In August, we made blocks that finished at 8 1/2" square. This month, September, we are making 6 1/2" blocks: Chain Blocks and Ohio Star Blocks.
The Marigold Mystery Quilt is a free quilt-along that will run from July 2026 through March 2027 to make a throw sized quilt about 60 ½" x 70 ½" (or 60" x 73 1/2") with a set of instructions posted the first Thursday of every month. The quilt pattern is at an advanced beginner level containing basic piecing techniques (no applique, Y-seams, or paper piecing).
The directions and all of the other information relate dot the mystery quilt can always be found on the Marigold Mystery Home Page. You can find all of the pdf downloads in the Marigold Mystery Shop Page.
EASY TO PRINT INSTRUCTIONS
You can find the easy to print versions of the instructions here:
Chain Block
FABRICS TO CUT
Prints20 squares 1 ½" x 1 ½" - cut 5 squares each from 4 different prints
16 squares 2" x 2" - cut 4 squares each from 4 different prints
Fabric A32 rectangles 1 ½" x 2"
16 rectangles 1 ½" x 3"
ROW A
1. Sew together the following pieces, pressing the seams towards the print square, to make a row A 1 ½" x 6 ½".
1 print square 1 ½" x 1 ½"
2 fabric A rectangles 1 ½" x 3"
2. Repeat to make a total of 8 row A.
ROW B
1. Sew together the following pieces, pressing the seams towards the print squares, to make a row B 2" x 6 ½".
2 matching print squares 2" x 2"
3 fabric A rectangles 1 ½" x 2"
2. Repeat to make a total of 8 row B.
ROW C
1. Sew together the following pieces, pressing the seams towards the print squares, to make
a row C 1 ½" x 6 ½".
3 matching print squares 1 ½" x 1 ½"
2 fabric A rectangles 1 ½" x 2"
2. Repeat to make a total of 4 row C.
CHAIN BLOCK ASSEMBLY
1. Sew together the following rows, pressing all seams open or away from row B, to make a chain block 6 ½" x 6 ½".
2 row A 1 ½" x 6 ½"
2 row B 2" x 6 ½"
1 row C 1 ½" x 6 ½"
Use rows A and C with one print and row B with a second print.
2. Repeat to make a total of 4 chain blocks.
Ohio Star Block
FABRICS TO CUT
Prints
10 squares* 3 ½" x 3 ½" - cut 2 squares each from 5 different prints
5 squares 2 ½" x 2 ½" - cut 1 square each from 5 different prints
Fabric A
10 squares* 3 ½" x 3 ½"
20 squares 2 ½" x 2 ½"
* If you like to oversize your pieces for hourglass units, increase the cut size by ¼".
HOURGLASS UNITS
1. Place a print square 3 ½" x 3 ½" and a fabric A square 3 ½" x 3 ½" right sides together.
Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the lighter square (shown as the solid line).
2. Sew a ¼" seam on either side of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the marked line and press seams toward prints. Do not trim the half-square triangle (HST) units at this point.
3. Repeat to make a total of 20 HST units approx. 3" x 3" (4 HST units of each print).
4. Place 2 matching HST units together right sides together as shown so that the seams nest. Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of one of the HST units (shown as the solid line) perpendicular to the seam.
5. Sew ¼" on both sides of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines). Cut on the marked line, press seams open, and trim to 2 ½" x 2 ½".
6. Repeat to make a total of 20 hourglass units.
OHIO STAR UNITS
1. Sew together the following units and pieces, pressing all seams open or as shown by the
arrows, to make a Ohio star block 6 ½" x 6 ½".
4 matching hourglass units 2 ½" x 2 ½"
1 print square 2 ½" x 2 ½"
4 fabric A squares 2 ½" x 2 ½"
2. Repeat to make a total of 5 Ohio star blocks.