Remember last week when I mentioned I had never done a mystery quilt along? It was in the post about the April blogger bundle curated by Cheryl Brickey. I said that mystery quilts made me nervous since I didn’t get to see the overall pattern for the quilt. Well I am making progress! I am involved in the new Fire Burst Mystery Quiltalong hosted by Tish Stemple.
However I should explain. Tish took the mystery out of it for me when she asked me to curate two different kits of fabric for the event. She had a few readers mentioning to her how picking the fabrics was a challenge for them, not knowing what the quilt was to look like. She thought offering a few kits might appease the nerves of some of the participants. This sounded like a lot of fun for me so I got to work.
With lots of emailing back and forth between Tish and I (or is it me??) there are now two different kits available in the shop for the event! I really like them both. I created each one to be quite different from the other so the color choices would appeal to a wide variety of taste.
The first one! This kit appeals to me with the jewel tones standing out most. The dark blue and fuschia fabrics are from the 76 line by Alison Glass. Along with those, are two fabrics from Amy Gibon’s Meriwether line made by Windham Fabrics. 
I set up the kit so that the background fabric is the creamy off-white print with the little stars. The floral is also from that line and it looks great with the Alison Glass fabrics. So this kit is as follows:
Background Fabric: Twinkle Farmhouse by Amy Gibson (the creamy off-white stars)
Fabric 1: Stitched in Violet by Alison Glass (the dark fuchsia)
Fabric 2: Frolic in Farmhouse by Amy Gibson (the lovely floral on creamy off-white)
Fabric 3: Numbered in Peacock by Alison Glass (the dark blue)
Kit number two is quite different. For this one, I selected a subtle print for the background. Called Dancing Daisies, it is from the Camping collection by Art Gallery Fabric. I really like the pale green, soft little daisies and the pop of orange in the center of each flower.
Because I used a print as the background, I stayed with solids for the other three fabrics. Drawing from the colors of the print, I chose three pieces from Art Gallery’s Pure Elements solid fabrics. I love both shades of orange and how the daisy centers are enhanced by them. I think this is a really pleasing but bold combination.
Here are the details for Kit 2:
Background Fabric: Dancing Daisies, made by Art Gallery Fabrics.
Fabric 1: Tiger Lily (the dark orange)
Fabric 2: Mandarin (the light orange)
Fabric 3: Emerald (the dark green
I have to say, this was such a fun project. I am trying to decide which kit I will use when I sew along with this, my first, mystery QAL! I know, it is like I cheated because I got to see the pattern. But baby steps, right? Baby steps. 🙂
I hope you will go check out Tish’s post today. Whether you are participating or not in the Fire Burst Mystery QAL, her post is full of great ideas about color selection. I really like how she explained it and found it quite helpful.
What do you think of these two choices? Which is your favorite? I would love to know because it is helpful to me for these kinds of projects as they come up in the future. Also, are you participating in the QAL? Hope so, it is going to be a lot of fun. The schedule is very relaxed and the quilt pattern is doable for quilters of all skill levels.
If you have ay questions about the kits, leave a comment and I will get back to you. Both are available in the shop in two sizes, baby quilt (32″ square) and lap quilt (64″ square).
Both these bundles are super!!! Even tho I adore orange, my last mystery quilt was in solids, so if I were to pick one, I would go with the first bundle, of prints! I don’t foresee the space to participate, but am gonna check out her post anyway…ya never know!!! 🙂
Thank you. You are always welcome to enjoy a QAL vicariously via pics on Instagram. I know that is how I usually “participate”!!
I am really drawn to the second bundle! 🙂
I love that one too. It is really bold.
#1 set is my choice, but I am hoping to find some in my stash, or… buy some when I visit a fabric shop on Saturday. Yes, I am in the QAL, this will be fun to see who will join in from down here in NZ.
Jean, glad to hear you are joining in. Can’t wait to see the fabrics you choose!
My eyes keep roaming to the second bundle, but oh my gosh you did a great job picking fabrics, and I love both kits!
Thanks Linda. It was actually a lot of fun (and you know my confidence level, or lack thereof, with pulling stash coordinates). But because this only requires four fabrics, I enjoyed it. Kinda hard to stop at two kits. 😉
I think both of these will look great. I hope to see finished quilts with these fabrics.
Anja, thanks so much. Looks like there will be at least a few people sewing with the kits. I am pleased about that!!
I like both selections, but I am surprised to find that if I bought one, it would be #2! I’m not an orange person, but that combination is very appealing for fall, and I’m thinking I might have to get one for an entirely different project that starts May 14 – Fall Into a QAL by Partners in Design. I know I would like this one, but my time is so limited with school, and I already am committed to the other one.
Thank you Susan!! I get it – there are only so many hours available so you just need to pick and choose the projects you want to do!
Oooh, both of these are so pretty! I really like the first one, with that beautiful busy floral print. What a nice collarboration!
Thanks Mari! I have really enjoyed working with Tish and I am excited for her to host her first QAL. Go Tish!!
Bernie, it has been a BLAST working with you to put these fabric kits together! Thank you for all your help. I hope everyone has fun sewing along. I can’t wait to see what fabrics you decide to use. You have a great eye for fabrics!
Thanks Tish! With each project I get to know someone a little bit more and it is so satisfying!! I appreciate you asking me to make these kits. It is going to be a really fun QAL.
Both bundles are beautiful!!
Those are two beautiful bundles. Sigh.
Two lovely fabric collections Bernie. I love the first one but for me it has to be the lovely solids with that wonderful background fabric, although, the first has the gorgeous blue and fuchsia with the wonderful white starry fabric and the cute print, hard to choose I’d say.
Thanks Kate. I feel the same way. I want to sew along with Tish’s group and haven’t yet decided what fabrics I will use. Both of the kits appeal to me. Take care and hope you are sewing a bit!