Magnificent Mystery Quilt Starting in One Month

 

The Magnificent Mystery Quilt Along kicks off in one month! I hope you decide to join in!!

The Magnificent Mystery Quilt is a free quilt-along that will run from July 2025 through March 2026 with a set of directions revealed the first Thursday of every month. This slow pace makes for a fun and stress-free quilt along.

We will kick off the quilt-along on Thursday, July 3rd with the fabric requirements and some helpful hints to pick fabrics and colors (you will have an entire month to gather fabrics before the cutting instructions in August). The sneak peek of the design will also be available on July 3rd.

Quilt-along Instructions - 

There is no sign-up for the mystery quilt.  All of the mystery quilt information and instructions will be posted to this blog. Within each instructional post, there will be a link to an easy to print, downloadable version of the instructions. 

To make sure you do not miss any instructions, you can:

Open the blog or main Magnificent Mystery Quilt Page on the first Thursday of each month. 

Visit at the Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Meadow Mist Designs Newsletter.

Subscribe to the Meadow Mist Designs Blog via email (this will send all blog posts to your email address, not just the mystery quilt posts).

 

The Un-Mystery Quilt - Want to join in the fun but making a mystery quilt is not your thing? I totally understand and will offer a sneak peek of the design!  The sneak peek will be available as a linked document right on the blog starting July 3rd.

The only rule is that you have to keep the design completely to yourself as to not spoil anyone else's surprise.

Facebook Group - We have 12,000 active members in our Facebook Group (Meadow Mist Designs Facebook Group) sewing together! Join the group today so you can share and see everyone else's fabric, progress pictures, and finished quilts.

I look forward to quilting along with you!!

✨ New Quilt Pattern: Diamonds & Pearls ✨

Today, I’m so excited to introduce you to my newest Meadow Mist Designs quilt pattern — Diamonds and Pearls!

If you love half-square triangles (HSTs), this pattern is calling your name! It’s a celebration of HSTs and sparkle, and I can’t wait to share it with you.  This is the throw size of the quilt and the pattern also contains instructions for a king size.

Introductory Sale

Diamonds and Pearls is available now in both digital and printed formats in my pattern shop and as a digital download on Etsy.  🎉 Introductory pricing is available now through Monday, May 26th at midnight ET:

$10.25 for the digital version

$11.25 for the printed version

💸 Plus, you can stack these coupon codes for even more savings:

TWOPATTERNS: Get $2 off 2 patterns

THREEPATTERNS: Get $4 off 3 patterns

About the Pattern

🔺 For HST Lovers: If you can’t get enough of half-square triangles, this pattern was made for you. HSTs are my favorite block to make and this quilt has oodles.
💎 A Dazzling Design: A fun and eye-catching combo of diamonds and pearls makes this quilt truly shine.
💪 Confident Beginner Friendly: Straightforward piecing with a touch of sparkle—just the right challenge for leveling up your skills.
📏 Two Sizes Included: Throw + King
🧁 Precut Friendly: Use a layer cake for the throw size or fat quarters for the king!

🧵 About the Fabrics & Quilting

For my sample, I used a layer cake of Willow by 1 Canoe 2 for Moda Fabrics paired with Bella Solids in gray and white. I loved the soft, sweet palette of turquoise, yellow, and pink—it gives the quilt a light, airy feel.

I quilted it using a meandering stipple pattern, which is one of my favorite quick quilting designs. It gives the quilt a lovely, crinkly texture. I used Aurifil Dove (light gray) thread for the quilting.

I did not think that I had any fabrics in my stash that would work for the backing and was about to purchase some yardage when I went through my fabrics one more time.  I was able to find two prints (a yellow Joel Dewberry herringbone and a blue sewing needle Riley Blake that together were enough fabric for the backing.  It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can use my stash when possible.

🎨 Additional Colorways

Many years ago, Connecting Threads actually kitted a king size version of Diamonds and Pearls.  I’ve also mocked up a few additional colorways for fun, including a version with a dramatic dark background.

It’s so fun to see how this design transforms with different color palettes!

About the Pattern

Diamonds and Pearls is a confident beginner level pattern with tons of half-square triangles.  The pattern contains instructions for both a throw size and a king size.  The throw size is layer cake friendly and the king size is fat quarter friendly.

🙏 Thank You

I want to extend a huge thank you to Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl and all of my amazing pattern testers who helped bring this quilt pattern to life.

And thank you for being part of my quilting community! 💛

🛍️ Grab Your Copy

Diamonds and Pearls is available now in both digital and printed formats in my pattern shop and as a digital download on Etsy.  🎉 Introductory pricing is available now through Monday, May 26th at midnight ET:

$10.25 for the digital version

$11.25 for the printed version

💸 Plus, you can stack these coupon codes for even more savings:

TWOPATTERNS: Get $2 off 2 patterns

THREEPATTERNS: Get $4 off 3 patterns

Book Review + Giveaway: Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts

I’m thrilled to be a part of the book hop for my friend Michelle Cain’s (of From Bolt to Beauty) new book, Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts!  

These aren’t your average strip sets sewn into simple jelly roll blocks. Each of the 14 projects in the book uses 2½" strips in a way that disguises their origin—resulting in fresh, modern designs that feel anything but typical.

From butterflies and whales to bold geometric stars, the book offers 14 quilt patterns ranging from wall hangings to queen-size projects. 

To celebrate her book, I made the Five-Star Experience quilt—but with a little twist. The pattern in the book finishes at 73" x 73" and is made using 4 oversized blocks.  I sewed up a baby-size version from one block using fabric scraps instead of a jelly roll. After I finished the block, I added some borders to give the block a little breathing room (and ensure the binding did not clip off the star points).    The finished quilt measures around 40" square, which meant I could use a single width of fabric for the backing—always a win in my book (because I dislike piecing my backings). 

I had fun mixing prints for this one: a few Anna Maria Horner fabrics, a yellow-green Cotton + Steel print, and a blue and green batik for the backing. The background is Moda Bella White, which let the star really shine. 

I quilted the quilt myself on my domestic machine with a flower motif that adds a soft, playful texture. To make the pattern I started with a hook and added bumps to the outside and then echoed them.  It was a relaxing and quick finish!

I loved that this pattern came together quickly, Michelle includes clear instructions and skill levels for each pattern, which makes the book great for confident beginners or seasoned quilters alike. 

If you’ve got jelly rolls (or just love a smart pattern) Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts deserves a spot on your shelf. I’m so proud of Michelle, her book is so full of fabulous quilts and photography. 

Ready to try one of her not-so-typical designs? You can purchase a copy from Amazon (affiliate) or get a signed copy from Michelle of From Bolt to Beauty.

GIVEAWAY

Want to win a digital copy of Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts book?  To enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post.  Any comment works, but if you would like a question to answer, have you ever made a jelly roll quilt?

Giveaway open now through Friday, May 23rd at midnight ET.

Many people are no-reply bloggers which means that your comment is not linked to an email address.  If you are a no-reply blogger, please include your email address or I will not be able to reach you.

Stash Buster Quilt Along - Parade

 

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the Stash Busting Quilt Along! Over the past few months, we stitched our way through Peanut Butter Pinwheels, Wharf Street, and Flagstone Path—and some of you even made more than one quilt. It’s been so fun to see how creatively you used your stash and scraps!

Below you’ll find a beautiful parade of over 60 quilts and quilt tops created during the quilt along. Want to see even more? Check out the Stash Busting Quilt Along posts in the Facebook Group.

The parade will remain open, so feel free to continue adding your finishes as they come together! You can also email me a photo at MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com and I’ll be happy to add it for you.

And just a reminder—our next event is the Magnificent Mystery Quilt Along, kicking off Thursday, July 3rd! Stay tuned for more details coming your way in May and June.

Beyond Quilts: Pincushions to Use Up Your Scraps

Scrappy Pincushions: Creative Ways to Use Up Fabric Scraps

If you’re a quilter or sewist, you probably have an overflowing bin of fabric scraps—too small for a quilt but too pretty to toss. One of the best ways to use up those leftovers is by making pincushions! Not only are they quick and satisfying to sew, but they also offer endless opportunities for creativity.

In this post, we’ll explore different styles of scrappy pincushions and how you can turn leftover bits into charming and functional sewing room accessories.

1. Cathedral Window Pincushions

Cathedral window pincushions add a touch of elegance to your sewing space while putting scraps to good use. These pincushions allow you to showcase beautiful fabric combinations, playing with color and texture in a striking way. The folded fabric technique creates dimension and structure, making each pincushion feel like a tiny quilted masterpiece. Whether you go for traditional contrast or a modern twist, a cathedral window pincushion is a great way to experiment with scraps.

Each cathedral window pincushion uses 3 squares 5" x 5" (plus the fabric which forms the framing) so these are a great way of using up those leftover charm pack fabrics.

You can learn to make your own cathedral window pincushions with my Cathedral Window Pincushion pattern (on sale right now for $9.45).

2. Scrappy Pincushions to Highlight a Focal Print

Sometimes, you come across a fabric scrap that’s just too beautiful to cut up any further or a print that has the perfect fussy cutting design. A pincushion is the perfect way to give a treasured print the spotlight it deserves while still incorporating scrappy elements. Try surrounding your focal print with patchwork borders, framing it with complementary colors, or using simple piecing techniques to create contrast. This approach works especially well with fussy-cut motifs like florals, animals, or geometric designs.

Below are some of my favorite pincushions I made with some special fabrics I wanted to highlight.  The bucks with glasses is one of my most favorite prints ever.  They just need a little frame of a solid to frame the print.  Other pincushions with one focal fabric are some Dr. Seuss fabrics left over from my very first The Quilt in the Hat quilt and a favorite print from Carolyn Friedlander.

I usually add some top stitched quilting lines to hold the layers together and add interest.

3. Scrappy Pincushions Using Tiny Fabric Bits

Do you have a collection of tiny fabric trimmings, leftover half-square triangles, or pieced blocks from previous projects? Instead of tossing them, turn them into a scrappy pincushion! This type of pincushion is all about playing with color and texture, using even the smallest scraps to create something unique. You can sew them together in a random improv style or arrange them into stripes.  I often pair the bits of fabric with either a solid, some linen, or a stripe (I use stripe fabric for bindings often so I have plenty of 2 1/2" strips leftover.

In the Echino pincushion below I used the selvedge edge for a little fringe in the pincushion.

Bonus: Matching Accessories for a Coordinated Sewing Set

Why stop at just a pincushion? Scraps can also be used to make matching accessories like needle books, scissor fobs, and tiny fabric baskets to create a complete sewing set. Coordinating a set from the same fabric scraps ties everything together and makes your sewing space feel even more personalized. These small projects also make wonderful gifts for fellow quilters and sewing enthusiasts.

I actually used to sell these a decade ago on Etsy.  I loved picking out the colors and fabrics for a coordinated by scrappy set.

Stuffing & Finishing Tips

To make your pincushions functional and long-lasting, consider these tips:

Use the right stuffing – Polyfill works well, but crushed walnut shells add weight and help keep pins sharp. You can find them in pet stores as reptile bedding! I like to overstuff my pincushions so they are really nice and firm.

Get Inspired and Start Sewing!

Scrappy pincushions are a fun and rewarding way to use up fabric leftovers while adding charm and functionality to your sewing space. Whether you choose a cathedral window design, highlight a favorite print, or make use of tiny trimmings, there are endless ways to get creative. Plus, with matching accessories, you can take your scrap-busting projects to the next level!

Which pincushion idea excites you the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below!