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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