Patterns and their fabric

Well the mystery weekend is over with. I hope that you all enjoyed the pattern and the pictures of progress from those making the quilt. If you missed out, you can still see our progress here:

http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/forums/forums/forum-view.asp?fid=40

It wasn't until Jess started a store and made a forum to go with it, that I got interested in mystery quilts. The hardest part is choosing the fabrics. As you don't know what the quilt is going to look like, you might wonder if the fabrics you picked are going to look good. I usually go with my gut instinct on this one. Jess is great at letting you know if fabric A has to contrast well with another fabric, or if B should be a big print or a solid, light or dark. That really helps a lot. It's amazing how fabrics will slightly change the way a pattern looks. You sometimes can see a pattern within a pattern, using various lights and darks.

Many patterns are made up of two or three different block patterns, that gives the quilt a nice zing to it. And is usually where you'll find the pattern within the pattern. For instance, our March mystery this year used pinwheels and snails trails block patterns, the quilt turned out beautiful! Great design.

So get those creative juices flowing and try something a little different. Mix your colors up a bit, choose a few block patterns that will flow together and see what you come up with. And if you need some help, just come on over www.thequiltandneedle.com for inspiration, friendship and laughter... and Jess always has some great patterns for sale if you just need a bit of guidance.

Have a great day,

Dorian

News from the Homefront

Hello fellow quilters!

Happy (belated) Father's Day to all our readers' fathers and husbands - and let's not forget our male quilters either! I celebrated the day by making my husband, Billy, his requested feast of Chicken Rotel Spaghetti and having friends over to share the evening with us! Both of our daughters called their Daddy on his special day! I spent a few moments reminiscing over the years spent with my father and then said a prayer in honor of his memory.

Our granddaughter Wren has been visiting with Gramma & Grandaddy this week. We went to Monkey Joe's Playland last week and I thought I would share a couple of photos from the fun afternoon!

Cherie from New Jersey, one of the forum members at the Quilt and Needle, shared a photo of a quilt top she just completed! It is the pattern "Best Friends in Spite Of" which is featured in the Benni Harper's Quilt Album book. It is so bright and crisp in the orange and white fabric combo! Love it, Cherie, thanks for sharing!

So until next time, remember: When all else fails, just fondle the fabric!

Cindy, aka MisisipiMenace, aka Miss Tassels

Only One Week to the "Hotter Than THAT" Mystery Weekend!

Next Weekend, June 27th and 28th,

is the SUMMER MYSTERY Weekend

at the Quilt and Needle!

The pattern is FREE during the weekend, so you will want to collect each Installment as the clues are revealed.


The Fabric Requirements ...

http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/files/Mysteries/FabricRequirements_Hotter.pdf


and Cutting Chart ...

http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/files/Mysteries/Hotter_CuttingInstructions.pdf

are UP!!


Get your fabrics together and start cutting now so you do not miss a moment of the fun next weekend!!


Kits specially created for this pattern are available in the shop ...


http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=7498691345577498&Store_id=691&Page_id=17&categ_id=83&parent_ids=0,2


... and there is still time to receive your order before the weekend. Jess will ship by Priority US Mail to ensure you have your kit on time.


I could not resist the lovely Spring Hill fabrics by Robert Kaufman ... these fabrics are very rich looking browns with just a touch of metallic gold on the florals and background cream and gold print. They washed beautifully and are very nice to the touch.


How do I know? I am one of Jess's lucky pattern testers. No hints from me ... but I can tell you I am already thinking of making another quilt in the same pattern.

To share the fun, please join us on the Quilt and Needle Forum where you will find many of us have already posted our fabric choices ...

http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1073&posts=54&start=1

Remember ... this pattern will only be available for free during the weekend and for a brief time thereafter. Then it will be for sale in the Q&N Shop!

Hope to see you all join us!

Happy Quilting! :-) Pat

New Hand Dyed Fabric Club at the Q&N!

There is an exciting new fabric club starting up at the Quilt & Needle! Here is all you need to know to join us and start receiving beautiful Hand Dyed Fabrics of the Month made in small batches and special club patterns designed for these fabrics ... all made by Connie Eicher ...



http://www.thequiltandneedle.com/handdyed.asp

• As a lucky recipient of a half-yard of one of these beautiful fabrics at the Quilt & Needle Retreat held last March in Tomball, TX, I can attest to the fine quality of these fabrics. I have not found the perfect project yet for this fabric, but I like to take it out from time to time just to enjoy the luxurious feel and the bright color.
  

I am happy to be a Charter Member of the "Cracked Ice" Fabric of the Month Club and hope you will join us and snatch a rainbow of these fabrics for yourselves!

:-) Pat

"You can never have too many friends ... or too much fabric! "