Hi, everyone! My name is Tracy and I’ve been designing and hosting mystery quilt classes since 2008.
Currently there are more than 15 active mystery classes, with patterns for quilt tops ranging in size from 15×20″ to 72×72″.
In March of 2020, many of us found ourselves encouraged (or ordered) to stay home in an effort to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. What do quilters do when they’re told to stay home? We quilt!
So, how does this work?
You start by signing up for a class, then I’ll email you a pre-class .pdf file. The file contains information about the size of the quilt, how many colors you need (and how to pick the colors), the yardage, and pre-cutting instructions. Most of the time there is some pre-sewing, too, so you’re not doing all of the boring stuff in the classroom.
Online Classes
Because of our new and hopefully temporary reality, I have begun to offer my mystery classes online via this website. The format will be a little bit different (I won’t be on hand with my seam ripper to help you out), but I think it’s going to work.
Start by contacting me. We’ll arrange for payment and you can download the pre-class file so you can get your fabric cut and any pre-sewing done. You’ll get the password to access the current class pages. On the day of the class, I’ll post clues every 30 or 60 minutes and I’ll be around for you to ask questions via the website or text or phone call. Most classes take 6 or 7 hours. As classes are released online, each Class Page will be updated with the suggested length of the class.
And the online clues will stay available for an extra day! For example, if we have a class on a Saturday, I’ll be posting clues until you have all of them and you can contact me during that time. From Saturday evening to 10p.m. SUNDAY night, I’ll still be around for questions, help and show and tell but I might not be able to get back to you right away. I like to take naps!
In-Person Classes
On the day of class you arrive with your machine and basic sewing supplies, your cut fabrics and pre-sewn bits. Each person starts with Clue #1. Once you’re finished with the clue, you let me know and I’ll give you the next one. This allows you to go at your own pace – you don’t have to worry about holding up the class if you get distracted, and you don’t have to wait for your next clue because not everyone has caught up to you.
By the end of the day, you should have a finished quilt top! BUT if you aren’t finished, you’ll be really close – the bonus here is that someone in the group will have finished the mystery, so you’ll get to see how it turns out!
Tracy's Mysteries 