NATIONAL QUILTER'S CIRCLE MEDALLION MYSTERY

Mystery Medallion part 1

Welcome and I am so glad you will be doing my mystery quilt! This is the first time I have designed a mystery pattern. I've done many medallion patterns and block of the month patterns, but never a mystery one. I am so excited to see what everyone comes up with. If you haven't signed up for it or seen the first installment, just click on the heading (Mystery Medallion part 1) above. You have the option of making the large quilt, 83" x 101" or a lap version 65" x 65". The large quilt just has more installments so if you want to make the lap version you will not have to follow it until the end. My goal on this project is for you to have fun doing it. My motto is "Quilting should be fun, not hard!". Be adventurous in your fabric choices. You might surprise yourself.

When choosing fabrics, I always start with a large or main print with lots of colors. That way I can use those colors to pick coordinating prints. I also always like to use a very light and very dark fabric in my quilts for contrast and then pick coordinating prints in different size prints and tones. For some of you who have problems choosing fabrics, use the experts at your local quilt shop or stick with specific fabric collections where everything is already coordinated for you. 

This fabric collection I used to make this quilt is called "Heavenly Hydrangeas" by Sue Zipkin for Clothworks. You might still be able to find some on the internet or in your local quilt shop.

If you don't know what a medallion quilt is, it is a quilt that starts with a large block in the center and then borders are added around it. Some borders may be plain and some may have pieced blocks in them. 

Since NQC released the fabric requirements and first block early I have been unprepared. I was hoping to have my blog done so I could help you make this first block. Some of you have already finished it and what I have seen are all great! I also saw that Ashley posted a video on making Flying Geese sections. She did a great job so take some time to watch it as there may be other Flying Geese sections in this quilt and you may use both methods that she showed throughout this quilt. You can see it here: Ashley Hough Flying Geese tutorial.

I always start any project and lessons, when I am teaching, with the importance of having an accurate and consistent 1/4" seam allowance. Please take time to watch my Youtube video on how I establish my personal 1/4" seam on my sewing machine.

I know everyone has their own method for getting their 1/4" seams and if you are happy with the results of yours by all means, continue what you are doing. If you are not, try this to see if it helps. You don't need to use my little guide but if you do want to purchase it you can find it here: Perfect 1/4" seam guide. It is only $3.50 with $1.00 shipping charge. (US rate.)

I want to also show you one other way to do Flying Geese units using my Cutting Corners template set. I use it in two ways. One is to eliminate the need to draw the line on the backs of the squares when making them with squares and rectangles and the other is to cut accurate half-square and quarter-square triangles.

This first block uses two squares and a rectangle to make the Geese units. Here is how I use this template. After laying the square, right sides together on one side of the rectangle, line up the triangle template along the left edge of the square as illustrated. You can see that the seam line (dotted line) goes through the bottom right corner.

Using your rotary cutter, cut off the corner. Now sew with a 1/4" seam allowance and press towards the small triangle.

Repeat with the other side of the rectangle placing the square right sides together and lining up the template on that side.

If you want to try my Cutting Corners template set, you can find them here: Cutting Corners. In the next blog I will show you how to use the Cutting Corners template set for cutting half-square and quarter-square triangles.

I hope you find my pattern easy to follow. If you don't understand something please contact me and I will help walk you through it.

PRIZE DRAWING

For my first NQC blog post I will be having a drawing for one of my Perfect 1/4" Seam Guides and Cutting Corners template set (two winners). Simply leave a comment to be in the drawing. The first winner who contacts me gets to choose which one they want. For my international friends, since shipping is so high, if they win, I will send them a pdf of a pattern of their choice. I will pick a winner when the next installment comes out.

If you want to continue to follow my blog or get notices when I post something new, just click on the link on the right to sign up for Bloglovin'. Please let me know if any of the links in this blog don't work.

As always, do what you love and love what you do. Thank you for reading and feel free to share with your quilting friends.

I do have workshop videos through iQuilt (Kaleidostars) and Craftsy  now called Bluprint (Clever Curves). I hope you get a chance to check them out.

Also consider joining National Quilter's Circle.

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