Foothills Mystery Quilt - December Instructions

Welcome to the December instructions for the Foothills Mystery Quilt-a-long! The instructions for previous months can be found in the Foothills Mystery Quilt tab above.  The monthly instructions will be posted on the first Thursday of each month.

Please share your in-progress pictures on our flicker group Meadow Mist Designs and on Instagram using the hastag #FoothillsMystery so that everyone can see your progress :)

And now onto December's instructions, we will be making some hourglass units and 4-patch blocks.  This month's piecing should be very quick as I know that everyone's Decembers are very busy.

Hourglass Units

Using 9 fabric set C squares (7½” x 7½”) and 9 fabric set B squares (7½” x 7½”), form 17 hourglass units (6½” x 6½”).

a.  Place 1 fabric set C square (7½” x 7½”) and 1 fabric set B square (7½” x 7½”) right sides together.  Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of the fabric set B square (shown as the solid line).

b.  Sew ¼” on either side of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines).  Cut on the solid line and press seam towards the fabric set C fabric forming 18 HST units (do not trim yet).

c.  Place 2 HST units together, right sides together such that the seams nest with each other.  Draw a diagonal line using a removable marking device on the back of one of the HST units (shown as the solid line).

Note: If you are using multiple prints or colors for fabric sets B or C, be sure to mix up the HST units within the pairs of HST units to ensure a good mix of colors and/or prints in the resultant hourglass units. 

d.  Sew ¼” on either side of the solid line (shown as the dotted lines).  Cut on the solid line and press seam open.  Repeat for a total of 18 hourglass units (the quilt uses only 17 so you will have one hourglass unit extra).

e.  Trim the hourglass blocks to 6½” x 6½”. 

Four-Patch Blocks

Using 24 fabric set A squares (3½” x 3½”), form 6 four-patch blocks (6½” x 6½”).

a.  Arrange 4 fabric set A squares (3½” x 3½”) as shown below.

b.  Sew units into rows, pressing seams open or to alternating sides.

c.  Sew rows into block, pressing seams open.  The blocks should measure 6½” x 6½”.

Repeat for a total of 6 four-patch blocks (6½” x 6½”).

Thanks so much for quilting along with me!