The Mystery Quilter

Quiltalong Progress

Are you taking part in my Hemisphere Quiltalong? This is a free project that I am running for approximately six months, we're only a few weeks in but it's been amazing so far! I have enjoyed looking at all the different blocks that everyone has been making, and seeing the positive comments from you. I love the fact that people have been willing to give these blocks a go, and that once they try, they love making them!

This quiltalong is a great way to learn my Triangle Patchwork techniques, and it'll give you the confidence to try some of my other projects.

I'm using Carolyn Friedlander's Jetty fabric range together with Kona Solids for my blocks. Each week I prepare half of the block, which has two triangle units in, and then I do a tutorial on how to make the units. The tutorials are both in my Facebook live group, Triangle Block Party, and on my website.

All you need to do to take part is to register on my website, then you will receive the weekly emails with the block patterns. You can also log in to the website and get the patterns from there, plus watch the tutorial videos.

BLOCK 1

BLOCK 2

BLOCK 3

BLOCK 4

 

BLOCK 5

BLOCK 6

BLOCK 7

Come along to virtual class with me

Tomorrow I will be teaching another free class in my Triangle Block Party facebook group. These classes are always available in the group after the facebook live, just go to the video section to view them.

In Lessons 1 to 3 I teach you how to make this Wonderland Table runner, using my triangle patchwork techniques. Once you have taken these lessons you are going to want to make more triangle based projects!

I hope you enjoy the classes.

Here's where to join

 

Free online classes

While we are all stuck at home I've been experimenting with doing some online classes.

It's been lots of fun and the classes are now up online (free of charge) and available to view. All you have to do is click on the images below and join the facebook group for each class. You will find the first videos in the groups already.

Back to Basics is a beginner course in making a simple quilt. So far I have covered information about choosing fabrics, selecting tools, cutting and getting a good 1/4" seam. Next Tuesday 7th April 2020 at 10am (New Zealand time) I am doing the second session on sewing on your sashings and borders.

On Thursday 9th April at 10am NZ time I will be teaching the second class in my Triangle Block Party. Join me to learn my triangle patchwork techniques.

 

To get the correct time for your location, here is a link to a world clock

As well as the classes, the patterns for each of the class projects are included and can be downloaded from the Units sections of the groups.

I hope you enjoy sewing along and look forward to welcoming you to class!

 

 

I love big blocks and I cannot lie! (plus a smaller option for Topsy)

Do you love big blocks and big quilts? I love a quilt that covers the bed and doesn't get fought over on a cold night!

Topsy is a quilt that is great fun to make and comes in two lovely big sizes, but if you're not into big quilts  I have drawn up options for making it in a smaller format (see below for two bonus formats).

 This was one of the few quilts of mine that got it's name really early in the process of making. The blocks grew so fast I was reminded of the saying 'growing like topsy'

This is a great quilt for mixing and matching unexpected prints. Stripes look great as the 'petals' in the blocks, and they also work in the sashings. Bright pops of colour for the central parts of the blocks are fun as well. Try combining spots, stripes, large and small prints. The important thing is to get contrast in each block.

I used a half yard pack of Art Gallery fabrics from various lines for my quilt. The teals and pinks worked beautifully together and there are stripes, florals and regular small prints. I also popped in a few orange and yellow prints for the centres to liven things up.

This weekend I taught this quilt as a class in my shop, and had so much fun seeing all the wonderful fabric combinations. I love this stripe and floral together and the zingy orange in the middle.

Look at these amazing stripes!

 

The half sixty ruler makes cutting the petals from strips really easy. My students had quite a few blocks made before lunchtime.

You can make this fun quilt using my pattern which is available from quilt shops and also from my Payhip store.

 

MAKE A SMALLER VERSION

I have created some alternative block plans for making Topsy in a smaller size as well as the King and Queen.

You could make a lap size quilt like this

Alternatively if you like to make lots of small blocks, try this version. This one will end up approximately 49" x 54"

If you would like the fabric requirements and cutting directions for these versions, email me your  proof of purchase for the Topsy pattern and I will send you the link.

I'd love to see your version of Topsy! You can share it in my Triangle Quilters' Group on facebook  - join here

Sheila

Pattern Note: If you have bought the pattern from a shop, just double check the measurements for the setting triangles on your copy. These have been corrected on Feb 25th 2020 and are 9" for the Queen and 11 1/4" for the King size.

Slice it Up!

With the launch of my new Creative Grids Half Sixty ruler I have designed a number of patterns to go along with this great tool. One of these is Slice it Up, a really easy layer cake (10" square) friendly pattern.

At Quilt Market in Houston last October I purchased a pack of 10 inch squares of Gridwork, the gorgeous new range by Christa Watson @christaquilts for Benartex. This range is just hitting the shops now, so it's a great time to nab yourself some of this lovely fabric.

I started designing Slice it Up by cutting blocks and playing with them on my sewing room design wall.

Nice - but I always like to let me blocks 'sit' for a while before finally deciding how to put them together. So a few days later I tried this idea, this time with the whole set of blocks in my living room where I am very lucky to have an 8 foot square design wall. Now that is much more dynamic!

 

With the addition of a solid colour, I was finally happy with the design and got the quilt completed, and pattern written and printed.

 

You can buy the pattern for Slice it Up from your local quilt shop, or direct from me in my Payhip store

Get your Gridwork fabric from your local Benartex stockist, or from Christa's website

My Half Sixty ruler is made by Creative Grids, check out their website to find your nearest stockist.

I love the combination of geometric shapes that Christa has put together with her pick of stunning colours. I also got a jelly roll pack and I have a plan for that, I'll keep you posted on my progress!

 

2020 Mystery Quilt Sign Ups opening soon!

This year I have designed two Mystery Quilts that will be starting in February 2020.

Both of these are pre-cut and ready to sew, and the registrations open this week - be quick as quantities are limited and many colourways sell out quickly!

The Name of  the Rose

This is one of my classic Puzzle Mystery Quilts. You can sign up for this quilt from

Cotton Cuts

My friend Kim Moos and her team at Cotton Cuts in St Louis will cut your pieces for you and ship to anywhere in the world.

Modern Quilt Club

The lovely Lisa runs the Puzzle Mystery in the UK so if you are in the UK or Europe this is a great option for you.

Trendsetters II

This is the Mystery that uses my triangle patchwork techniques. Available in limited numbers from my shop in New Zealand. There will also be a 'cut your own' option for purchase in my Payhip store nearer the launch date.

If you loved the quilt that I showed to Ricky Tims on The Quilt Show (with the Star Tips block, behind me in this photo) you can buy the pattern for this in my Payhip store. It is called Trendsetters. The instructions are for the general quilt layout but if you send me a note when you purchase I will send you the fabric requirements for the rainbow solids background fabrics.

 

Join the Mystery Quilters facebook group to see how the current Puzzle Mystery is going

Follow me on Facebook here

See you soon for another Mystery Adventure!

 

Introducing Matariki

I had a fabulous time at Quilt Market in Houston introducing my brand new Matariki Block of the Month pattern to shops.

I designed this quilt in two colourways - this one is called Spectrum, and it uses Violet Craft's Modern Classics fabrics from Robert Kaufman. What fun getting to pose with Violet for a photo!

 

The other colourway uses Jennifer Sampou's Chalk and Charcoal fabrics, also by Robert Kaufman. Jennifer happened to be in the booth right next to Violet, so I got photos with both of these lovely ladies!

 

This block of the month pattern is divided into ten parts. Each month includes the patterns for two blocks.

All of these are made with the Creative Grids CGR60 triangle ruler, using the techniques from my book Quilts with an Angle.

Month 1 includes all the instructions you need for cutting the shapes with this great ruler. You will learn to cut triangles, trapezoids, hexagons, diamonds and parallelograms, all using the triangle ruler plus a straight ruler.

The pattern booklets are complete separate items for each month, making it easy for shops to kit up the blocks with pattern and fabric.

 

Matariki Patterns

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At the moment the Matariki pattern set is only available wholesale, so ask your local quilt shop to get it!

 

For wholesale enquiries please contact:

[email protected]

or

www.checkerdist.com

 

 

It's a wrap!

Thank you to everyone who has been following the blog hop for Quilts with an Angle, and thank you to my fellow bloggers for all their work writing reviews.

I hope that you have learned some more about the book and my triangle grid patchwork technique.

If you haven't yet, do visit all of the blogs listed below to see what they have to say!

 

As you have seen, Quilts with an Angle is full of interesting projects to make, with 15 quilts in total. But not just that, I included lots of tips and techniques for piecing 60 degree shapes and also tables for cutting the different shapes with a triangle ruler - who knew you could cut a hexagon with just two cuts?

So whether you are a beginner, scared of triangles, or want to extend your techniques, there is something for you. I hope you enjoy the book and try some of the projects, and I would love to see what you make!

You can post photos of your work in my facebook group, Sheila Christensen's Triangle Quilters. Join here.

 

April 16th C&T www.ctpub.com/blog

April 17^th Wendy Welsh  wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com

April 18^th Sheila Christensen www.mysteryquilter.com

April 19^th Angie Wilson www.gnomeangel.com

April 20^th Juliet van der Heijden www.thetartankiwi.com

April 21^st Kim Moos www.cottoncuts.com/blog

April 22^nd Yvonne Fuchs www.quiltingjetgirl.com

April 23^rd Aurifil www.auribuzz.wordpress.com

April 24^th Jacquie Gering tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com

April 25th Sheila Christensen www.mysteryquilter.com YOU ARE HERE

 

To be in with a chance to win a digital copy of Quilts with and Angle, enter the prize draw here.

This draw closes on April 29th. Winner will be notified by email.

 

Where it all started

I'm so excited to announce the re-launch of my Modern Triangle Sampler pattern. It's been an amazing journey since I made the original quilt. It prompted me to write my book, has appeared at Quiltcon and has given me many happy hours of teaching students how to do triangle patchwork.

Since I wrote the original pattern I have figured out new ways to make the cutting easier, and I wanted to share these with you, so I have re-written the instructions in easy to follow step by step format complete with colour illustrations. My friend Kristy at Page and Pixel has done an amazing job on the design and layout.

 

The new pattern is now available in my payhip store as a pdf download, and I will will have printed copies available soon. If you haven't tried triangle patchwork yet now is a great time to have a go!

 

As a special offer for my blog followers, you can get 25% off this pattern until the end of April. Just enter the coupon code mysteryquilter

 

BUY NOW

 

 

 

Symposium 2019

I am really excited to be teaching at the Quilt Symposium this October.

I am offering two classes;

Shapes with an Angle is an in-depth, 3 day class where you will learn all about my triangle grid patchwork technique, make sample blocks, play with new ideas and work on your own project. This class is for quilters with experience who wish to extend their understanding of the structure of these contemporary quilts, but you don't need any experience with 60 degree triangles.

 

Mini Wonders Waltz is a project-based class over 2 days. You will make my Mini Wonders hexagonal table centre, piecing the blocks and you may also get on to quilting in the time available.  A fun project to stretch yourself and learn new techniques.

The 2019 NZ Quilt Symposium is being held at St Cuthberts College in Auckland