them, but too many ended up with fabric choices I didn't like. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI've completed a mystery quilt for the past 5 years with a LQS - they work on it over the summer and then have a "show and tell" in October, where they give you a fat 1/8th bundle and a 20% off coupon. It's been a very fun experience, some of the patterns were more difficult than others, but I've found it fun every year.
ReplyDeleteI have done 2 mystery quilts...sort of...the first was not called a mystery quilt but each block was done by a different designer. The blocks nor the finished quilt were revealed as they came. I didn't really like not knowing how the quilt would look but I persevered and liked it in the end. Not too long ago I did a Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt. I not sure I will do another as I find myself anxious when I don't know what the finished quilt will look like. A lot of time and expense goes into quilting and I would be disappointed if I didn't like the quilt.
ReplyDeleteI have done 2 mystery quilts with my guild that are completed & I have the first clues & fabric for my 3rd. I enjoy doing them, and try to stretch myself with fabric choices. I always choose colors/fabrics that I don't typically work with, but something I still like.
ReplyDeleteI'm working on my very first mystery quilt right now. It is hard to let go of control and I'm not sure how often I'll do this, but I'll confess I LOVE this design so far and it's forced me to do a few things that I've never done before (applique). I can' wait to see what comes next. (it's from quiltsbydarlene, by the way)...
ReplyDeleteI've done a couple of them. The last one Easy Street by Bonnie Hunter. I think it's difficult to choose the colours when you don't know what it will look like in the end.
ReplyDeleteAmanda,
ReplyDeleteI've made 15! A local quilt shop used to hold mystery quilt weekends in the mountains. The first year we went we were blown away by the competitive nature of the group. Women didn't sleep, spied on each other, and skipped meals to get ahead. That first quilt had 3,200 pieces! My mom and I did go back 14 more times and made wonderful friends. The owners retired. I loved all but 2 of the quilts. Can't wait to see yours.
Deborah
Love your colors!
ReplyDeleteLove your colors!
ReplyDeleteI am currently participating in my first mystery quilt. I am excited about the outcome.
ReplyDeleteWith the fabrics you have chosen - any quilt is going to be a beauty! I like to know what I'm getting into, so no mystery quilts for me yet.
ReplyDelete