The New Years Day Quilt Mystery starts Jan 1, 2024 at 9AM Eastern. It’s called Mardi-Gras Magic and features the fabric from Northcott. You can purchase some of them on Etsy.
The Clues are at the bottom of the page.
Mardi Gras is a spectacular celebration that lasts from the 12th day after Christmas to the day before Ash Wednesday. Though Mardi Gras technically refers only to Fat Tuesday (February 13,2024 this year), the season actually begins on Epiphany, (the twelfth day of Christmas) and ends on Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent.)
Mardi Gras is a purple, green and gold carnival filled with parties, interesting parades and best of all, King Cake! A king cake is a brioche with a “baby” baked inside. Whoever finds the baby has to make the next king cake. I sent the picture below to my then-pregnant daughter, who did not get the joke.
Even though the day itself is a Louisiana State Holiday, the celebration of Mardi Gras may have actually originated in Mobile, Alabama. French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville celebrated his arrival in what is now Mobile on Fat Tuesday, 1699 and named the location Point du Mardi Gras. It’s mostly celebrated in the Southern US. We’ve participated in several Mardi Gras events – you can see our adventures in New Orleans here and Galveston TX here.
The Mardi Gras Magic Mystery
To print this clue, go to https://scrapdash.com/mardi-gras-magic-mystery-quilt and use the green Print Friendly button at the bottom of this page. And remember: anyone who sends me a picture of any completed clue during the mystery will automatically get a copy of the complete pattern when we are done. Plus, I have some donated door prizes this time, too!
This mystery will use 3″ x 6″ finished Flying Geese. There are lots of different methods to make them, but I am using the traditional one, which is sewing corners on a rectangle. If you prefer another method, wait until you get to the clue to cut.
Flying Geese Methods
- Traditional Method used in this mystery
- Accuquilt
- No Math/ Wing Clipper
- Quilt in a Day (Large Ruler)
- Dimensional
- Square-in-a-Square
- Corners on a triangle using the Ultimate Flying Geese Tool
Supplies you might need
A quick note on affiliate links. If you see a link in dark blue, it may or may not be an affiliate link. Affiliate links are links that give me a commission if you buy something, but it doesn’t cost you anything. I often link to Amazon because they usually have items in stock, but they don’t always have the best price. Be sure to check places like the Fat Quarter Shop, too. That link is an example of an affiliate link that gives you $10 off your first $50+ order at Fat Quarter Shop, by the way.
Before starting this or any other project, wash and press your fabric. If you like the behavior of crisp fabric as you cut, sew and press your project, try a little spray sizing when you press it. Take the time to clean your machine, put in a new needle and fill a few bobbins. Unless the pattern tells you otherwise, you should always assume that the seam in any quilting pattern is 1/4″ wide.
The Traditional Method for making Flying Geese Blocks is used in this pattern. If you prefer another method, wait until the clue is announced before cutting anything.
All strips are cut by Width of Fabric. Pressing means just holding the iron over a spot for a moment or two. Don’t drag the iron back and forth as you normally do when ironing. That might distort your seams.
Cutting Instructions – Use your own fabrics!
1/4 yard Mardi Gras Jester
- Cut (1) strip 8″ wide by the WOF. From that strip, cut (5) 8″ squares
1/4 yard Mardi Gras Fleur-de-lis
- Cut (1) strip 8″ wide by the WOF. From that strip, cut (5) 8″ squares
2-3/4 yard Background
- Cut (2) strips 8″ wide by the WOF. From those strips, cut (10) 8″ squares
- Cut (22) strips 3-1/2″ wide by the WOF. From those strips, cut (240) 3-1/2″ squares
3/4 yard Mardi Gras Masks
- Cut (7) strips 3-1/2″ wide by the WOF. From those strips, cut (40) 3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ rectangles
3/4 yard Mardi Gras Feathers
- Cut (7) strips 3-1/2″ wide by the WOF. From those strips, cut (40) 3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ rectangles
1 yard Toscana Deep Purple
- Cut (13) strips 2-1/2″ wide by the WOF.
1 yard Mardi Gras Music
- Cut (7) strips 4-1/2″ wide by the WOF.
Mardi-Gras Magic Mystery Quilt Clues
- Introduction
- Clue One (9AM EST)
- Clue Two and Three (10AM EST)
- Clue Four (12PM EST) (short clue)
- Clue Five (1PM EST)
- Clue Six (2PM EST)
- Clue Seven (3PM EST)
- Clue Eight (4PM EST) (short clue)
- Clue Nine (5PM EST)
- Picture Page! Anyone who sends me a picture or orders a kit will get a free pattern at the end of the mystery.
Have another tip to offer? Send it to me or reply below and I will add it here.
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Looking forward to this mystery – am traveling on the 31st so will go through my stash when I get home to see what I can find and get ready for this adventure!
as a lifelong Utah (nee NOLA) Jazz fan.. count me in.
Sounds great how much of each material?
They were under the pictures! I have no idea where they went. Weird. I am fixing it now. If the disappear again, the answer is:
1/4 yard Jester
1/4 yard Fleur-de-lis
3/4 yard Masks
3/4 yard Feathers
1 yard Music (Outer Border)
1 yard Purple (First Border & Binding)
2-3/4 yards Background
Thank you for the updated yardage. I was checking back all day, in case it was my browser! 😀
How big is the finished quilt?
With only 4 1/2 yard backing about wall size.
Hello from Ontario, CANADA.
I love the idea of a Mardi-Gras Mystery Quilt. I am wondering if I can use 2 or 3 “toned down” pieces of fabric as I am not a fan of “Busy Looking Quilts.” I know I will not get quite the same effect. Looking through my stash.
Thank you.
Just now getting my act together on this. I’ve always wanted to do a Mardi Gras quilt. This is right up my alley! Waiting for some fabrics to come, but I’m excited. So–is the deadline Mardi Gras? or is it before then?
Finally my fabric has arrived so I’ll be busy trying to play catch up. I decided I wanted to make it with the Mardi Gras fabric and had to get bits and pieces from several different people here in Australia. I was unable to source the feathers but purchased streamers instead. Two different masks fabric to get the required amount required so it will have a bit of variation from the original. Now to get on with it.