Inspector Cluesew Presents:

Case #110: "No Strings Attached"
Part 1

Join Inspector Cluesew for a venture into the unknown (for awhile, that is!). Instructions for this mystery quilt project are revealed bit by bit, so you won't have a clue to what you're making until you're nearly finished! Choose to make either a Small (45" x 54") or Giant (90" x 108") quilt top as you pillage and plunder those spare strips that keep piling up (you can't hide them from Inspector Cluesew!)

Editor's Note: The first part of this mystery quilt appeared in Lady's Circle Patchwork Quilting prior to its ceasing publication. If you began the quilt based on its publication there, you may now complete it using the instructions that will be published here at The Quilt Channel in six parts every two weeks over the next few months.

Please read all instructions before beginning. All measurements include 1/4" seam allowances, unless indicated otherwise. Try to be as accurate as possible.

SUPPLIES

Rotary equipment: mat, cutter & ruler (we recommend using a 6" x 24" AND at least a 12" square ruler, if possible)

Sewing machine, extra needles, extra bobbins

Large spool of neutral-color sewing thread

Basic sewing kit (including a seam ripper, just in case!)

Scissors for cutting fabric

Iron and heat-proof ironing mat or ironing board

FABRICS

Prewash and iron all fabrics. Good-quality, 100% cotton is recommended.

For a "controlled scrappy" look, you're welcome to use a single Light fabric, rather than a wide variety, as suggested.

Your Lights and Mediums/Darks can be from two different (but coordinating) color families, if you wish. For example, you might want to choose pale yellows for your Lights, and Blues for your Mediums & Darks.

OR, use darker shades of your Light color in with your Mediums and Darks (in this example, you could use darker golds and rusts in addition to the Blues).

OR, strike out on your own and just use ALL scraps, regardless of the color. (But please do pay attention to the contrast between your Lights and Mediums/Darks!)

Whatever you do, there should be good contrast between your Lights and your Medium "Focus Fabric."

PLEASE NOTE: Yardages for the Small project are listed first; the Giant-size project yardages are listed in (parentheses).

Muslin or "Leftover" Light Fabrics (this will be used as a foundation): 1 yard; (3 3/4 yards)

A Single Light OR Light Scraps: a total of 1 yard; (a total of 3 3/4 yards)

Medium "Focus Fabric:" 1 3/4 yards; (4 1/2 yards)

Medium/Dark Scraps: a total of 1 yard; (a total of 8 1/4 yards)

PART 1: CUTTING:

Unless instructions indicate otherwise, all strips are to be cut across the width of your fabric; in other words, selvage to selvage. Try to be as accurate as possible. You will note that your Medium "Focus Fabric" (the exception to this "rule") will need to be cut along the length of the fabric (parallel to the selvage edges) for your Border strips before you cut your remaining pieces.

PLEASE NOTE: Quantities for the Small project are listed first, followed by the Giant-size project quantities in (parentheses).

Muslin or “Leftover” Light Fabrics: Cut three 10” wide strips; then cut into ten 10” squares. From the remaining fabric, cut four 5” squares.

(Cut thirteen 10” wide strips; then cut into a total of fifty 10” squares. From the remaining fabric, cut four 5” squares.)

Light(s):

If using scraps, cut ten different squares (if possible), each 9 7/8” square.

(Cut a total of fifty squares, each 9 7/8” square. If you’re using all the same fabric, you’ll need to cut thirteen 9 7/8” strips; then cut these into 9 7/8” squares.)

Medium “Focus Fabric:” Cut two 5” wide strips, from selvage to selvage. Set aside for your Borders.

Cut two more 5” strips, this time parallel to the selvage edges, and 50” long. Set aside for your Borders.

From your remaining fabric, cut five 3” wide strips; then cut these into ten rectangles, each 3” by about 16” long (does NOT need to be exactly 16”, but should be pretty close to that).

(For the Giant-size project, cut four 5” wide strips parallel to the selvage edges, and 100” long.

DO NOT LAYER-CUT THEM! Instead, cut them side-by-side, so your remaining fabric is about 20” wide. Set the 5” wide strips aside for your Borders. From your remaining fabric, cut 3” wide strips across the fabric; you should be able to get about 33 of these strips after you’ve cut your Border strips.

Next, cut an additional nine 3” wide strips from your remaining full-width fabric; cut these into 3” by about 16” lengths [does NOT need to be exactly 16”, but should be pretty close to that].)

Medium/Dark Scraps:

Big news! It’s OK for these strips to be a little crooked, so go ahead and dig out all of those “boo-boo” strips in your scrap box! You will eventually be cutting these fabrics into strips of varying widths; anything from 1” wide up to and including 2 1/2” wide. We strongly suggest that you wait until Parts 2 and 3 to begin cutting these.

Now you can go on to Part 2!

This series is contributed by Schoolhouse Enterprises, exclusive manufacturers of Gridded Geese and Other Fun Stuff! Gridded Geese is a fast, accurate way to mass-produce Flying Geese units up to 24 at once (no kidding!)

For a free catalog which includes a sample of Gridded Geese, e-mail your snail mail address to: cluesew@jerseycape.com Or, call 609-628-2256. All major credit cards are accepted.

Visit Schoolhouse Enterprises' Home Page for more information about their products.

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Inspector Cluesew Presents:

Case #110: "No Strings Attached" Part 1

This series is contributed by Schoolhouse Enterprises, exclusive manufacturers of Gridded Geese and Other Fun Stuff! Gridded Geese is a fast, accurate way to mass-produce Flying Geese units up to 24 at once (no kidding!)

Visit Schoolhouse Enterprises' Home Page for more information about their products.

Case #110: "No Strings Attached"
Part 1