Mystery History
Our definition of a mystery quilt is one in which the group leader gives us directions for several months, with the look of the final project remaining a mystery until the last session. Check out some photos of past mystery quilts. This is a vital part of our quilt guild.
I discovered this on social media and thought it might fit here - a different view of what mystery means. skh
"While browsing in an antique shop I found this quilt top, so asked the shop owner, 'What is the story on this?' She said she bought a box of quilt goods at a farm auction in Nebraska and had no idea who made it. She wanted $25.00 for it, so I eagerly bought it (which I didn't need) and decided it needed hand quilted. Because there are always people wanting to hand quilt or learn to hand quilt, I organized some quilting bees and got it finished, then donated it to a little country church in Nebraska to be used to raise some much needed funds ... a win-win situation. I journaled the process and wrote a poem. We are not doing the same thing with a vintage quilt top purchased on Ebay for the quilt guild at Presho, South Dakota."
The Mystery Quilt
Who was that special lady? I would really like to know;
who cut and pieced this pretty top so many years ago?
I'm sure she planned to quilt it before her time on earth was through,
but oftentimes we leave this life with so much left to do.
We wonder, did she live alone? Was there children in her care?
Was family grown or was this sewn with a cradle by her chair?
Some pieces are from feedsacks; there's scraps of stripes and plaid.
Did she salvage them from outgrown clothes or cut from cloth she had?
Perhaps the little checks are from a tiny baby's clothes,
but we'll never know the story . . . Heaven only knows.
So, we'll finish what she started and let's hope we do her proud
as we stitch on her old patchwork quilt in which we've been endowed.
Perhaps her spirit's with us as we gather 'round the frame;
the maker of the Mystery Quilt, 'though we'll never know her name.
2002 - Tulips and Windmills
This was our inaugural mystery quilt event. Members were given fabric purchase information at the first meeting and then information for each block at succeeding meetings.
2003 - Noise
Can you hear the noise? This pattern reminded some members of an "Around the World" quilt but with an exciting "sound" element.
2004 - Row By Row
This mystery quilt is just what it is titled "Row-by-Row". All the members knew was they were going to be given the directions for one row each month. The quilters had such fun seeing what was coming next. There was a lot of "fussy cutting" going on to fill the cars and busses, windows and other areas around the quilt. When all were placed side by side, they created a very colorful town.
2005 - Change About
This mystery quilt was a great adventure. This quilt has three different blocks. We made eight identical blocks each month for three months. We were then instructed to go home and arrange them in an arrangement that we liked. A digital camera helped the editor see the variations that could be made and to, more easily, select the final composition. It was hard to decide because each time you moved the blocks you had a very differently designed quilt piece. With the variety of fabric and the different arrangements, it was hard to believe the same pattern was used by all the quilters.
2006 Americana Sampler
This quilt was a beautiful patriotic quilt. Every quilter chose to make a patriotic statement with their quilts. One of the biggest challenges with this quilt was the fact that all of the blocks were different sizes. To have them fit together correctly was like putting together a puzzle. It was a grand project, one that all were proud of.
2007 -The Case of the Progressive Units
This quilt project was a true mystery quilt. Fabric requirements were given at the first session. The next session, quilters were given directions about how to cut all of the pieces. The pieces were stored in zip lock plastic bags and labeled as clues. Each month a different clue was revealed, either a block or the next border. In the end, the mystery was solved and all who participated had a wonderful lap quilt to enjoy.
2007-2008 - Road to Jericho
This mystery quilt is a Biblical quilt. Each block is based on a Bible story or verse. The center block is the tree of life. The hand-appliqued border is the Rose of Sharon. Can you guess the Bible connections for each block? The names of the blocks will appear here soon.
This block took over a year to complete but everyone felt it was worth it. Because the quilt is so large, it needed two photos to do it justice.
This block took over a year to complete but everyone felt it was worth it. Because the quilt is so large, it needed two photos to do it justice.
This is another version of the Road to Jericho without the center block or appliqued border.
2009 - Holiday Cheer
This mystery was a simple, short, three-block design mystery quilt. Some members made table runners, some wall hangings and one even got ambitious and made a queen-sized quilt, pictured here.
2010 Star Sampler
It has 12 different star blocks set on point with the set in squares forming an 8-pointed star.
The quilt features a braided border to frame the stars.
The quilt features a braided border to frame the stars.
2011 Bargello Heart Quilt
The directions for the quilt were given each month, beginning with creating stratas (strips) for quilting. The construction directions came in three parts - top, bottom and middle. Check other pages for photos of different members projects.
2013 Hexagon Along
This quilt had many possibilities as it was constructed. There were six different hexagon patterns that could be mixed and matched as desired. This quilt has all of the hexagon patterns, arranged randomly. Others made a single style of hexagon to put in their quilt.
2014 - 3-2-1 Mystery
This quilt, after the blocks were assembled, could be arranged in different ways. The stripes added a different dimension to the quilt.
2015 - Quilted Leaf 30th Anniversary Mystery Quilt
This quilt was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Quilted Leaf Quilt Guild. The quilts will be on display in December 2016 at the Meadowlark Art Gallery in Grant.
2016 - Chop Suey
This quilt pattern was designed by Nebraska quilt designer, Scott Flanagan. It was featured in the Quiltmaker magazine May/June 2015 issue.
2017 - Mama Says
The border used in this quilt is really quite easy to make. Following the directions you are able to create accurate corners.
2019 - Step it Up
2021 - Sew By Row