Is everyone ready to start cutting their fabrics?

I know that I am ready to start cutting my fabrics :)

Welcome to the August instructions (cutting fabrics) of the Magnificent Mystery Quilt, the eleventh annual Meadow Mist Designs mystery quilt along!

The Magnificent Mystery Quilt is a free quilt-along that will run from July 2025 through April 2026 to make a throw sized quilt about 60 ½" x 72 ½" 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 related to the mystery quilt can always be found on the Magnificent Mystery Home Page.
You can find all of the pdf downloads in the Magnificent Mystery Shop Page (including a sneak peek of the design).

Do I need to cut the fabric now?

The number one question I get for the cutting instructions is "do I need to cut my fabrics all now?"

The answer is definitely not, you can cut them month by month if you would like.

Some reasons you might want to wait to cut is if you like to make certain blocks a different method, you are using different colors and want to ensure placement, or if you do not like cutting so much at once. I am one for cutting all my fabrics at once, but you do not have to.

Easy to Print PDF Instructions

If you would like easy to print instructions for the August instructions: cutting instructions plus piece labels, they can found as a free download through my shop:

Part 2 - Magnificent Mystery Quilt - Cutting

Cutting Instructions

If you like to oversize your fabric pieces for half-square triangle units and hourglass units, then increase the strips and piece sizes marked by an * by 1/4".

Note: this does not change the finished unit sizes, it only makes piecing the units easier.

FABRIC A

Cut 9 strips 2" x WOF.

FABRIC B

Cut 4 strips 2 ½" x WOF.

a. Cut the strips into 60 squares 2 ½" x 2 ½" (each strip can yield 16 squares).

FABRIC C

Cut 5 strips 3" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 60 squares* 3" x 3" (each strip can yield 13 squares).

FABRIC D

1. Cut 2 strips 5 ½" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 14 squares* 5 ½" x 5 ½" (each strip can yield 7 squares).

2. Cut 2 strips 4 ½" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 14 squares* 4 ½" x 4 ½" (each strip can yield 8 squares).

3. Cut 1 strip 3" x WOF.

a. Cut the strip into 4 squares 3" x 3" and 6 squares 2 ½" x 2 ½".

FABRIC E

1. Cut 4 strips 5 ½" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 28 squares* 5 ½" x 5 ½" (each strip can yield 7 squares).

2. Cut 1 strip 5 ⅜" x WOF.

a. Cut the strip into 2 squares 5 ⅜" x 5 ⅜" and 3 squares 4 ⅜" x 4 ⅜".

3. Cut 4 strips 4 ½" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 28 squares* 4 ½" x 4 ½" (each strip can yield 8 squares).

BACKGROUND (bg) FABRIC

1. Cut 2 strips 5 ½" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 14 squares* 5 ½" x 5 ½" (each strip can yield 7 squares).

2. Cut 4 strips 4 ½" x WOF*.

a. Cut the strips into 27 squares* 4 ½" x 4 ½" (each strip can yield 8 squares).
Note: only oversize 14 of the squares and cut remaining 13 of the squares as listed.
b. Use the leftover from one of the strips to cut 1 square 3 ½" x 3 ½".

3. Cut 7 strips 3 ½" x WOF.

a. Cut 1 strip into 11 squares 3 ½" x 3 ½".
b. Reserve the remaining 6 strips.

4. Cut 5 strips 3" x WOF*.

a. Sub-cut the strips into 64 squares* 3" x 3" (each strip can yield 13 squares).
Note: only oversize 60 of the squares and cut remaining 4 of the squares as listed.

5. Cut 5 strips 2 ½" x WOF.

a. Sub-cut 4 strips into 64 squares 2 ½" x 2 ½" (each strip can yield 16 squares).
b. Sub-cut 1 strip into 2 squares 2 ½" x 2 ½" and 4 rectangles 2 ½" x 4 ½".

6. Cut 12 strips 2" x WOF.

a. Sub-cut 5 strips into 60 rectangles 2" x 3 ½" (each strip can yield 13 rectangles).
b. Sub-cut 1 strip into 12 squares 2" x 2".
c. Reserve the remaining 6 strips.

BINDING

You can cut your binding into 7 strips 2 1/2" x WOF now or after the quilt is finished.

SHARE YOUR PROGRESS

Facebook: I encourage you to join the Meadow Mist Designs Facebook Group (if you have not already). We now have over 13,900 members in the group and I am so excited for the members to start sharing pictures of their fabric picks. If you want some feedback on possible fabric choices or have any questions during the quilt along, the Facebook group is an excellent resource.

Social Media: Please share your progress pics on social media with the hashtag #MagnificentMysteryQuilt and tag me at @MeadowMistDesigns.

MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS