The Christmas Sew Along

It’s time to start our Split Square Sew Along and it does not have to be Christmas.  I am going to make mine red and white.  I think most of you have received your book by now but if yours is still being sent, follow Along as I take you through the steps.  Then when you get your book feel free to transfer any notes from the blog into your book.

Since the Sew Charming quilts arrived here last week I thought I’d dig through the boxes and find Split Squares.  It seems we sent 3 versions.


For those of you without a book yet, the finished block will measure 4″ so you will need to decide where you want to use your little quilt.  If you want a small table topper that measures 16″ x 16″, you will be sewing 16 blocks.  I want mine to cover the top of a small cupboard in the porch so I’m going to experiement.  I cut 5″ x width of several fabrics and the remainder is being cut from scrap of both reds and red/white prints.  I cut several red strips 1-1/4″ and several light 1-1/4″ strips.  I recut the light strips from a 5″ strip so that I could read the Christmas words.  Cut all the reds into 5″ squares and then into matching rectangles 2-1/2″ x 5″.  Cut all the lots the same way.  Cut the strips into 1-1/4″ x 5″ rectangles.


I will cut more if I need it.  If you are using a charm pack, cut all 5″ squares into 2 matching rectangles, 2-1/2″ x 5″.  From yardage, approximately 1/4 yd., cut 42 rectangles, 1-1/4″ x 5″.

I will return tomorrow to start us sewing.  Leave any questions in the comments section and I will answer promptly so you won’t be held up.

Are any of you starting Bonnie Hunter ‘s new mystery?  Jo always makes it and this year I am very tempted to join in.  What do you think?  Is anybody else out there going to dive in?

39 thoughts on “The Christmas Sew Along

  1. Jan S.

    Just wanted to mention that my copy of your book has been ordered from Amazon for nearly two weeks, and no delivery date as yet. Must be in high demand!
    Thanks for the sew along! This design looks good in so many combinations.

  2. Marilyn K Hooton

    Yes I am ready to start have cut blocks already. I am also for the first time doing the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.

  3. Connie McGrew

    I am ready! Can’t wait to cut into some wild Kaffe Fassett fabric that I’ve had for a while, just waiting for the perfect project. I hope it’s not too wild. We will see!

  4. Emily

    Hi there, Mary;

    I am doing your Sew-Along and Bonnie Hunter’s new Mystery. It is a first for me for both of them. My book is one the way!

    You take care.

  5. Carolyn

    Connie,
    How are you liking your new Bernina sewing machine? Can you recommend that one? I enjoy piecing on a Singer featherweight but am thinking the computerized features would be wonderful to use. I am considering updating my eighties era Elena Carina as a retirement gift to myself and am wondering if you advise that investment. Thank you so much!

    1. Connie Tesene

      Carolyn, I love my new Bernini! I just finished quilting 2 small quilts and every stitch is perfect- and I got them done in no time. I certainly don’t use all of the features, but the automatic thread cutter is worth its weight in gold. Good luck, Connie

  6. Diane

    HI Mary–I received word that my book has been shipped so I am hoping I can do it. My good, good friend has been battling ovarian cancer for five and a half years and is nearing the end of her battle. Many of us in the sewing group are helping–no children, no nearby relatives–so I’ll see what I can do. Thanks for brightening my day. šŸ™‚

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Diane – I am so sorry about your friend! It’s so hard to watch a decline but you are still a good friend just to stay by her side when she needs you. Very sad!

  7. Linda Rouse

    I received my book. Noticed Amazon is out of stock today. I am going to make Bonnie Hunters mystery quilt only smaller. I have learned my lesson on making bed size….it never gets done.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Linda – me, too! I don’t even want another bed size – I want a gift!

  8. Marie T Zaczkowski

    Looking forward to making this fun quilt. I have my book, purchased at a local quilt shop. Need to decide on fabrics, and that will happen this evening.

    Also doing the Bonnie Hunter Mystery. I am going to do it in reproduction fabrics, mostly from my stash. The light lavender is proving to be a challenge in reproductions.

  9. JanetB

    I just ordered my book from Farm Chick Quilts. I’ll save your posts and catch up when it gets here. I’m going to do Bonnie Hunter’s mystery. I have already finished clue 1. The blocks for last year’s mystery are in a pizza box sewn together. I need to cut my setting triangles, sew the rows, and put on the borders.

  10. Kathy Hanson

    I am wondering where to find Bonnie Hunter’s new mystery quilt.

    I started sewing my blocks together for the Split block quilt – using charm squares.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kathy – go to Quiltville and look for Step 1. I’m cutting mine tonite.

  11. Jo Kramer

    Mary..Jump in and do the mystery. As much as I need to learn to make little quilts, you need to do a few more big ones. Just teasing. P.S. Somehow my Split Square went from small to big so who am I to talk!!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jo – I cut a bunch tonite – I need a couch quilt for a gift not a bed quilt so I might do that. I hate those big quilts – as much as you hate those little ones! Ha!

  12. Kathy Schwartz

    I like ALL quilts–no matter the size; even doll quilts are special. Waiting for the mailman to come with my delivery. Hope he hurries up! Thanks for the photos; all are great.

  13. Sharon B.

    Wow! You certainly have gathered some gorgeous fabrics for this quilt! Looking forward to watching the progress! One day…. when I’m caught up on existing quilt kits and stitcheries…. I just might join in on a sew along (or two)… šŸ™‚

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Carol – DVD alone is $8.00. Book and DVD $20. Mail to Country Threads, 2345 Palm Ave. Garner, IA 50438. Let me know you got this reply – I don’t have your email address.

  14. Sue Davis

    Good evening Mary,
    The lambs are eating me out of house and home!!!!! I never thought they could eat so much. Peach leaves are their favorite, but sadly there are so few left.
    The red fabric you are sewing is so beautiful. My favorite color is red. I would love to know where you found those colors. Enjoy your evening. Sue Davis

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Sue – these are reds from our shop years ago – not one piece is new.
      Are the lambs eating more because it’s winter? Maybe they’re stocking up?

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Kathy – you are such a traveler! I can’t keep up with YOU! Ha! Loved imagining your stay on Galveston Island and going to the quilt show! Sounded sooooo fun!

  15. Sue Davis

    Well if their stocking up their doing a good job. Haha. They are just a little spoiled. But they are good lambs. We’ll make something amazing out of those reds. Their beautiful.

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Sherry – I am pressing my 4 patches this morning but am really wondering about the size of this quilt. Is the finished size posted somewhere? This is my first online mystery – unsure about some of the details.

      1. Sherry Whalen

        Oh it will be big! She says 87″x87″. She put the size in the intro. I’ve done the last 2 mysteries – and completed them early in the year after the reveal. The clues came in bites that were manageable for me and I didn’t feel overwhelmed even though it was the holidays and even last year when my mom and dad came to stay with us while we were doing Mayo clinic time with dad. It took me until February to complete – the last clue, the assembly, the quilting and binding – but they stayed with us until late January, so I was working around appointments and company. She does say in the intro – to make half if you want smaller…have fun!

        http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2016/10/en-provence-quiltville-mystery-intro.html

        1. CountryThreads Post author

          Sherry – I missed that “half” part but that’s what I’m going to do. I’ll save the rest of my neutral 4 patches for something else. Thanks!

  16. Claudia Voorhees

    Just wondering if you use a channel lock when you do your straight line quilting ?… LOVE the quilt you gals are working on !

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Claudia – no, I don’t use a lock – I don’t want it to be that perfectly straight.

  17. Jeri Niksich

    Even though I have soooo many projects that need to be made in the next month, and I’m still pretty much a beginner. I have decided to make my 1st Bonnie Hunter Mystery. It’s already Wednesday of the 1st clue and all I’ve done is cut the 2″ strips ACK!! So I think I’m going to be so far behind on not only what I already need to Make but the Mystery also. Wish me luck everyone as I surely need it.
    Jeri Oldtisme@aol.com

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Jeri – this is my first Bonnie Hunter mystery, too, even though I’m an experienced quilter. I think it will be hard to catch up so I am only going to make half the blocks and ultimately a smaller quilt. Hang in there – sew fast!

  18. Christine

    I’m making Bonnie’s mystery. I have All my fabric and I’m half way through the first clue. I will be making it full size or larger because I’m at the stage of life where all my friend’s kids are getting married and they want quilts!

    1. CountryThreads Post author

      Christine – can’t wait to see your finished quilt. My #1 is finished so I’m ready for the next one. Keep in touch with your progress.

Comments are closed.