Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt, Finished

I finished my quilt on Sunday, but couldn't post it until we had the quilt reveal and viewer's choice award at my guild which happened last night.

First of all, measure twice, cut once.  I cut a piece of batting several inches wider and several inches longer (so I thought) than my quilt top and proceeded to put everything on the frame only to discover I had cut the length using the measurement of the quilt before adding borders.  I decided to start quilting anyway and when I got to the point that I needed to add a strip of batting I whip stitched it on by hand.  The edge of the quilt is rolled back so you can see the 7 inch strip of extra batting I had to add on by hand. I emphasise by hand because I really try to avoid doing any sewing by hand....

I quilted this quilt by following a paper pantograph with a laser pointer on my machine.  Here's a picture showing how that works.  As you follow the line on the paper with the laser, the machine sews that same design onto the fabric.  I chose this design because I thought the flowers looked similar to the flowers in the fabric.

I didn't have quite enough of the flowered fabric for the backing, but I had some left over pieced strips and enough of the green to make do.  I used the rest of the green to make the binding.  I have only scraps of both fabrics left.

So here, finally, is what the finished quilt looks like.

Here's a picture of the winning quilt, courtesy of our guild photographer Lorna.  This quilt was made by Claudia.  (photo used with Claudia's permission) It was even nicer in person.

So now with two deadline quilts finished I can work on whatever I want!  I know Dear Jane will be one of them.

Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt Step 3 and a Few Notes

First, let me show you what was made in step 2.

Note #1 - The first part of step 3 is to cut setting triangles from squares.  At first I was confused because the side setting triangles were smaller than the corner setting triangles.  However, the side setting triangles are added to a block which makes
them into bigger triangles.

Note #2 - Block number one is created using two sections you have already made with the addition of some background rectangles.

There is a wrong way to put them together.  Ask me how I know.....

Note #3 - Block number two is created using two sections you have already made with the addition of some main print squares.  I really like this block.


















The next step is to sew your blocks and setting triangles together into the quilt top.  You can stop there, or you can add a border if desired.  I'm not going to show the finished quilt to preserve the mystery.  Hope to see lots of finished quilts at the September meeting!

As promised in my first post, here's the link to Debbie Caffrey's Free Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt from her website Debbie's Creative Moments.

The Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt - Step 1
The Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt - Step 2
The Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt - Step 3

Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt Step 2 and a Few Notes

Step 2 of the Cat's Meow Mystery quilt was introduced last night at the Mayflower's Quilting Guild.

First let me show you what blocks were made from Step 1.

I only have a few tips for step two.

Note #1 - Before you cut any strips, the pattern tells you that you will be making half square triangles and if you have a favourite way of making them instead of how they suggest, make them your way.  This may mean you cut the fabric differently.

Note #2 a - Half of the half square triangles are joined to a square one way and the other half are joined another way so you end up with mirror image blocks so just be aware of this.

Note #2 b - You then snow ball two opposite corners on some rectangles.  Just be aware that half of the rectangles are done one way and the other half are done mirror image as well.

Note #3 - The snowballed rectangles are also ironed differently, one set is ironed down and the other set is ironed up which makes sewing them together very easy as they will nest nicely.

Step 3 will be given in May and a link will be provided to the Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt on-line.

Step 4 will be to bring your completed quilt to the September meeting for the chance to win some prizes!

Cat's Meow Mystery Quilt Introduction to Step 1 and a Few Notes

I am making the sample of the Cat's Meow Mystery quilt for this Thursday's meeting of the Mayflower Quilters' Guild.  Now, since it's a mystery, I can't show much but I wanted to draw attention to a few things I found helpful when completing step 1.

In step 1 you pick your three fabrics:  a light background and a medium to dark main fabric as well as a dark or strong contrast fabric and then you cut and sew various width of fabric strips into strip sets as directed.  I think my strip sets show that my light fabric is nice and light and my two other fabrics are definitely darker but also have enough contrast from each other as well.

Note #1 - This is to emphasise that all the strip sets' seam allowances are all ironed towards the dark or contrasting fabric which will make further construction steps easier.  (I had to search for this detail.)

Note #2 - Some of the light background strips are not sewn into strip sets, but are cut up into various lengths as is.  After I had sewn my strip sets and had some single strips left over, I thought I had made an error and had to read back through the instructions to find out it was OK and what to do with them.

Note #3 - The first light and contrast strip sets become four patches.  If you nest two of the strip sets right sides together before cutting, the pieces will already be paired for chain sewing and you will also only have to make half as many cuts since you will be cutting two strips at once.

Note #4 - To reduce bulk when pressing the four patches open, you can spin your seams.  See how all the seams on the back of the block are pointing in the same direction as you go clockwise around the block and a little four patch appears in the centre of the back of the block.

Note #5 – When you join your four patches to other blocks, make sure you look at which way they are turned in the diagram before you attach them or you could end up with a different design.

Note #6 - Strip set #4, which has two narrow contrast strips on each side of the main fabric is just long enough to cut out the required number of pieces (12 x 3.5" =  42") so be careful, ask me how I know...  All the other strip sets have lots of wiggle room .

Step 2 will be given in April and Step 3 with be given in May.  Step 4 will be to bring your completed quilt to the September meeting for the chance to win some prizes!  I will also provide the link to the Mystery Quilt pattern after Step 3 is provided so people can't go and peek at the final result and spoil the mystery.  I just noticed that the striped edges of my design boards match my fabrics.

Edited 15/03/2018 to add Hint #5 and correct Hint numbering