Veteran's Mystery Quilt - Clue 1

I'm so excited to get the mystery quilt project started. Having never done one before I'm also a little afraid you will hate it. But let's get started and see how it goes!

This mystery quilt will have 6 clues, 1 each month through October. The October clue will be instructions for border to make the quilt large enough to be  Quilt of Valor. A veteran’s quilt only needs Clues 1 – 5.

Let’s get started!

Fabric Requirements:

The quilt uses 4 colors and the clues will use a patriotic palette.

For the veteran’s quilt (and center of a QOV):

Fabric  1 (red):  1 ¼ yards

Fabric 2 (Dark blue): 1 ¾ yard PLUS ½ yard for binding

Fabric 3 (Light blue): ½ yard

Fabric 4 (white): 1 ¾ yard

For the QOV version you will need these additional fabrics:

Border1: (recommend fabric 2): 5/8 yard

Border 2: (a coordinating print or fabric 1 or fabric 2): 1 ½ yard

Border 3: (fabric 2 or 3) and binding: 1 ¾ yards

For my Veteran’s version I am using these fabrics:

Fabric 1: dark red

Fabric 2: dark blue

Fabric 3: medium blue

Fabric 4: tan

For my QOV version I am using these fabrics:

Fabric 1: light gold

Fabric 2: print

Fabric 3: black

Fabric 4: beige

Instructions:

All of the blocks for the quilt finish to 8”

For the first clue we are making 8 blocks.

Cutting:

Fabric 4: cut 32 4 ½” squares

Fabric 1: cut 42 2 ½” squares

Fabric 2: cut 22 2 ½” squares

Make the Units:

Each block is made of 4 units. Each unit uses 1 -  4 ½” square and 2 – 2 1/2” squares

You will make 10 units like this:

16 units like this:

6 units like this:

  

To make this block position a square over opposite corners and draw the stitching line diagonally across the little square.

Stitch on the line and cut away the corner. I got the most accurate result when I stitched just to the outside of the drawn line (toward the corner).

I pressed all of my seams for this quilt open.

 Here are the units for both of my quilts.

Make the blocks:

Using these units make 2 blocks like this paying close attention to the orientation of the colors.

Make 6 blocks like this:

  

I pressed all of my seams open for all blocks in the quilt.

The blocks for my two quilts look like this:

  

You are done with clue 1. Here’s a hint for Clue 2: prepare to make a lot of half square triangle blocks! If you like to construct HST blocks using foundation papers you will need foundations for 2” finished size blocks.

If you have any questions please post them here on the blog and I will answer here for everyone to read.

I’ve set up a Flickr Group on the CSQ page so please share a photo of your finished blocks here:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2170899@N25/