It's Time for the 2026 Mystery Quilt

Clues will be posted here as follows:

June 8: Clue 1 - Cutting Instructions
July 7: Clue 2 - Stitching Sub-Units
August 4: Clue 3 - Assembling Blocks
August 18: Clue 4 - Final Assembly

Mary Strinka is hosting the Mystery Quilt this year, using a pattern that she created. The pattern will finish at about 38" x 50" and you can probably use fabric from your stash. This pattern is good for all levels of quilting and there's no half square triangles and very little fussy matching needed. You just need to cut accurately and make sure you're using a 1/4" seam.

Materials List

5 fat quarters that play well together
½ yard for outer border – this can be the same as one of the fat quarters, or different
1 yard solid or near-solid fabric that ties together the others. (there will be enough left after cutting for the binding as well)

Fabric ideas:

A collection from your favorite designer plus a coordinating solid.
A bunch of black and white prints, with your favorite color solid.
A bunch of novelty prints with a coordinating solid.
Fruit and vegetable prints with a brown or tan solid.
A mix of florals with a green solid.
Juvenile prints with a coordinating solid.
Blue and white prints with a solid blue.
Shirting or homespun plaids with a coordinating solid.

Clue One - Cutting Instructions

Mary has developed a pdf document with the cutting instructions, including a handy visual guide for cutting with the least waste of your fabric. You can download the document here. If you have problems downloading the document, please email columbineqg@gmail.com for assistance.

Clue Two - Piecing Sub-Units

Another pdf document is available here. This document has diagrams and instructions for piecing together sub-units that will later be incorporated in blocks. If you have problems downloading the document, please email columbineqg@gmail.com for assistance.