“Old World Fantasy” - a 2020 Mystery Quilt introduction

Finally…

Today I’m introducing the colors of the mystery quilt you all asked me to lead.

Yes!

Multiple people in the Facebook group have asked me several times to do a mystery quilt. So here goes.

Today - the colors and yardage.

I thought this first mystery quilt would be a “nod” to where I live (Poland) - and so I’ve dubbed it “Old World Fantasy”.

I decided to build it around the castle - the biggest brick castle in Europe - Malbork - We have a jigsaw puzzle of this place on our wall on our stairway to our basement. I see it daily. I’ve been there multiple times. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I also have been influenced by people around me who seem to love these colors together - including my husband. Even I have learned to love them. I didn’t used to. They were colors I just overlooked.

This quilt is going to be a big one - as usual - a queen size quilt. I’ll give you the colors and yardage.

But before I go on, I do know that not all of you want such “heavy colors”. This theme is “Old World” and so I thought I’d actually give you another suggestion.

We also have stone castles here in Poland - they are amazing. You could use these colors as well!

I will actually give yardage and sizes for two smaller sizes later. For now we are going to assume a queen size quilt! (100”)

Kazimiec Dolny ruins.

Of course this doesn’t mean that it is in the shape of a castle or anything, but I did try to for an “old world” feeling to it.

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So here goes. This is what you need: your choice - a Burgundy/golds/tans/browns or a Blue/grays/white layout.

Red-burgundy/Gold/Tan/Browns:

I used three constants:

Very dark brown - 2 yards

Burgundy/dark red - 2 yards

Gold - 1 yard

Reds - can be bright red - 1.5 yards various

Gold/dark tans - 1 1/2 yards various

Browns - not as dark as your very dark brown constant - 1 yards various

Tans, dark cream, “tea stain” is great (keep it decidedly “not white”)  -  4 yards – include a 1/2 yard of an off white

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The Blues/Grays layout.

I have not made this one - but want to do it “along with” everyone else week by week during the actual Mystery Quilt. I do not have samples since I’ve not made it yet.

Dark gray, royal blue, and a light gray for your constants:

Dark gray – almost a charcoal –  2 yards

Bright royal blue –  2 yards

Light gray – 1 yard

PLUS:

A variety of royal blues/blues – a little lighter or darker than the royal blue constant – (instead of the reds – stay away from navy) – 1 1/2 yards

My own personal selection of grays is very limited. I also have noted that my royal blues are decimated. So these are what I am going to be choosing from as I work on this quilt. The constants are shown above.

Medium/med light grays – 1½  yards (just make sure they are different in lightness or darkness than the ‘constant’ mentioned above)

Nice dark grays -  (instead of the browns shown above) – 1 1/2 yards

Instead of all the tans/creams/tea stains shown above use light grays, whites, and light blues could use a “low volume print”– 4 yards

I’ll let you go to your own stash and choose by yourself. Trust yourself! As we make it, I will tell you where you need to make sure there is a bit of contrast to make the pattern show up.

And that’s it!

Note - it isn’t an applique quilt nor a sampler quilt. Those are the only two hints I have for you!

Enjoy!

We’ll start with the first hint on March 28. That gives you a full month to get your fabrics together!

Until then keep working on your “other projects” - I’m sure you’ve got plenty!

I’m excited and not-a-little scared to be leading this Mystery Quilt. I’ll be here, and learning and growing through it. I hope you like it. Click on the picture to download the colors in a PDF format.

Have a great day and be sure to check out what my sis has in the store!

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