Clue 5 and Reveal Valentine 26 Mystery Quilt

 Valentine 26 Clue 5

By Karen Meyer, Sister of The Divide

All Rights Reserved 2026

Final Clue and Reveal

This clue will be the final reveal with options! Please read all the

directions so you can decide your options BEFORE CUTTING.

PDF click here

For Option 1

From your Reds, Pinks or Greens, cut the following:

o A - 6 Strips measuring 5.75” x 17.25”

o B - 2 Strips measuring 5.75” x 23”

o C - 4 Strips measuring 5.75” x 16.5”

o D - 6 Strips measuring 5.75” x 8.5”

From your Background fabric, cut the following:

E - 6 Strips measuring 5.75” x WOF (with of fabric)

F - 6 Strips measuring 5.75” x 25”

Stitch your strip together using 1⁄4” seam allowances.

From your Background fabric you will create 6 Strips. Using one

E and one F to make the 6 strips.

You will be laying out 5 Strips including 13 of your previously

constructed heart blocks.

Refer to the diagram below for your layout.

Here is where you will have options to make this quilt your own.

The quilt as it laid out above will finish at 58 x 58. Make your quilt

sandwich, quilt as desired and add binding for a modern look.

You can mix up your alpha blocks using assorted colors or shades

for an interesting look as shown in the following layout.

Another option is to add borders to your quilt which will enlarge it to

68” x 68”. To add one border, you will need to cut your fabric strips

as follows: Cut 6 strips that measure 5.75” x WOF and piece them to

58” each. (measure your finished center of your quilt first to make

sure your strip will be wide enough. Everyone has a different 1⁄4”

seam allowance as they stitch, so measure first and cut to your

measure. You can add your heart blocks to the corners or leave

them off and create a solid border.

The next option is to create strip sets and cut them to the alpha

sizes indicated in the first layout to create the following option.

To create your strip sets, for the quilt without a border cut the

following:

From your Red fabric cut 12 strips measuring 2.25” x WOF

From your Background fabric cut 6 strips measure 2.25” x WOF

Make your strip sets and cut to measure and layout as in the Alpha Directions

For Candy Stripe borders you will need to cut an additional

12 strips of your red fabric and an additional 6 strips of your

background fabric. Make your strip set and cut to measure as

outlined in the Border option directions above.

Next Friday, January 23rd, 2026, I will post 2 additional bonus

projects. A table runner option and a table topper option for you.

Remember, you can use any of the 3 hearts in clues 1, 2 or 3.

I hope you enjoyed this quick quilt! Please share photos of your

process with me. Your feedback is welcomed!

Clue 4, Valentine 26 Mystery Quilt

 

Valentines 26 Mystery Quilt Clue 4

The last week of December, we introduced clues 1, 2 and 3 in our Mystery Quilt.

You will need to make 17 hearts for the quilt. You can make all your hearts the same or you can mix them up as your heart desires (all puns intended!)

This week, in Clue 4, you will be adding pieces to your hearts to create an economy block. PDF link HERE.

 

You will need to cut 34 squares of your background fabric that measure 3.75” square.

TIP: If you are a new quilter, I would suggest that you cut only 2 squares and follow the instructions, see how your block comes out, if you need additional fabric to be able to achieve the finished block size, then cut your squares at 4”. This will give you more leeway. 

Generally, 3 strips of your background fabric that measure 3.75” x WOF,  will give you enough to complete this clue.

Subcut your background 3.75” squares on the diagonal. You will need 68 to complete your 17 heart blocks.

Fold your heart block in half and finger crease on opposite sides as shown in the photo. You can elect to mark that crease at this time, so that it is easier to see.  I use a SEWLINE Air Erase pen to do this. I am not sponsored by them, it’s just what I like to use. You can use any marking method that does not leave a permanent mark. Take your background fabric and with WRONG SIDES TOGETHER fold the tips and make a crease in the center as shown in the photo.

Line your creased edge of your background fabric with the crease on your block and pin in place. Do the same for the opposite side.

Stitch a ¼” seam allowance down each side as shown in the photo. Press to the outside as shown in the photo.DO NOT CUT OFF THE DOG EARS AT THIS POINT.

Turn your block and repeat the process as above with the two remaining opposite sides. Before you press open your block, you can now trim the first set of dog ears as shown in the photo. And press your block open.

Using your square up ruler, you will need to square your block up to 5.75” as shown in the photo.

Clue 5 will come out on January 16th, 2026. Please contact me if you have any questions. The video for Clue 4 is up on our YouTube Channel. Subscribe so you don't miss out and give us a like!                             Click Here for the Video.

We have a group on Facebook where you can share your progress and ask questions. Click Here.

The mystery is FREE and will be up until February 14th, 2026. After that you can purchase the pattern in our Etsy Shop.

Clue 5 will be fun ad will have 3 options for you to select from for you quilt. This way, you can make it your own!

Thanks for Playing Along with us!

If you need fabric for your hearts, we have fat quarter bundles at a great price in our Etsy Shop. $2.00/ fat quarter!

Valentine 26 Mystery QAL Clue 3

Valentines 2026 Mystery Quilt Along

Clue 3

Designed by Karen Meyer, Sister of The Divide, All Rights Reserved 12/30/2025

 

Welcome! This Mystery Quilt and the accompanying video tutorials are designed for a Beginning Quilter. There are several options along the way. To start you will need to gather your scraps of fabric in pinks or reds for your hearts and low volume or white for your background. That said, colors are not in stone, so if you feel like coloring outside the crayon box, by all means,  feel free to do so.

I will offer tips along the way, which have worked for me over the years. There are always multiple ways to achieve the same results. Do not feel like what I am teaching you is dogma and that the Quilt Police will be after you if you don’t do it “my” way. Just have fun, relax, you will have a beautiful quilt.

Now, if you are like me, and you have been around the “mystery” block (all puns intended), and you want to wait and see how it all comes together, that is perfectly fine also. Download the PDF pattern files as the clues come out and save them. I will be removing the mystery after February 14^th, 2026. It will then be placed in my Etsy shop and you will need to  purchase the pattern after that. Until then, it’s free for you to enjoy.  

PDF LINK FOR CLUE 3 HERE Corrected

VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR CLUE 3 HERE

Clue 1 click Here

Clue 2 click Here Corrected

Okay, let’s get started!

You will need, your sewing machine, rotary cutter, mat, iron, thread, starch, a 12” x 6” ruler, a 6” square up ruler, scissors, a marking pencil or air erase pen.

ALL SEAMS ARE ¼”

Clue #3: There are 3 hearts. This will be the most challenging part of this QAL. If you are making the quilt, you will need to make 17 hearts in total.  You can make all your hearts the same or you can mix them up. If you just want to make a few hearts and see where it goes, that’s fine too. You can always make a baby quilt or a table runner. We will be making a large throw size quilt 60” X 65”. For bigger sizes you may want to make extra hearts.

Heart #3  A tiny Nine Patch completes this heart.

Cut  the following from your Pink or Red heart fabric:

Two rectangles measuring 2” x 2.75”

Three strips measuring 6” x 1.25”

Cut the following from your background fabric:

One 2” x 2” square

Four 1.25” x 1.25” squares

Three  6” x 1.25” strips

Follow the instructions on Clue #1 to create the outside heart pieces.

To create the little nine patch you will first make two strip sets.

One will have two background strips and one heart strip

The other strip set will have two heart strips and one background

Stitch together your strip sets as shown below  and press to the dark fabric.

Now cutting across the strip sets, for each nine patch you will cut, strips across the strip set that measure 1.25” wide as shown below. Match up your seams and stitch your nine patch together. Your 9 patch should measure 2.75" square.

Place the outside pieces to your heart in place to make the “4” patch as shown below and stitch together. Square up your block as shown in Clue 2 Video. 

Refer to the Videos for step by step instructions.

You have completed the third heart in our mystery quilt. You need to make a total of 17 hearts. You can mix and match them or select the one you like the best. The next clue will have additional options for you to select but will be very easy as well. You have plenty of time to get your hearts completed. The next clue will come on Friday, January 9th.

If you need fabric for your project we have some pretty floral bundles in our Etsy Shop, they are priced at $10.00 per five fat quarter bundle, 10% off when you buy 2 and free shipping when you buy 3.