Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Mystery Quilt

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We have to talk.  Several people have emailed me to ask for the pattern for this quilt, which I made two years ago at a retreat.  I had a blast making the quilt, and have to admit the fabrics were totally copied off another gal at the retreat who was using them as well.  I just wanted that exact quilt.  Even though I was super pleased with the way it turned out, I gave the quilt away in a blog giveaway.  I know the person who won the quilt likes it and uses it, so that is all excellent.  (The photo was taken before I had sewn down the binding, if you are wondering what the heck is going on with the edges!)

So, here's the thing.  I would love to share the pattern with you if I could, but I can't. 

The pattern is a mystery quilt pattern by Debbie Caffrey of Debbie's Creative Moments.  The sponsor of the retreat (my favorite quilt shop) had to purchase the pattern from Debbie with the promise that it never be given out as a whole, only in bits and pieces as clues which were part of the mystery quilt process.  We retreaters were given little slips of paper at each new stage of construction so we would know what to do next, but never had any idea of where we were headed in terms of a finished quilt.  It was super fun, and we all raced along trying to be the first to get the next "clue".

After the final clue, we got the layout instructions, also on a small piece of paper.  I, like most of the gals in the class, I assume, did not keep the little scraps of paper that made up the entire quilt pattern.  It was a mystery, it was done, and I didn't think I would be making it again on my own at home.  So, I don't have the pattern.  I do not even know what the name of the mystery quilt is.  And even if I did, I would be prevented from sharing the information.

Part of Debbie Caffrey's business is this wonderful mystery quilt idea, which retreats and quilt shops all over the country use.  I can see why after designing the quilt and figuring out the distribution of "clues", Debbie wouldn't want it to be a one shot deal.  Her business depends on being able to sell that "Mystery Concept" again and again to her wholesale customers.

I applaud Debbie Caffrey for her innovative mystery quilt idea!  If you are a shop or guild, thinking of sponsoring a retreat or hosting a mystery quilt project, why not contact her and check out what might be available for you to purchase for your event.  Mystery quilts are terrific fun.  But, shhhh, it's a mystery, don't you know?

34 responses to “Mystery Quilt”

  1. I’ve never heard of such a thing…I’m not sure I could do that mystery quilt thing. How do you know what kind or how much fabric you need? That quilt is lovely to be sure, but I would be so out of my comfort zone, not being in control of the whole thing.
    Maybe that’s just what I need, to get away and let someone else be in control of the whole project. It would be a sewing and mental health retreat!

  2. I’ve never heard of such a thing…I’m not sure I could do that mystery quilt thing. How do you know what kind or how much fabric you need? That quilt is lovely to be sure, but I would be so out of my comfort zone, not being in control of the whole thing.
    Maybe that’s just what I need, to get away and let someone else be in control of the whole project. It would be a sewing and mental health retreat!

  5. Another red quilt! I adore them. By the way, where can I find the pattern for the snowball challenge quilt? You probably mentioned it, and I haven’t taken the time to look carefully in your posts for it.
    I think when I start dreaming about a quilt, it’s time to make it…

  6. Another red quilt! I adore them. By the way, where can I find the pattern for the snowball challenge quilt? You probably mentioned it, and I haven’t taken the time to look carefully in your posts for it.
    I think when I start dreaming about a quilt, it’s time to make it…

  9. Our guild did a Debbie Caffrey mystery quilt over several months with a guild from another town. It WAS super fun and interesting to see how different color choices affect the outcome of the very same quilt! Your’s is gorgeous in those reds!

  10. Our guild did a Debbie Caffrey mystery quilt over several months with a guild from another town. It WAS super fun and interesting to see how different color choices affect the outcome of the very same quilt! Your’s is gorgeous in those reds!

  11. As a fledgling pattern writer and a shop owner, I applaud you! Thank you for taking this stand. This is a tough business we are in and so appreciate any little scrap. I love the entire concept of mystery quilts, and cannot fathom writing one up. Debbie is a very talented lady and has written mystery quilt patterns for a long time. I just don’t have the patience for it. Keep up the good work, Elaine from Texas

  12. As a fledgling pattern writer and a shop owner, I applaud you! Thank you for taking this stand. This is a tough business we are in and so appreciate any little scrap. I love the entire concept of mystery quilts, and cannot fathom writing one up. Debbie is a very talented lady and has written mystery quilt patterns for a long time. I just don’t have the patience for it. Keep up the good work, Elaine from Texas

  13. I participated in a mystery quilt once… it was over a longer period of time… like maybe we got “clues” monthly… so nothing seemed overwhelming. I liked the quilt when it was finished, although I would NEVER have picked it out to make; TOO TEDIOUS! But since it was a mystery quilt, I didn’t know that, and since I had a whole month to do the step, it didn’t seem too bad!
    I LOVE Debbie Caffrey because of all her books: Scraps to You, Too, Open a Can of Worms, Quilting Season, Noodle Soup, Shape Up Your Fat Quarters, and others, I think…. We can pretty much thank her for the invention of Jelly Rolls, because of her books about “worms” and “noodles”… 2 and 2.5” strips. AND I got one of my best methods of cutting strips from her. She is great!

  14. I participated in a mystery quilt once… it was over a longer period of time… like maybe we got “clues” monthly… so nothing seemed overwhelming. I liked the quilt when it was finished, although I would NEVER have picked it out to make; TOO TEDIOUS! But since it was a mystery quilt, I didn’t know that, and since I had a whole month to do the step, it didn’t seem too bad!
    I LOVE Debbie Caffrey because of all her books: Scraps to You, Too, Open a Can of Worms, Quilting Season, Noodle Soup, Shape Up Your Fat Quarters, and others, I think…. We can pretty much thank her for the invention of Jelly Rolls, because of her books about “worms” and “noodles”… 2 and 2.5” strips. AND I got one of my best methods of cutting strips from her. She is great!

  17. it reminds me of ornery husband, contrary wife, although this is not the pattern for that quilt. it is similar to it though.

  18. it reminds me of ornery husband, contrary wife, although this is not the pattern for that quilt. it is similar to it though.

  19. Nicole, your quilt is gorgeous. Thank you for your honesty and reply about my mystery quilt patterns, and thank you for the link to contact me. I am happy to talk to anyone about my mysteries.
    Have a great day,
    Debbie Caffrey

  20. Nicole, your quilt is gorgeous. Thank you for your honesty and reply about my mystery quilt patterns, and thank you for the link to contact me. I am happy to talk to anyone about my mysteries.
    Have a great day,
    Debbie Caffrey

  21. The interior square (the part inside the star is Road to California. And although some of you say your would have had a hard time giving up the quilt, I had no trouble at all accepting it when I won. Great quilt, Nicole. It’s hanging in my foyer right now.

  22. The interior square (the part inside the star is Road to California. And although some of you say your would have had a hard time giving up the quilt, I had no trouble at all accepting it when I won. Great quilt, Nicole. It’s hanging in my foyer right now.

  25. I took one mystery quilt class years ago and was very unhappy with my result. I’m not good at picking fabric for a quilt when I don’t know how it is going to be used together. Maybe that’s my problem!

  26. I took one mystery quilt class years ago and was very unhappy with my result. I’m not good at picking fabric for a quilt when I don’t know how it is going to be used together. Maybe that’s my problem!

  27. Nicole – Do you remember which fabric line you used to make this quilt? The fabrics would go ‘perfectly’ for a quilt I’d like to make for my sister and BIL and, being a Thimbleberries-only, match the pattern sort of girl, it’s hard for me to come up with good color combinations…

  28. Nicole – Do you remember which fabric line you used to make this quilt? The fabrics would go ‘perfectly’ for a quilt I’d like to make for my sister and BIL and, being a Thimbleberries-only, match the pattern sort of girl, it’s hard for me to come up with good color combinations…

  29. I REALLY like this quilt…I think mainly because I LOVE the fabric. Was it all one collection? And yes, that was the right and moral thing to do…to not divulge the pattern or any other info about that quilt. (AAACCCCKKK…Debbie Caffrey wrote you a comment! swoon)
    I, too, am nervous about mystery quilts. I’m rather particular about the style of quilt I like to make. My mom has participated in several mystery classes and I would have not liked making any of those quilts. I don’t have a solution to “solving” that dilemma…just that I don’t do mystery classes.

  30. I REALLY like this quilt…I think mainly because I LOVE the fabric. Was it all one collection? And yes, that was the right and moral thing to do…to not divulge the pattern or any other info about that quilt. (AAACCCCKKK…Debbie Caffrey wrote you a comment! swoon)
    I, too, am nervous about mystery quilts. I’m rather particular about the style of quilt I like to make. My mom has participated in several mystery classes and I would have not liked making any of those quilts. I don’t have a solution to “solving” that dilemma…just that I don’t do mystery classes.