Mystery Quilt

Part 1
REMEMBRANCE 78" Square Sampler Quilt Designed by Kim Diehl
Preserve and honor our quilting heritage when you stitch this traditional sampler project featuring large, easily pieced vintage-style blocks. Explore new techniques or brush up your existing skills as you sew blocks that include half-square triangles using two methods, strip piecing. stitch and fold points, applique (without needle-turning!), and optional embroidery embellishments. To easily plan your fabric choices, yardage requirements for the entire project are provided using just two colors (one dark and one light), but if your preferences lean toward a contemporary or scrappy look, simply substitute your choices. Cutting instructions are provided separately for each block and/or sec­tion of the quilt. Have fun!
Yardage Requirements
6 yards of dark print or solid 4 3/4 yards of backing fabric
3 3/4 yards of light print or muslin 84" square of quilt batting
Blocks 1 and 6 -Double X Variation
From dark cut:
· One 2-yard width of fabric length (72") from the length of the grain, parallel to the selvages; reserve this for a later use when preparing ~e outer borders and binding.
· 2 strips, 3 7/8" x 42"; crosscut into 14 squares, 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" (reserve the remainder of the strip for use in
Blocks 3 and 8)
·1 strip, 3 1/2" x 42"; crosscut into 8 squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
From light cut:
· 2 strips, 3 7/8" x 42"; crosscut into 14 squares, 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" (reserve the remainder of the strip for use in Blocks 3 and 8)
· 2 strips, 3 1/2" x 42''''; crosscut into 14 squares, 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"
1. Layout 5 light 3 1/2" squares and 4 dark 3 1/2" squares in three rows to form a nine-patch unit. Join the pieces in each row. Press the seam allowances toward the dark. Join the rows. Press the seam allowances toward the middle row. Repeat for a total of 2 nine-patch units.
2. Use a pencil to draw a line on the reverse of the 14 light 3 7/8” squares.
3.Layer a prepared light 3 7/8" square with a dark 3 7/8" square. Sew together 1/4" out from each side of the pencil line. Cut the joined pair apart exactly on the drawn line. Press the two resulting half-square triangles open, with the seam allowance toward the dark. Trim away the dog-ear points. Repeat for a total of 28 half-square triangles.
Each layered pair will make 2 half-square triangle units.
4. Join 3 half-square triangles as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the dark. Repeat for a total of 4 side units.


5. Join 4 half-square triangles as shown. Press the seam allowances toward the dark. Join a light 3 1/2" square to the· dark end of the pieced strip. Press the seam allowances toward the light square. Repeat for a total of 4 top/ bottom units.


6. Join a side unit to the right and left hand sides of a nine-patch unit from step 1. Press the seam allowances to­ward the nine-patch. Join a top -bottom unit to the remaining sides of the nine-patch. Press the seam allowances towards the. Nine -patch. Repeat for a total of two Double -X Variation blocks measuring 15 1/2" square, including seam allowances.



From dark, cut:
· 1 strip, 5 7/8" x 42"; crosscut into 4 squares, 5 7/8" x 5 7/8". Cut each square in half diago­nally to yield 8 triangles. (reserve the remainder of the strip for use in Block 5)
· 1 strip, 3 3/8" x 42"; crosscut into 8 squares, 3 3/8" x 3 3/8". Cut each square in half diago­nally to yield 16 triangles. From the remainder of this strip, cut 8 squares, 1 1/2"x 1 1/2"
· 1 rectangle, 7 1/2" x 22"; from this rectangle, cut 8 bias strips, 1 1/4" x 7 1/2" (reserve the remaining 7 1/2" - wide width offabric piece that remains after cutting the 22" rectangle for use in Block 5)
From light, cut:
· 2 strips, 5 7/8" x 42" ; crosscut into 8 squares, 5 7/8" x 5 7/8". Cut each square in half diago­nally to yield 16 triangles. From the remainder of this strip, cut 7 squares, 3" x 3"
· 1 strip, 3" x 42"; crosscut into 9 squares, 3" x 3"
1. Layer a 5 7/8" dark triangle with a 5 7/8" light triangle. Stitch together along the long bias edges, leaving two approximately 1 112" wide openings about 1 1/2" in from each side for placement of the basket handles. Press the seam allowance toward the dark. Trim away the dog-ear points. Repeat for a total of 8 half-square triangles.
2. Fold a 1 1/4" x 7 1/2" bias strip in half with wrong sides together and sttich along the long raw edge using a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Press the strip flat with the seam centered, so that it will be hidden when the handle is appliqued to the block background. Repeat for a to­tal of 8 prepared handles.
3. Use a water-soluble marker to place a tiny dot at the basket seam line 1 1/2" in from each point. Apply small dots of liquid basting glue for fabric to the seam allowance of a prepared handle. Press the handle onto the light side of a block background, aligning the outside curves with the marked dots and tucking the raw ends into the openings at the seam line. (Ensure that you leave at least 1 /2" between the outer curve of the handle and the block edge to allow for the seam allowances.) Trim away any excess handle length, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance. Use matching thread to applique the handle in place. Machine stitch the openings in the seam line closed. Repeat for a total of 8 appliqued basket segments.
Leave at least 1 /2" for seam allowance.
This square will be continued next newsletter, because I could not scan this next picture.