Agatha Christie’s real life had several twists and turns, just as her mystery novels do. It has been said that only the Bible has sold more copies than her books collectively; I do not know if that is truth or exaggeration, but I do know that she is a beloved mystery author of world renown.

There is more about Agatha Christie at mysterycafe.com, and information about other mystery writers as well. The site covers everything from classic mysteries and who-dunnits to children’s popular mystery books. Perhaps mystery writers see the puzzles in the world around them; it does seem that they are all inclined to write in series!

This free quilt pattern and instructions are for making the quilt pictured below.  I call it Lots of Scraps. The free instructions for this quilt will make 12 inch finished blocks.
Free Quilt Pattern, Lots of Scraps

The previous posts have provided materials lists and detailed instructions on how to make this quilt top. Cutting and assembly were explained for the Friendship Star and the Summer Winds quilt blocks.
You should now have the quilt blocks assembled as the quilt top. The next step is the borders.

It is tempting to just take the border strips you have cut and sew them along the edges of the quilt top and be done with it. But every piece of every block allows a margin of error or a margin of stretch, and it is important to be sure that your quilt top is square and even.

Therefore, border strips should be cut to the correct length and then applied to the edges of your quilt top.

First is the narrow inner border. The finished width of this border is 2 inches, so the strips need to be cut 2-1/2inches wide. Whether to piece the border strips or cut them in one continuous length from a longer piece of fabric is your decision.

You will need two lengths of border pieces for this border. The longer sides will be 2-1/2 inches wide and 72 inches long, and you will need two identical border strips of this length. The upper and lower edges will need 2 identical border strips that are 2-1/2 inches wide and 64-1/2 inches long.

Sew the border strips to the quilt edges, right sides together, stitching the longer side pieces first. Use a 1/4inch seam allowance. I make a fold to find the center of the strip (and mark it with a pin), then pin the ends first, then the center mark, and I work from there pinning the border strip evenly along the quilt top edge.

Do this for the two long sides first, then press. Use the same method for the upper and lower edges, placing the ends of the strips even with the edges of the previously attached border strips.

This method will be repeated with the wider border, shown in the diagram as the flowered border. The side pieces for this border need to be 5 inches wide and 76-1/2 inches long. The upper and lower edges for this border need to be 5 inches wide and 74-1/2 inches long.

You are ready to layer the back, batting, and quilt top and QUILT!

A narrow outer border is pictured as the binding. The width of this is your preference, but I allowed 1/2inch.

This website has some homey stories about quilting. I’ve never heard of frameless quilting as a quilting term, but I know many quilts were done that way when quilters did not have the luxury of a frame.  You can read some of these ideas at threadedquilts.com.

I do know of quilters who used their kitchen tables to spread quilts out on so the basted quilt would be flat and even and they could sit in a chair and quilt comfortably at the table without a frame. Usually these were utilitarian quilts. Crazy Quilts were made without frames, except possibly for embroidery. Quilting and embroidery frames have been in use since the middle ages in Europe and there are even earlier examples of fine silk work done on frames in Asia.

This free quilt pattern and instructions are for making the quilt pictured below.  I call it Lots of Scraps. The free instructions for this quilt will make 12 inch finished blocks.
Free Quilt Pattern, Lots of Scraps

You should now have 15 completed Summer Winds quilt blocks, and 15 Friendship Star quilt blocks.

Press each block, making sure that all of the seam allowances are positioned flat and are not folded or twisted. Measure each block again, and check to be sure the size is 12-1/2inches square.

Lay out the quilt blocks in the designated design, alternating the blocks. If you have used scraps for your quilt, you may want to shuffle some blocks to create the most pleasing effect.

Begin sewing the blocks right-sides together, row by row. Keep all of the seam allowances lying in the correct direction so your seams will be nice and flat.
Press your seams between the blocks in each row. Then sew together the rows.

Press the entire quilt top.

Beautiful!

Next we will work on the borders.

Here is a new website with information about draperies and using them for decorating your home as well as for their insulating properties. Check out draperiesindenver.com to read more about this. You can also find some tips for choosing drapes, ways to hang them, and custom made draperies.

You can also find supplies and materials as well as books and designs to make your own window treatments at many home sewing stores. There is great convenience with ready made drapes, not to mention the time savings over making your own (if you know how to sew!) Old houses with odd sized windows usually require custom made or make your own drapes, but newer windows are in standard sizes that make it easy to shop for window coverings.