I have a quilt top to share with you! It is my first time participating in a mystery quilt project. For those of you who aren’t familiar, a mystery quilt is an event where the quilter who designed the pattern releases bits of information on a regular schedule. The participating quilters follow along, making something but not knowing what the final result will look like. This event is the Fireburst Mystery Quilt designed and hosted by Tish of Tish’s Adventures in Wonderland.
A little bit of background – I haven’t ever participated in one of these because, honestly, the idea of making a quilt when I couldn’t see the pattern freaked me out a bit. I have such a difficult time with spatial relationships, what goes where and in what direction does it point, etc. When I make something, I constantly look at the pattern to double check myself and even then I make mistakes and spend a lot of time with my trusty seam ripper. But this time was different because I cheated a bit. 🙂
Tish was planning her event and, early on, she asked if I would put together some kits to sell in my shop that worked for the pattern. There are quilters who like the idea of a mystery quilt along but feel challenged pulling fabric for it without being able to see the pattern (the host of the QAL will usually explain that the pattern needs so many light, medium and dark value fabrics so people can pull from their stash or shop accordingly.). Anyway, Tish and I worked together to pick fabric in my shop and create kits (which was actually a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing the finished quilts of people who purchased the kits.). To do this, Tish showed me the pattern, thus taking the ‘mystery’ out of it for me! I decided to sew along with the group, sort of pretending I had not seen the pattern and give it a try. For the most part, I didn’t look at the finished pattern – in fact I didn’t look at it until the end when I discovered a mistake. More on that it a minute. 😉
Another reason I wanted to participate was the very slow and relaxed schedule Tish. planned for the event. She gave instructions at the beginning of each month and it was very easy to accomplish what she planned within the month. This has been such a hectic time lately with my son’s wedding, trips to Vermont, summer time etc. I appreciated a project that I could just work on a little bit each month and ‘keep up’. (I have not kept up with any of my RSC2018 projects at all, which is a little disappointing. But what’s a person going to do? Life gets in the way.) At this point, participants are finishing up the quilt tops and then will be quilting and binding them. There is a fun link up in January to celebrate the new year and these pretty Fireburst quilts.
OK – so how was my experience with a mystery quilt along when it wasn’t actually a mystery? It was interesting because I still spent a lot of time with my seam ripper!! I have leftover pieces that I cut and/or stitched incorrectly. Half square triangles that were not used because they were made with the wrong fabrics. Maybe I will make a few blocks with these oddball pieces and put them on the backing. With all of that, I still have a mistake on the quilt top. Take a look and you will easily spot it! By the time I noticed it, the blocks were stitched together and I was no longer on good terms with my seam ripper. This is the way it will stay! My fireworks are going to flare a bit different than everyone else’s!!
It is such a sweet quilt and will be a fun baby quilt to gift or donate. I love the two print fabrics from Priory Square by Katy Jones. The solids are bold and make a great fireburst coming off the center! Isn’t the center block pretty? It would be a fun block on its own.
The project was fun and should have been quite easy. Actually it was easy. Even with my errors, it came together nicely. If you like the pattern, I encourage you to make one. All of the steps are listed with clear directions on Tish’s site. There is time enough to begin now and finish with us in January if you like!
Time to make the backing now! I hope you are all having a lovely week.
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Your chosen colors are lovely.
Thank you. It is on the bold side but I think it is quite fun. Nice to hear from you Cherie!
Not all Fireworks go according to the exact plan, and I like how your quilt came together, Bernie! I agree that having a well paced QAL with reasonable expectations for a month can really keep me on track and sewing during hectic times. I look forward to seeing how you piece the back and finish the quilt!
Thank you Yvonne. You are so sweet. This just hasn’t been a time for a lot of sewing – hoping winter months bring more time in the sewing room for me! I am going to lay out the ‘extra’ pieces and see what I can come up with!
I agree with Yvonne’s comments. I almost made some mistakes in my placement too, and I have leftover pieces as well. I think I did the square in a square block three times! For some reason I could not get my measurements right that day. Ugh. I love the fabrics in your top, and that orange border just makes the whole quilt pop! Will be fun to see how you quilt this. Nicely done, Bernie!
Thank you! I keep thinking about the quilting too. Probably some sort of straight line pattern that looks explosive – know what I mean? Centers somewhere and bursts from there? How about you – have you thought of a quilting plan yet?
You did great! Now you can do one of mine with the leftover scraps, nothing to lose with those!
Thanks Carole. I look forward to using the Scrap Dance pattern and most likely there will be some leftover scraps from this project in it! Hope all is well with you.
This is so pretty, Bernie! I love the colors you chose, and the people who got the kits were really lucky. And I don’t see a single mistake! If you don’t use the scraps for the back, you could stick them in an envelope and send them this way. 🙂 How will you quilt it? I vote for bright pink thread!
Bright pink thread would be a lot of fun. I am deciding between a spiral quilting or a basic straight line pattern. I love quilting smaller projects. So much easier to manipulate.
It looks great. I had to look twice for the mistake. I, too, enjoyed the slow leisurely pace.
It isn’t a huge deal but when I first saw it, I was a bit irritated! Moving forward tho. I need to figure out the backing next. Happy Sewing Anja!
Mystery QAL’s stress me out even though the only one I ever participated in turned out okay. I have the most difficult time choosing fabrics for a quilt, so the thought of choosing fabrics for a design I haven’t seen is intimidating. I have really enjoyed seeing all the different versions of Fireburst recently and I can’t wait to see the fireworks quilt show in January!
It’s kind of funny. Some people love Mystery Quilts but they certainly aren’t for everyone. I do like the social aspect. It was fun to interact with everyone and watch all of the projects come together. But I don’t think they are my favorite kind of project. A bit too challenging for me. ☺️
I’ve never attempted a mystery quilt either! I love your fabric choices. It looks delicious! Reminds me of sherbet ice cream.
Very pretty. I have done one mystery quilt and was disappointed in the advice the organizer gave me on my fabrics. If I do a mystery now, it is at the end when I know the result. 🙂
Such a happy quilt Bernie! Thanks for sharing your mystery quilt experience with us; I’ve never been drawn towards making a mystery quilt myself.
It looks great Bernie! I am doing the mystery too, but I am a tad behind:( Hope to get up to speed in Nov.
I have to say, I had to look at it for a quite a while to see the mistake! I think it looks beautiful! I particularly like your background fabric!!
Beautiful colors, lovely finish, Bernie. There is a mistake? I only see lovely floral blocks!!!
Your quilt top came out beautifully. I hear I am not the only one with spacial challenges in your email, but I hope you hear from your readers loud and clear that the top is stunning!
Thank you Patty. I have always had a weird spatial issue – but there are far worse problems in life than having a block turned the wrong way!! I think it is a cute, bright, cheerful quilt!!
It’s beautiful Bernie: I love your fabric choices. I’m sharing a flimsy today also but not this one. I’m still working on it as yes life has been busy here as well.
Hi: You will get to it. I read your post about your guild leadership roles – that takes up a lot of time and of course often means sewing for others. It is a generous gift of your time for sure. The fall quilts are very pretty – love that picture of the one on the leaves! So autumnal.
I have the same issues with mystery quilts (and spatial relationships!). I have yet to try one. But yours is so pretty — I’m especially fond of the floral you used in the background. I’m such a Kona Snow girl that I wouldn’t have thought to pick something with such color and personality. Beautiful!