New Years Day Quilt Mystery Fabric Selection

Pretty in Paisley Twin Quilt Clues Start 1/1/2025

This 72″ x 88″ finishes with two narrow borders. If you would like to make it bigger, just add more border(s). If you would like to make it smaller, just don’t make all 20 blocks.

The directions in this elegant blue & cream star quilt pattern are designed for beginners. Lots of tips & tricks are included! The Cutting Instructions will be available on December 27, 2024.

Remember to send me your pictures! Anyone who sends a picture of any stage during or just after the mystery will get a free copy of the finished pattern. My Email address is phoebemoondesigns@gmail.com

Life is short. Buy the fabric

Fabric Requirements:

(Remember you don’t have to use my fabrics. Cross off my names and write in yours.)

Taupe-Pin-Drop1/4 yd Taupe Pin Drop
Taupe-Ditsy1/2 yd Taupe Ditsy
Taupe-Dots2/3 yd Taupe Dots
Stripe2/3 yd Stripe
Dark-Blue-Ditsy1-1/4 yd Dark Blue Ditsy
Taupe-Gingham1-1/4 yd Taupe Gingham
Blue-Gingham1-1/4 yd Blue Gingham
Tiny-Blue-Dots1-1/2 yd Tiny Blue Dots
Blue-Paisley1-1/2 yd Blue Paisley
Dark-Blue1-1/2 yd Deep Blue
6 yards backing

Other Items That Would Be Helpful

Rotary Cutting Tips

Rotary Cutting Tips for fabric cutting like a pro! Before beginning a project, wash and press your fabric. If you like the behavior of crisp fabric as you cut, sew, and press your project, use a little spray sizing when you press it. 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 a garment. That might distort your seams.

Unless the pattern tells you otherwise, you should always assume that you are cutting on the straight-of-grain. All fabric has a grain line, just like wood. The grain that is parallel to the selvage is the lengthwise grain. It has very little “give”.

Image of Fabric Grainline


The grain that is perpendicular to the selvage (going through the fold) is the crosswise grain. It has a little more give and is fine for piecing blocks and borders. The grain that runs on a 45 degree angle to the selvage is the bias. It has lots of give. They tend to pull out of square when working with blocks or fabric cut on the bias.

Most strips for this pattern are cut on the crosswise grain, which means they are cut by Width of Fabric (WOF.) Before you make your first cut, hold the two selvages together and reposition the fold of the fabric if necessary.

If the edge of your fabric is crooked, straighten the fabric by placing your ruler so the short edge is along the selvage and the long edge goes across the fabric. Cut off an inch or so. All your future cuts will now be on the straight-of-grain.

straightening-the-edges

Remember, your cut will be more accurate if you stand while cutting and roll the rotary cutter away from your body. Hold the cutter at a slight angle to the fabric, not straight up and down.

If you are cutting a lot of strips from one piece of fabric, check for straight-of-grain every few strips. Even a few threads off can make a difference after several cuts. This can also happen if you change rulers in the middle of a project, too.

To cut squares, simply lay your strips crosswise on the cutting mat and line up your ruler with the bottom of the strip. In the Stripology ruler, the strips are lined up with a line on the ruler.

A Stripology ruler being used