Merry Mayhem Presents:

Case #111: "To a T," Part 1

Welcome to the world of Merry Mayhem, brought to Planet Patchwork by quilter, inventor, and internet entrepreneur, Merry May. Follow this mystery through six parts to make an old-fashioned quilt using new-fangled methods! This 52” x 66” quilt top will work up in a jiffy using paper foundations (if you wish) for the Flying Geese units. Use fabrics with a turn-of-the-century look to make it look like a real “oldie.”

Merry May Š 1998

Join Merry Mayhem 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! Please read all instructions before beginning. Basic quiltmaking and rotary-cutting skills are assumed. All dimensions given include 1/4” seam allowances. Try to cut and piece as accurately as possible, using 1/4” seams unless indicated otherwise.

SUPPLIES

Rotary equipment: mat, cutter & ruler
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
Utility scissors for cutting paper
Iron and heat-proof ironing mat or ironing board
Optional: GRIDDED GEESEŠ in the 2” x 4” size (1 package) To learn more about this amazing product, click here!
You’ll also need double-sticky tape if you choose to use Gridded Geese for this project.

FABRICS

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

Fabric Selection Guidelines:

For the turn-of-the-century look (turn of the LAST century, not this one!), try to select fabrics in Patriotic colors as suggested below; or, feel free to choose your own colors. Many fabric lines of reproductions can make this job fairly easy. For example, P&B’s Harriet Hargrave collection, Marcus Brothers, or Fons & Porter all have compatible colors and prints. Just ask your local quilt shop for assistance or visit The Kirk Collection!

A. Four Lights - 1/2 yard of each; reproduction shirting prints will work well here.

B. Four Darks in the same color family (for example, four Red prints) - Fat Quarters (18” x 22”) of each; look for “Turkey Red” prints, if you can.

C. Four Darks in another color family (for example, four Blue prints) - Fat Quarters of each; look for “Wash Good” blues or “Cadet Blues,” but navy blues are good, too.

D. Sashing - 1 yard; if you’re following our recommendations for colors, a Light-to-Medium “wash good” blue (like a “chambray” blue) would work well. Or, if you wish, you can wait until later to choose this fabric.

E. Border - 2 yards; either a Dark Red or Dark Blue are recommended. Again, you may wish to wait until later to choose this one. I

CUTTING DEFINITION: W.O.F. means “width of fabric.”

A. From each of your four Light fabrics, cut the following • Cut 6 squares, each cut 4 7/8”; bisect each once diagonally to make two triangles.

• Cut 3 squares, each 4 1/2” square.

If you are using GRIDDED GEESEŠ:

• Cut 3 large squares, each about 11” square.

If you are NOT using Gridded GeeseŠ:

• Cut 24 rectangles, each 2 1/2” x 4 1/2”. B. AND C. From each Dark fabric (includes both Reds and Blues), cut the following:

• Cut 3 squares, each 4 7/8”; bisect each once diagonally to make two triangles.

• Cut 3 squares, each 2 1/2” square.

If you are using GRIDDED GEESEŠ:

• Cut 3 strips, each about 5 1/8” x about 12”

If you are NOT using Gridded GeeseŠ:

• Cut 24 squares, each 2 1/2” square. D. Sashing: Cut 11 strips W.O.F. (see Definition above), each 2 1/2” wide; cut these into a total of 31 sashing strips, each 2 1/2” x 12 1/2”.

OR, if you are using a striped fabric, cut two 12 1/2” wide strips W.O.F., and then slice these into 2 1/2” strips. This will make the stripes run along the length of the sashing strips.

E. Border: If you choose to cut your border strips now, you will cut them parallel to the selvage edges of your fabric, rather than cutting across the fabric as you did earlier. You will need to cut four 4 1/2” wide strips, the entire length of your fabric (2 yards). We’ll “fine tune” these strips later! That’s all for now!

Now go on to the second installment of Case #111!

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. Major credit cards are accepted.

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

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