Finish the Mystery Quilt
You've probably already guessed that the Mystery is a medallion quilt, with the 8" star block positioned at its center and patchwork rows surrounding it.To add borders, we usually measure quilts through their midpoints and cut or assemble strips to match the length. Since this quilt has patchwork borders, the cutting instructions for its plain borders call for "textbook size" strips. In other words, strips cut to match the calculated length of each (less flexible) patchwork row. Ease (adjust) the quilt to the strips to make them match.
For help with borders, read Straight Border Basics before you begin the final steps.
Press border seam allowances towards plain strips after each addition.
- Matching ends and midpoints carefully, sew a 2-1/2" x 8-1/2" black strip to the right and left side of the large star block.
- Carefully sew a 2-1/2" x 12-1/2" strip to the top and bottom of the star block.
- Sew a 4-block Snowball border to right and left sides of the star unit, placing the red triangles against the black border.
- Sew a 6-block Snowball border to the top and bottom of the star unit, placing the red triangles against the black border.
- Sew a 1-1/2" x 18-1/2" black strip to the right and left sides of the center unit. Sew a 1-1/2" x 20-1/2" black strip to the top and bottom of the unit.
- Sew a 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" medium green square to each end of two Flying Geese borders.
- Sew a short Flying Geese border to two opposite sides of the quilt. Finish by sewing a Flying Geese border with end squares to the remaining sides.
That's it! Press the quilt and mark for quilting if necessary. Sandwich with batting and backing, quilt and bind.
I hope you've had fun making the New Year's Day Mystery Quilt -- do send me photos.
