Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Board & Batten - Quilt Submission Instructions

 


For the Board and Batten Quilt Along we are sewing our quilt tops together and (optionally) quilting them. 

Submit your quilt top / quilt to the parade

To be eligible for prizes, submit a picture of your quilt top or finished quilt:

  • Send picture to MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com
  • Deadline February 27th midnight (EST)
  • Please let me know if you are outside the US as some of the prizes are US only and some are worldwide

You can see everyone's progress on social media using #boardandbattenqal and in the MMD Facebook Group.  You also always find all of the information and links to the QAL at the main Board and Batten Page.



Questions?  You can leave them as a comment or email me at MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com.

If you would like to join the quilt along but still need a copy of of the pattern, you can find Board and Batten:

Meadow Mist Designs Pattern Shop

Etsy Shop
.

 

 

 

 

 




Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Board & Batten Quilt Along - Quilt Top Assembly

 


Let's sew some blocks together!  If you are following along the Board & Batten quilt along, we are sewing our blocks together now.  You can see everyone's progress on social media using #boardandbattenqal and in the MMD Facebook Group.  

You also always find all of the information and links to the QAL at the main Board and Batten Page.

When you have your quilt top and/or finished quilt ready, you can email me a picture at MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com at any time for the quilt parade coming in March.  When you email me, please let me know if you are outside the US as some of the prizes are US only and some are worldwide.



Board and Batten Weekly Instructions


We are on to the quilt top assembly!  You have the rest of February to sew your quilt top together and optionally quilt and finish it.  Quilt tops and finished quilts are eligible for the prizes.

I found that sewing the blocks together into the quilt top went pretty quickly as the blocks are a nice, large size.  I would suggest pressing all seams open as some of the seams where the half square triangles meet can be pretty bulky.

Here is my quilt top ready for quilting, I can't wait to see yours!





Questions?  You can leave them as a comment or email me at MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com.

If you would like to join the quilt along but still need a copy of of the pattern, you can find Board and Batten:
Meadow Mist Designs Pattern Shop

Etsy Shop
.

 

 

 

 




Friday, February 3, 2023

What is Love – Free Modern Quilt Blocks




Welcome to the FREE What is Love Event!  This is a free modern quilt block event with 15 free modern quilt block patterns. 

Each block was designed for this event by a different designer representing their views on what love is.  (mine is the Hashtag Love).

You can get all of the blocks by signing up at the What is Love? Fee Modern Quilt Block Event.

*Note: by signing up, you will also get additional quilty goodness by being placed on each of the designer's newsletter lists.

Here are each of the designers and a bit about their blocks...



Anna’s inspiration for the Mirroring block: “The moon is many different things, including a mirror that reflects your inner world. Your emotions and energy levels wax and wane just as the moon does. I see this as a learning opportunity. Learn to love the moon, learn to love the cycles, and learn to love yourself. When you can love yourself you can share more love with others. As Sarah Faith Gottesdiener says in The Moon Book, “What do you call a lover that you keep chasing after, knowing even with their reciprocity, you’ll never reach their essence, never quite touch, and yet they also live inside of you, always? I call this the moon. Others call this love.”

See more by Anna: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest



Brooke Shankland, Eudaimonia Studio

Brooke’s inspiration for the Grow Wild block: “There’s a saying that love is a verb. But what does that really mean? We often consider love to be a feeling, an emotion that comes over us when someone makes us feel a certain way. I’ve found that love – to have the profound, lasting impact that many wax poetic about – is not a passive emotion, but an active endeavor. Initial chemistry, familial ties, shared experiences, or common interests may sow the seeds, but love truly grows & thrives when it’s nurtured. Just like any plant, it requires time, attention, and care. And, depending on who we are caring for, each will require its own degree of sunlight, water, and nourishment.”

See more by Brooke: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest



Casey Cometti, Wellspring Designs

Casey’s Inspiration for the Let’s Improvise block: “A relationship’s strength is in its ability to adapt, be flexible, and handle shortcomings with grace. In life, the unexpected is inevitable. This block, “Let’s Improvise” is asymmetric, scrappy, and unorthodox – just like Love. But isn’t that the best part? G.K. Chesterton once quipped, “Angels can fly because they can take themselves lightly.” I hope this block can be approached with lightness of mind and needle to truly enjoy the art of quilting.”

See more by Casey: Instagram | Pinterest



Cheryl Brickey, Meadow Mist Designs <- ME!

Cheryl’s inspiration for the Hashtag Love block: “#love – A simple hashtag used to show affection and excitement for someone or something. This block can be used to send love and friendship to family and friends with a fun and modern hashtag, tick tack toe design with a little heart tucked inside. The heart can be made using traditional or paper piecing techniques.”

See more by Cheryl: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest




Cristina De Miranda, Ships & Violins

Cristina’s Inspiration for the Rooted In Love block: “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow,” said Audrey Hepburn. And isn’t falling in love the same? We intrinsically agree to the time, energy, and patience that makes a love everlasting. It is the same care that makes a garden grow. So I turned to the forest for my inspiration and designed a tree canopy built with hourglass blocks. The canopy represents that love can grow, change, and develop with time but, perhaps more importantly, it must always be rooted in that initial belief of everlasting love to thrive.”

See more by Cristina: Instagram | Facebook



Erin Nichole, Mija Handmade

Erin’s Inspiration for the Star Crossed Lovers block: “I was an English major in college and spent every moment I could reading Shakespeare. I still haven’t gotten over Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy! The What Is Love modern quilt block design seemed like the perfect opportunity to celebrate these two Star Crossed Lovers! I designed the block to use the maximum amount of color and to be the maximum amount of fun! I hope you have fun, stay organized (there are 17 unique HSTs!) and press your seams!”

See more by Erin: Instagram | TikTok



Heather Black, Quiltachusetts

Heather’s inspiration for the Sweet Pea block: “One of my guilty pleasures is watching period movies of books I’ve read like Vanity Fair, any Jane Austen Novel or Charles Dickens. One of the ways characters in these stories share their feelings is by giving their love interest flowers, especially before a dance. These small flower arrangements were called Nosegays. I wanted to capture the feel of a small bouquet of flowers, one that would delight the recipient and one that would be full of color, with my sweet pea block.”

See more by Heather: Instagram | Facebook



Julia Wachs, Julia Wachs Designs

Julia’s Inspiration for the Apéritif block: ”Why name my block Apéritif? I’m at my happiest when I’m enjoying a late afternoon drink on a patio with my sweetheart and my family. That’s love to me. Simply slowing down and enjoying each other’s company. My design was inspired by a beautiful metal gate that stopped me in my tracks in Copenhagen. I find that traveling brings perfect opportunities to slow down and enjoy a late afternoon drink. I hope that taking time to create slowly when making my block will bring you some of this type of happiness.”

See more by Julia: Instagram



Karen Bolan, Karen Bolan Designs

Karen’s inspiration for the Scooters block: “What is love to me? Well, quilting is the obvious answer. Within quilting, I love learning new things, twisting tradition, and curved piecing. The obvious result of this trifecta is the Scooters block. Made with drunkard’s path elements, the resulting block is a twisted take on a heart block. The block is especially enjoyable when you have a few to play around with and can discover new shapes in the negative space. I designed the idea for the block a few years ago based on a picture of some curved architectural details in shadow. The original inspiration is obscured, but the love shines through.”

See more by Karen: Instagram



Katie Zahm, Zahm Co

Katie’s inspiration for the Peak Love block: “I’ve spent the last five years surrounded by the beautiful Colorado mountains, and they still take my breath away. I dream of living in the mountains one day, but until then, I visit as much as possible and enjoy my views from the city. I feel alive when I explore them and hope to continue making beautiful memories in the mountains. My design captures my love for the mountains, and I want to share it with you.”

See more by Katie: Instagram | YouTube | Facebook



Laura Veenema, New Song Quilting Co:

Laura’s inspiration for the Soft Center block: “A mantra I like to hold when facing the world outside my peaceful quilting studio is: “Strong back, soft front.” Life can be stressful, amiright? (Unless you’re quilting, that is. And even then, it’s hard to leave the worry of the world outside.) How do we face a hurting world? How do we keep our balance and our hope? With love. That’s the only way. Love means having a strong back – loving ourselves enough to know who we are and whose we are. Love also means having a soft front – loving others enough to be vulnerable and generous and self-sacrificial. When I thought about how to put this kind of love into a quilt design, this block is what happened. It is both facing in and out. It is sturdy and soft at the same time. That’s love!”

See more by Laura: Instagram



Lynett Muhaso, LynsAvenue

Lynett’s inspiration for the Love Box block: “I love quilting! l love heart quilts! Heart quilts for me encompass everything about why we quilt. The block is inspired by and is an ode to all the love poured into every single quilting project we make. Love Box is for that special something you do for you that fills up your cup.”

See more by Lynett: Instagram | Facebook



Porfiria Gomez, Eat.Quilt.Joy

Porfiria’s inspiration for the Heart block: “The block is inspired by a corset! The shape of a heart. Being a huge fan of sewing lingerie I wanted to bring that inspiration to a quilting block.”

See more by Porfiria: Instagram



Vickeidy Plybon, Sewspicious

Vickeidy’s inspiration for the Other Half block: “My BFF block is inspired by best friend necklaces. Friendship is one of the greatest loves in my life, and I am so glad that I get to share my block with you! I had such a fun time designing and making this block and I hope you love it, too.”

See more by Vickeidy: Instagram | Facebook



Yvonne Fuchs, Quilting Jetgirl

Yvonne’s inspiration for the Candy Heart block: “When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of candy hearts. When I consider what love is, to me, love is an expansive feeling and means making room for more. With those two thoughts in mind, I designed the Candy Heart Love quilt block to be a fun, cropped, modern quilt block that might just inspire you to keep coming back for more!”

See more by Yvonne: Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest


Remember to signup here before February 14th to get your free blocks!





Thursday, February 2, 2023

Melodic Mystery ++ Quilt Top Assembly


It's Quilt Reveal Time! 

It is the Melodic Mystery Quilt design reveal day!  I hope that you love the design! The reveal parade is not until April so there is plenty of time to get caught up or even start. 

You can find all of the information about the Melodic Mystery, including schedule, past instructions, links to the Facebook group, sneak peek, and more in the Main Melodic Mystery Quilt Page.


Easy to Print PDF Instructions

Now that the Melodic Mystery quilt along has ended, you can find a easy to print, full version of the pattern for sale in my pattern shop.







Block Rows

BLOCK ROW 1

Sew together the following blocks to make a block row 1 (6 ½" x 63 ½"), pressing the seams open or away from the short sashing blocks. Repeat to make a total of 2 block row 1.

2 half blocks 6 ½" x 12 ½"
2 quarter blocks 6 ½" x 6 ½"
3 short sashing blocks 6 ½" x 12 ½"



BLOCK ROW 2

Sew together the following blocks to make a block row 2 (9 1/2" x 63 1/2"), pressing the seams open or away from the short sashing blocks.  Repeat to make a total of 3 block row 2.

3 flower blocks 9 ½" x 9 ½"
2 long sashing blocks 9 ½" x 12 ½"
2 short sashing blocks 6 ½" x 12 ½"




BLOCK ROW 3

Sew together the following blocks to make a block row 3 (12 ½" x 63 ½"), pressing the seams open or away from the short sashing blocks.  Repeat to make a total of 2 block row 3.

2 star blocks 12 ½" x 12 ½"
2 half blocks 6 ½" x 12 ½"
3 long sashing blocks 9 ½" x 12 ½"





Quilt Top Assembly

Sew together the following rows as shown in the quilt top assembly diagram on page 10, pressing all the seams open, to make the quilt top.  The quilt top, before borders are added, should measure 63 ½" x 63 ½".

2 block row 1 (6 ½" x 63 ½")
3 block row 2 (9 ½" x 63 ½")
2 block row 3 (12 ½" x 63 ½")
One of the block row 1 will be rotated 180 degrees




Borders

1. Sew together 2 fabric C strips 3 ½" x WOF and trim to the average height of the quilt top, approx. 63 ½". Repeat to make a total of 2 borders 3 ½" x 63 ½".

2. Sew borders onto the sides of the quilt top as shown in the borders diagram, pressing seams open or towards the border.

3. Sew together 2 fabric C strips 3 ½" x WOF and trim to the average width of the quilt top, approx. 69 ½". Repeat to make a total of 2 borders 3 ½" x 69 ½".

4. Sew borders onto the top and bottom of the quilt top, pressing seams open or toward the borders.
The finished quilt top should measure approx. 69 ½" x 69 ½".

 






Finishing


1. Make backing: Remove selvages from backing fabric, cut into 2 pieces approx. 78" x WOF and sew backing pieces together along the trimmed selvage edges using a ½" seam, pressing the seam open. Trim backing to approx. 78" x 78".

2. Layer the quilt top, batting, and backing. Baste and quilt as desired.

3. Cut the binding fabric into 8 strips 2 ½" x WOF. Trim off selvages and sew together end-to-end to make the binding. Bind and enjoy your quilt!

Share Your Quilt

Be sure to share your progress and finished pictures in the Facebook Group and on Instagram #MelodicMysteryQuilt.

The instructions to link up your quilt top / finished quilts for the reveal parade will be posted next week.





Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Melodic Mystery Quilt!





Any questions? Leave them in a comment below or post them to our Facebook group page. I look forward to seeing everyone's fabric selections. The next set of instructions will be published on the first Thursday of next month.