Mystery Quilt 2026 - Month 2
I am sew excited to be working on this historic mystery quilt with you! Quilting holds a rich and enduring place in American history, deeply rooted in both tradition and art. What began centuries ago as a purely practical craft soon blossomed into a creative and expressive pursuit, evolving alongside the patchwork details we still cherish today.
Quilting served early settlers not just for warmth, but also as a way to share stories and celebrate family heritage. Each stitch often represented a memory, and each patchwork block revealed a personal tale. As time passed, quilting became a creative outlet for women and men - that allowed their artistry and unique narratives to shine, fostering a sense of community and belonging.
Today, quilts remain powerful storytellers, passed down through generations as treasured heirlooms. With this special mystery quilt project, my hope is that together we can stitch our own stories, sharing our journeys in each piece we create and connect over the shared joy of crafting something truly meaningful.
Diamond Stars:
A Guiding Light in Quilting
Up next for our mystery quilt, we’ll be working with diamond shapes to create a striking star block that really makes your quilt shine. The enduring appeal of star quilt patterns highlights both their practical function and their rich symbolism. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just threading your first needle, learning how to piece together a star block is a skill that will make your quilts shine. Join us as we stitch, learn, and celebrate this commemorative year with a mystery quilt - one block at a time!
History
Quilt-making in the United States traces its roots to the earliest European settlers, who brought their traditional needlework skills across the Atlantic. However, it was during the pioneer era, as families migrated westward with limited resources, that quilt-making truly flourished. These early pioneers relied on scraps rather than entire bolts of fabric, sparking an innovation renaissance in quilting design and technique.
Among the many patterns that emerged, star motifs became especially popular. The star pattern was not only visually striking, but also carried deep symbolism for these travelers—often representing a guiding light that offered hope and direction. Stars resonated deeply with families making their way across the vast and unknown landscape. One of the most iconic star designs is the Star of Bethlehem, a pattern still celebrated today for its beauty and historical significance.
Originally known as the Mathematical Star when it first appeared in Baltimore in the early 19th century, this iconic design evolved under many names as it spread across the country. Each interpretation reflected regional identities and the artistry of individual makers, cementing the star as a meaningful and enduring element of American quilting heritage.
- The Star of Bethlehem: One of the most famous quilt patterns featuring the star motif.
- Lone Star: A name adopted in Texas during the 1840s, reflecting local pride and culture.
- Blazing Star: Known for its dynamic, radiant appearance.
- Feathered Star: Distinguished by its intricate, detailed design.
In the late 1800s, Native women on the Northern Plains—especially among the Lakota, Dakota, and other Plains tribes—mastered and reimagined the traditional large diamond star pattern. These bold designs, known as Star quilts or Morning Star quilts, quickly became central to their artistic and cultural expression. Today, Star quilts remain deeply meaningful, often given as treasured gifts at significant moments such as births, graduations, weddings, honors, and funerals. Presenting a Star quilt is a gesture of respect, love, and gratitude, connecting generations and keeping Native traditions alive within families and communities.
Today, we will be working on our own variation of a star for our mystery quilt.
Are diamonds going to be your best friend?
To begin, let's get all of your supplies ready!
This mystery quilt is going to look amazing no matter what fabrics you have chosen! Don't worry that we are all going to be using different fabrics - I encourage you to use your own fabric scraps if that's what you have on hand! Just be sure to follow the red, light, and blue color cues in my block for the patriotic results. If you are just looking for a scrappy quilt simply use your color choices following the values of light and dark.
(These notions are just my recommendations)
For our Mystery Quilt - Month 2, you will need:
- Fabrics
- Creative Grids® Quilt Ruler 6½" x 6½" or Creative Grids® Quilt Ruler 4½" x 12½"
-
Crisp Fabric Spray
(Edyta’s Tip: I like to press all my fabric ahead of cutting. I use Crisp for a nice finish!) - Aurifil Thread – 2310, 2326, or 2312 recommended
- Sew Daisy Fabric Markers (Use fabric markers to stay organized)
- Olfa Folding Mat
-
Olfa Rotary and Blades
(Edyta’s Tip: Always have a stash of fresh blades for your rotary and remember to change your rotary blade) - Pins, Scissors, Needle Threader
- Microtex Needles 70/10
Once you have all your materials ready, it’s time to start this month’s mystery quilt block! For this month, we’ll be working on the center block of our quilt. You’ll notice there are diamonds in the design - but don’t worry, there are NO "Y-seams" involved in assembling this beautiful block.
Block 2
21½" x 21½" unfinished
Make 1.
Cutting Directions:
Select two light fabrics and various dark fabrics.
Light Fabric: 32 light Template A triangles cut from 4 – 3¼” x 21" strips
16 light Template B diamonds cut from 4 – 2½” x 21" strips
Red/Pink Fabric: 4 red/pink 1½" x 21" strips
Blue Fabric: 4 dark blue 1½" x 21" strips
2 medium blue 1½" x 21" strips
6 light blue 1½" x 21" strips
NOTE: I am using 4 different blues and a mix of reds and pinks to give a bit more shading to the diamond points.
CLICK HERE to DOWNLOAD ALL TEMPLATES
NOTE: I will be pressing seam allowances open in this block.
To make Triangle A
Cut 32 Template A light triangles from four 3¼" wide strips. Mark the ¼" seam intersections.
You should be able to cut 10 triangles from each 21" strip.
To make Diamond B
Cut 16 Template B light diamonds from four 2½" wide strips. You should be able to cut 5 diamonds from each 21" strip. Align the template with the bottom edge of the strip and cut. You may need to trim the top edge of the diamonds as well as the sides. Cut 16 light diamonds and mark the ¼" seam intersections.
To make Diamond C
Sew 1 dark blue and 1 light blue 1½" x 21" strips together. Press seams open. Make 3 strip sets - then cut 8 Units 1C using the 45 degree angle on your ruler and cutting every 1½" from each strip set. You need a total of 24 Units 1C from the 3 strip sets
Next sew 1 light blue and 1 pink/red 1½" x 21" strips together. Press seams open. Make 3 strip sets - then cut 8 Units 2C using the 45 degree angle on your ruler and cutting every 1½" from each strip set. You need a total of 24 Units 2C from the 3 strip sets
Color Inspiration
Combine one 1C and one 2C as shown above to create Diamond C. Repeat to make 24 Diamond C. Mark ¼" from the corners of the diamond sets to prepare for our mystery quilt block assembly.
To make Diamond D
Sew 1 dark blue and 1 medium blue 1½" x 21" strips together. Press seams open. Make 1 strip set - then cut 8 Units 1D using the 45 degree angle on your ruler and cutting every 1½" from each strip set. You need a total of 8 Units 1D from 1 strip set.
Next sew 1 medium blue and 1 pink 1½" x 21" strips together. Press seams open. Make 1 strip set - then cut 8 Units 2D using the 45 degree angle on your ruler and cutting every 1½" from each strip set. You need a total of 8 Units 2D from 1 strip set.
Color Inspiration
Combine one Unit 1D and one Unit 2D as shown above to create Diamond D. Repeat to make 8 Diamond Ds. Mark ¼" from the corners of the diamond set to prepare for our mystery quilt block assembly.
Block Assembly
Arrange 4 Triangle A, 3 Diamond C, 2 Diamond B, and 1 Diamond D as shown above.
Sew into columns as shown above and press seams. NOTE: You will have 1/4" seam allowance at the top of the diamond points - image shows finished unit.
Sew together and press seams to create one Diamond Unit.
Repeat to make 8 Diamond Units.
Color Inspiration Unit
Arrange 2 Diamond Units as shown above.
Sew Diamond Units together to create a Quarter Unit.
Repeat to make 4 Quarter Units.
Arrange Quarter Units as shown above into two rows.
Sew Quarter Units together and press seams open.
Assembled Block 2 is 21½" x 21½" unfinished.
Starting a new mystery quilt project is SEW much fun, especially when each clue leads to a new block and a fresh burst of creativity. With every block you create, you’re not just piecing together fabric; you’re embarking on a whole new crafting adventure. Get ready to watch your masterpiece unfold one stitch at a time, and enjoy every moment of this exciting quilting experience!
Our Block 2 will be positioned in the center of last month's 4 Block 1 corner units.
Sew each Block 1 to the corners of Block 2 and press seams.
COLOR OPTION
This is our red, white, and blue inspiration for your mystery quilt - there are so many possibilities, feel free to let your creativity shine and choose whatever fabrics inspire you!
Many of you have reached out asking if I could create a scrappy look for our Mystery Quilt. In this example, I used fabrics from Farmer's Daughter, Square Dance, and Laundry Line collections to achieve a more traditional look - I can't wait for you to see the whole quilt!
Collect your patterns each month as I introduce new color options designed to spark your creativity. Stay tuned—you won't want to miss these stunning additions!
I love seeing how everyone puts their own unique spin on these projects, and I can't wait to see the beautiful combinations you come up with. I hope you had as much fun making this block with me as I did, and I’m already looking forward to quilting together again when next month’s block is revealed.
Happy Quilting!
Edyta
Please remember to share your mystery quilt progress photos to Instagram and Facebook and watch our weekly LIVE show "Quilting Window" on our YouTube Channel!
Tag us @laundrybasketquilts and #mysteryquilt2026