Valentine 26 Mystery QAL Clue 2

Valentines 2026 Mystery Quilt Along

Clue 2

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 2 CLICK HERE

VIDEO TUTORIAL FOR CLUE 2 CLICK HERE

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 #1: 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 #2  A little more challenging, Just Teasing.

Cut  the following from your Pink or Red heart fabric:

Two rectangles measuring 2” x 2.75”

One strip measuring 6” x 1.25”

One 1.25” square

Cut the following from your background fabric:

One 2” x 2” square

Five 1.25” x 1.25” squares

One 6” x 1.25” strip

For this Clue and Clue #3 we will make the outside of the heart exactly the same. Refer to your directions on Clue #1. (click here for Clue #1) We will also finish the heart exactly the same. Watch the video and it will make perfect sense.

We are going to focus on creating the little "heart in a heart" area of our block.

Refer to the photos below. Take one heart fabric square 1.25” and one 1.25" background square and stitch them together. Press to the dark fabric. Add a strip of background. As you are facing your first piece, the background fabric strip will be attached to the bottom. Stitch and press to the dark fabric. Trim any excess.

Take the strip of your heart fabric and add it to the right side of your piece. Press to the dark fabric. Trim any excess.

Add a strip of your heart fabric to the bottom , Press to the dark fabric and Trim any excess.

You will finish the block the same exact way that we finished the Block in Clue #1

If you need fabric, you can visit our Etsy Shop we have some cute floral fat quarter bundles that are very well priced at $2.00/fat quarter. Sister of The Divide Etsy Shop

Valentine 26 Mystery Quilt Along

 

Valentines 2026 Mystery Quilt Along

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, please 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 and save them. I will be removing the mystery after February 14^th, 2026. It will then be place in my Etsy shop and you will need to  purchase the pattern after that. Until then, it’s free for you to enjoy. Here is the PDF download Clue One

Okay, let’s get started! Video Tutorial is here on our YouTube Channel

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.

 

Clue #1: 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, for bigger sizes you may want to make extra hearts, your choice.

Heart #1 is the easiest heart to make.

Cut  the following from your Pink or Red heart fabric:

One 2.75” square

Two rectangles measuring 2” x 2.75”

Cut the following from your background fabric:

One 2” x 2” square

Four 1.25” x 1.25” squares

 

On each of your four background squares, draw a diagonal line.

Place your squares as shown in this photo and stitch just a needles width to the outside of the line you have drawn. Trim off the excess fabric ¼” from your seam line as shown below. Press toward the dark fabric. 

Lay out your block as shown below and stitch together like it is a four patch. Refer to the video for step-by-step instructions. We will talk about how to square up your block in video #2.  You can press your seams as instructed or press them open. I personally find that if you press as I have instructed you will have a better outcome, but it is up to you. TIP: when nesting your seams, place your pin in the fabric next to the seam rather than right in it. Pinning in the seam can distort your fabric and cause your seam not to nest properly. 

Please contact me with any question you may have. Clue for Heart #2 will be released December 31, 2025 and the Clue for Heart #3 will be released January 1, 2026. All releases will be linked here. The remainder of the clues will be released on Friday, January 9th and Friday January 16th.  Pattern will remain online until February 14, 2026.  Video tutorials will be online in YouTube. A link will be provided. Your comments are welcomed.

If you need fabric, we have coordinated fat quarter bundles in our Etsy shop here: Sister Of The Divide Etsy Shop

 

 

 

Courthouse Block, No Attorney Required and WINNER Announced

 

Courthouse Block Quilt

This is such a quick and easy quilt, suitable for a beginner and wonderful for a seasoned quilter that just needs a zen sewing session that let's you stitch away. Maybe you need a quick quilt for a friend or for your guild charity. This will definitely fit the bill. The more variety of fabrics you have the more interesting your finished quilt will be. Don't be afraid to dig into your random fat quarters and left over jelly roll strips. You can definitely make a dent in a scrap pile with this one as well.

We live in Eastern Idaho, surrounded by beautiful farm land. My husband's cousin gave me a large bundle of fabric and it was all coordinated. It made me think of farm land and how beautiful it is out here. So it was a logical choice for this quilt.

Let's get started on our blocks! For each block you will need a 10" square for the Courthouse. This is perfect for a layer cake or you can cut your own 10" squares from fabric, as I have done in this video. You will need a selection of 2.5" by width of fabric strips for your Courthouse Steps. A jelly roll will serve you or again, you can cut your own strips as I have done in this video.

Courthouse Block, No Attorney Required

Take one of your contrasting 2.5" strips and sew it to one side of your 10" square, trim even with your square and finger press your seam open. Do the same on the opposite side of your square.

Turn your square and again, using a contrasting 2.5" strip, sew it to one side of your 10" square as shown in the video and do the same on the opposite side. Trim even with your block and finger press.

You will repeat this 2 more times, on the opposing sides. When finished, you should have two strips on each side of your 10" square as shown in the video.

Press your block and make as many as you need for the size quilt you wish to make.

Press in half and in half again as shown in the video and cut your block in half and then in half again as demonstrated in the video. You should have 4 quarter blocks after you make these two cuts.

Courthouse Block Sew Along

In this video, we will just carry on and make several blocks.

Courthouse Block Layout Options

This short video will show you some of the layout options for your quarter blocks.

Court House Block Final Assembly

There are several layout options for this block, I have chosen to take a quarter block from different fabrics and stitch them together, like a 4 patch, to create a new block and then those are stitched together to make the quilt. The more fabric varieties you have the more interesting your final quilt will be.

The Finished Courthouse Block Quilt

Finished size 65" x 81"

Four blocks across and 5 blocks down

Baby quilt use 4 blocks (2 x 2) and a possible border to create the side you wish.

Crib size 6 blocks (2 x 3) border if you wish,

Throw size 12 blocks (3 x 4)

Twin size 20 blocks (4 x 5)

Double or full 30 blocks (5 x 6)

Queen 36 blocks (6 x 6)

King 42 blocks (7 x 7)

I did not place a border. Used 2.5" strips to create the binding. 

Hope you enjoyed this quick and simple quilt. 

Follow and subscribe on YouTube for more tutorials like this. 

 Your likes, comments and shares are appreciated!

RaeLina Tesch was the WINNER of the Babylock Zest Sewing Machine that we gave away last month to celebrate 20,000 followers on Facebook. Congratulations RaeLina! Thank you to Gary's Sewing Center for providing the Babylock Zest Sewing Machine, I am sure she will enjoy it!

GIVEAWAY! NEW BABY LOCK ZEST SEWING MACHINE!

To celebrate reaching 20,000 followers on our Facebook Page, we are giving away a Brand New Baby Lock Zest Sewing Machine from Gary's Sewing Center located at 1576 West Broadway Street, Idaho Falls, Idaho or 512 Yellowstone, Pocatello, Idaho. Gary's is a great place for a variety of machines from sergers, embroidery machines, sewing machines, longarm quilting machines, you name it, they have it. In addition to sewing machines, they have a wonderful selection threads and essential notions, needles, scissors, optional sewing accessories. They also offer instruction with every machine you purchase and have optional clubs and sewing classes for those that want to explore more options to fully take advantage of the creativity that can be theirs!

This machine is perfect for on the go quilters or sewists! Weighing in at 13 lbs, it is light weight and very portable! A perfect machine to take with you to a retreat. Here are a few of the features;15 different built in stitches, variable needle positions, front loading bobbin, free arm capability, thread cutter, snap on feet, 4 step button holes and more!

To be eligible you must: 

1. Follow our Facebook Page - Sister of The Divide

2. Like the giveaway post pinned at the top of our Facebook Page

3. Leave a comment

4. Share the post or tag a friend.

We will draw one winner on Valentine's Day, February 14,  and announce it on our Facebook Page.  You must reside in the contiguous United States of America. Not affiliated or sponsored by any company. This is just for fun, to encourage quilting and show our appreciation to our followers for their support. There is no cash value in lieu. There is nothing to purchase ever and no requirement to purchase anything. We do not collect your information other than to contact you if you are the winner. No one will try to contact you or sell you anything. No gimmicks, just a great giveaway.

Again, we want you to know how very much we appreciate your support. Thank you! Good Luck Quilters!

2025 New Year, New Fun!

Here we go! I have been remiss about posting to my blog. 2024 was just a busy year for us. But here were are and we are launching into 2025!  Last November I started to migrate my videos over to my YouTube Channel. It is just easier to have things all in one place and somewhat organized so I don't have to scroll through Facebook to try and find them for folks. My video skills are rudimentary but will improve with practice. Who says you can't teach an old dog! You can visit our YouTube Channel at this link: Sister Of The Divide Please take a moment to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and to watch and like a video. This really helps us out and we so appreciate your support. If you hit the notifications button you will also be notified everytime we upload a new video and you won't miss a beat!

Today the postman delivered my order from Amazon and I am so happy to start getting my WIP projects organized for this year! I ordered 12 stackable plastic bins that are 12" x 12" square. They were 6 bins for $38. These are perfect to store my quilt blocks and organize those projects that I want to tackle this year! I plan to number them 1 through 12 and to draw a number each month. That corresponding bin will be the one that gets worked on. The goal is to complete all of these by the end of the year, in addition to what ever else I get cooking on. A little discipline and focused organization will go along way to achieving my goal. It's the perfect time, here in Idaho, with the snow and cold weather, to sequester myself in the sewing studio and get things done. Here is a link if you want some for yourself. We are not sponsored by Amazon. https://a.co/d/c9cnaCL

Our Blue Bird pattern is available on Etsy right now if you want a fun project for Valentines Day. You can get it in a PDF file format for instant download here: https://sisterofthedivide.etsy.com/listing/1645104452

Yesterday I taught a class up in Rigby, Idaho at the Senior Center for the Behind The Seams Quilt Guild. We made the Star Table Topper. Great fun and everyone finished their project before they left. Here are their finished Toppers.

Currently I am teaching the Courthouse Block Quilt with optional layouts. We will finish this one up this month so be watching for the reveal.  If you haven't started on yours yet, you can get the basic instruction from our YouTube video. Courthouse Block - No Attorney Required.

So Come along with us and get your fabric out, cut it up and let's have some fun making a Courthouse Block Quilt. Quick, easy, great for a beginner. Mix and match your fabric, you will have fun making this quilt.

We are going to have some surprises coming up in February. We will be starting a YouTube membership. For a small monthly fee you will have early access to all video tutorials, you will have exclusive early access to new pattern releases and there will be a FREE monthly pattern release this year for an applique block of the month. We will announce more about this as it draws closer. 

We are very close to 20,000 followers on Facebook now and once we hit that mark we will do a special giveaway to celebrate! Make sure you are following us on Facebook as well! https://www.facebook.com/SisterOfTheDivide

Happy New Year to you and yours! We want you to know how very much we appreciate your support. Your comments are always welcome. We love when you share your makes with us! We started this all off to encourage folks to learn to quilt and I think we are accomplishing our goal. We will keep it simple, we will go slow so you can follow along and we will always be available to answer your questions as best we can. Here's to a blessed and productive year for all!