December Mysteries, Sew Alongs, and Small Projects

Mysteries and Sew Alongs are being announced for 2024.  First up is Merry Mayhem’s New Year’s Day Mystery called Twist and Shout.  Fabric requirements and some cutting info is out now. There are sizes from crib to queen.  Plan to stop back at the the same page on 12/25 but before Jan 1, 2024 to get further directions. Clues will be released for making the quilt on the first of Jan.   The directions will be taken down on January 3. https://www.merrymayhem.com/uploads/b/a2b41b50-4c44-11eb-b36d-23f31e41b4e3/Case148NYD-01.pdf

QCNYS (Quilters Consortium of New York State) is offering the 4 & 20 Mystery Quilt. The first clue comes out in January.  You can choose your own rulers or use Studio 180 rulers.  https://qcnys.org/mysteryquilt/ $

Starting in January, 2024 is the newest Murder Mystery Quilt “Murder in Greece.”  “This is a monthly subscription club that reads along together and stitches up a quilt to find the clues and solve the mystery.” https://murdermysteryquilt.com $$

Here are a few small projects to tempt you. 

Do it Yourself Picture Frame Ornament. The video shows it made with Christmas fabric but I can definitely see it in really bright fabrics or pastels. https://www.shabbyfabrics.com/free-downloads-and-video/339/diy-no-sew-quilted-picture-frame-ornament?cid=74

Very cute gift bags — they aren’t just for Christmas! https://justjude-designs.com/gift-bag-tutorial/

Make your own potholders — https://www.allfreesewing.com/Video-Tutorials/How-to-Make-a-Quilted-Potholder-Video-NSM2019

Hanging Kitchen Towel Pattern and Video Tutorial — https://www.allfreesewing.com/Dining-and-Kitchen/Sewn-Hanging-Dish-Towel-Pattern-NSM2021

How about a cloth jewelry pouch with 8 pockets?  https://mindymakes.com/drawstring-jewelry-pouch/

Enjoy checking out these opportunities! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

 

November Mysteries and Sew Alongs

Bonnie Hunter's year end mystery quilt has begun!  Check out her October 31, 2023 post for fabric requirements for Indigo Way Mystery. https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/10/indigo-way-mystery-introduction.html. Part One will go up on the day after America's Thanksgiving -- November 24, 2023.  Let the fun begin! 

Bonnie has also designed "Star of Hope," a quilt she's offering as a sew along in response to the world events over the last severalweeks.https://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/star-of-hope-sew-along.html. This pattern has been released in two parts. 

Shine Bright Quilt and Stitch Sew Along Starts in October 2023 and will run through September 2024. You will need  The Bonnie and Camille Quilt Bee Quilt and Cross Stitch Book. https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-shine-bright-quilt-and-stitch-along/ $

How about some cute gift ideas? 

These would make great presents during the winter. Flannel and Felt Reusable Handwarmer Tutorial https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/last-minute-gift-idea-handwarmers/. 

Any crocheters out there? I couldn’t pass up this very cute princess crown. It would look cute in some sparkly pink or purple yarn.  https://irarott.com/products/princess-crown-crochet-pattern. (Ps -free pattern.)

Here are directions for a cute zippered pouch. https://modafabrics.com/tags/pouch-club

I love the idea that these small fabric baskets could be used as small plant cozies or for trinkets https://www.instagram.com/p/Cue3aXDKS4R/.

Here’s an index to a whole lot of notecards using fabric scraps.  Check them out: https://joysjotsshots.blogspot.com/p/fabric-cards.html. She uses an iron on adhesive (Wonder Under or the like) to attach the fabric to a note card.

Enjoy checking out these links. If for some reason a link doesn't open, try copying it and pasting it in your browser. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

September Mysteries and Quilt Alongs

I'm early this month.  Which is a good thing as some of these quilt alongs have already started. Here's what I've found this month. 

Pat Sloan started Chicken Salad Quilt Along on Aug. 24th. It will run until Nov. 17.  She will announce one block a week from Lori Holt’s Farm Girl Vintage and Farm Girl Vintage 2.  Sign up with Pat to get notices of her go-along videos. $$ for books. https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/chicken-salad-qal.html

Jaqueline Steves will be starting a new snowman mystery on Sept. 25. There is a free option and a paid option https://jacquelynnesteves.com/snowmen-from-heaven-sew-along/  $ if chosen. 

Mystery Quilts 4 Military has started a new quilt. The Four Corners Mystery started Aug 2 with new clues released every other week.  You must join the group, MysteryQuilts4Military, at https://groups.io/g/MysteryQuilts4Military. The fabric and cutting info along with the first two clues are in the Files section. 

Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gathering has two quilt alongs just starting. First is Joyful Quilt Along started Tuesday August 27. Blocks will be posted every Tuesday. If you miss a block you can buy it for  $3.00.https://lisabongean.com/39539-2/ first clue is already up so check as soon as you get the newsletter to see if it is still available free. 

Lisa’s second event is a block of the month entitled Black Star Flower Farm.  This is offered for wool or for cotton.  The first monthly block was posted in August. Here’s the home page for all the info. The patterns are free in the month they are posted and $8.00 a pattern after that. The patterns are posted on the 10th of each month for 13 months.  Hopefully you still have a  bit of time to collect the first block without paying. https://lisabongean.com/39075-2/ 

Here’s something a little different and older: Riley Blake Designs was featuring some designs for its new low volume designer collection in October of 2021.  Follow the Blue Bird to get a choice of bird designs: appliqué, paper pieced, or pieced at https://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/follow-the-blue-bird. Sandy Gervais shared a pattern for a 26” square mat called Fall Ya All. https://piecesfrommyheart-sgervais.blogspot.com/2021/10/follow-blue-bird.html A perfect small project to welcome fall. 

The guild that I write this column for, Faithful Circle Quilters, is having a show in early May of 2024. We will be having a $20 and Under Table of small items. I've been scouring the Internet for free patterns for small items that might work for this. Here's a couple of ideas I've found. 

Directions to make a needle minder. https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2023/07/needle-minder-tutorial.html?m=1

Directions for several different bookmarks. https://www.heatherhandmade.com/sew-easy-bookmarks-free-pattern/

Directions for a Triangle Pencil Pouch. https://sew4home.com/scrapbusters-triangle-pencil-and-more-pouch-1/

Directions for a Charm Square Fabric Tray.  https://aspoonfulofsugardesigns.com/charm-square-fabric-tray/

Hopefully these are live links and will take you right to the correct listing.  If they don't please highlight the address, copy, and paste to get to the site. 

Hope you have fun looking and making some of these quilts and little gifts. (Maybe a gift for you!)  

Many thanks to Vicki, who blogs at Vicki's Crafts and Quilting, for catching the incorrect link for Black Star Flower Farm. I'm saving the designs from that one. I may never use them but I really like how they look. 

Happy Quilting All Bonnie