Mahone Bay Quilters’ Guild

Introducing Sew Days for Members

Webmaster — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 19:48:38 +0000

As the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together”… and so we are delighted to offer all Guild members the opportunity to come together to sew in an unstructured, companionable setting.

The possibilities are unlimited. Bring the project you’re currently working on, team up with another to create something for charity, demonstrate a special skill, offer help to others or offer tips to newer quilters, or, or, you get the idea!

The Place: Trinity United Church Hall, Mahone Bay

The When: At Least Once Per Month — First One: February 21, 2026

The Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (feel free to drop in for any amount of time!)

The Cost: Free (included in your membership)

What’s Provided: Tables, Chairs, access to 2 Ironing Boards and 2 Irons,

Tea & Coffee, Kitchen Access

What to Bring: Your Project, An Extension Cord, Lunch, Treats to share (if you wish)

Sign-Up: Each session can accommodate 12 members — sign-up at the next monthly meeting or by email to Didi at: sewdidisew@gmail.com

Future Dates: March 7, April 18, May 9 and June 6

Your Hosts: Nina Scott-Stoddart and Didi Morton-Spaan

Name The Day Contest

At the moment we are calling these gatherings “Sew Day” or “Open Sew Day” however we believe that a name with more pizazz is needed. So, delve into your creative mind and come up with a suitable alternative and a very special prize will be yours! Email your entries to Didi at sewdidisew@gmail.com

We are very excited to offer these events as opportunities to strengthen our connections as Guild members while doing the things we enjoy so much. See you there!

Nina and Didi

Second and Last hints for Second Mystery Quilt!

Webmaster — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 21:19:26 +0000

Cheryl unveiled the final hint for her mystery quilt on Monday evening and … it’s a very pretty variation of an Irish chain! For a twist, Cheryl has placed the blocks on point!

This second lot of blocks include simple strip pieced squares and setting triangles.

You can download the instructions in pdf format. We’ll be unveiling the final quilts in March!

For more information on setting blocks on point (turning square blocks 90 degrees), see the following links:

I really like Snuggles Quilts breakdown of how to set blocks on point because it includes clear diagrams, including diagrams of how to conceptualize and number your rows.
For visual learners, you may like Epida Studio’s video outlining how to assemble a quilt on point.
Another video is Fat Quarter Shop’s video on On Point math, which also has tips on how to handle the bias edge of the setting triangles!

Second Mystery Quilt — First Hint!

Webmaster — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:27:26 +0000

General Information

You can make this Mystery Quilt in two sizes.

Lap Size: approx. 53″ x 70″
Queen Size: approx. 87″ x 95″

FABRIC PULL FROM PATTERN:

this is total fabric needed — scrappy or all one fabric

Queen Size (approx. 87” x 95”)
2.7 meter Fabric D (dark)
4.5 meter Fabric L (light)
1.4 meter Border Fabric (can be combination of Fabrics D and L)

Lap Size (approx. 53” x 70”)
1.1 meter Fabric D (dark)
1.7 meter Fabric L (light)
1 meter Border Fabric (can be combination of Fabrics D and L)

NOTES ABOUT CUSTOMIZING YOUR FABRIC PULL FROM CHERYL:

Traditional 2-color quilts often used white + 1 solid color. The idea of this mystery quilt is to use 2 different color fabrics, but anything goes as far as your choice of colors as long as you have a good contrast. You can make this scrappy or not. Blocks will be constructed using strip piecing method and the project will involve pressing to the darker fabric and nesting those seams to get “perfect points” (or whatever is perfect enough for you!) I’m using green and white.

FIRST HINT

BLOCK 1 – Nine Patch

Finished Block Size 6”x 6” (unfinished 6.5″ x 6.5″)

Block 1 is a nine patch with Fabric D (dark) in four outside corners and centre and Fabric L (light) in remaining four squares

(Queen – make 90 blocks, Lap – make 35 blocks)

Cutting: Cut all strips 2-1/2” wide x WOF (your strips will be 2-1/2x approx.42).
Queen Fabric D (dark) 30 strips Fabric L (light) 24 strips
Lap Fabric D (dark) 13 strips Fabric L (light) 11 strips

Sew strips right sides together using a 1/4″ seam allowance and pressing seams towards the darker color. Make sets as follows:
Queen Size 12 sets of D-L-D (dark-light-dark) 6 sets of L-D-L (light-dark-light)
Lap Size 5 sets of D-L-D (dark-light-dark) 3 sets of L-D-L (light-dark-light)
They should look like this (also should measure 6-1/2” wide in case you want to check):

Then cut these strips crosswise into 2-1/2” rows. Your rows will look like this:
L-D-L Lap – sub-cut 35 pcs. 2-1/2”wide
Queen – sub-cut 90 pcs. 2-1/2”wide

D-L-D Lap – sub-cut 70 pcs. 2-1/2”wide
Queen – sub-cut 180 pcs. 2-1/2”wide
(note – Only sub-cut quantity required – remaining pieces of strip pieced units can be used for block 2)
Sew your rows together into blocks, still using a 1/4″ seam allowance and pressing seams away from centre of block (press seams towards strips with darker corner blocks):
At this point, your block should measure 6-1/2 x 6-1/2″
(includes 1/4″ seam allowance around the outside).

Download first hint as a pdf

November Meeting: Rhoda Moore and Quilts of Valour

Webmaster — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:34:50 +0000

At the CFB Shearwater Aviation Museum, it was an honour to meet and present Quilts of Valour to Robert Standing and Archie Rose in October, 2025. Photo courtesy of Rhoda Moore.

The Guild had the pleasure of having Rhoda Moore come to talk to us for our November meeting about her work with Quilts of Valour.

Rhoda is the Halifax, Nova Scotia representative for QoV, and as a someone who formerly served with the Canadian Armed Forces, she has a deep and sincere connection with the cause.

Quilts of Valour has set out to present a quilt to every injured member of the Canadian Armed Forces. The organization has presented over 27,000 quilts to date.

Rhoda gave a moving presentation which included a trunk show of quilts, photos of past presentations to Forces members and her own reminiscences of the impact these quilts have had on the lives of both givers and receivers.

In conjunction with Rhoda’s presentation this month, our Workshops Coordinator has planned a day of sewing blocks which will be assembled into a QoV which can be presented from the Guild. Our grateful thanks to Rhoda, who gave us precut blocks for this project, which was very kind of her!

Join us on November 15 from 10 am to 3 pm for a group sewing day at Trinity United Church in Mahone Bay. See the Event Listing for more details.

For more information about Quilts of Valour and to become a member, please see their excellent website: Quilts of Valou

Final Clue for Mystery Quilt!

Webmaster — Thu, 08 May 2025 17:43:45 +0000

At our monthly meeting on Monday Eldora unveiled the finished mystery quilt, and now we can see how all those pieces come together!

Isn’t this beautiful? It’s a starry Irish Chain and I adore it

You can download the instructions for assembly here: Mystery Quilt Final Assembly

We hope to see the completed quilts in September 2025, and please feel free to share your versions in the MBQG Members’ group on Facebook.

Thanks so much, Eldora!

April Hints for 2025 Mystery Quilt

Webmaster — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 21:04:15 +0000

For April you’ll be making two final parts for the Mystery Quilt — in May you’ll get assembly info for the whole top!

You’ll cut (or piece) 9.5″ x 5″ rectangular units from your background fabric.

You’ll cut solid triangles from your Colour #1 fabric and sew them onto the triangle units you made in February, making squares.

You can download the hints here:

April Mystery Quilt Hints

***************

General Notes:

Starting in January and finishing in June, the Guild is hosting a free mystery quilt sew along. Each month (the day following each meeting), clues will land in your inbox. The information can also be found online on our website under the “for members” tab or on our Facebook page under members only. All members are encouraged to join the private members page for more information on guild activities and events.

The quilt has multiple size options to choose from and fabric requirements outlined for each size. I’m choosing to make mine scrappy (to use some of my scrap stash). For example, when the pattern calls for a specific colour such as green, I’m doing green but all the green pieces will be scrappy. My background will be low volume and scrappy too. You can choose solids, prints, batik or scrappy – make it yours.

Full details here

At each meeting, I will be talking about that months’ clue(s) and showing what my fabric choices or pieces look like. It’s a great fun pattern that’s appropriate for all levels of quilters.

I look forward to seeing how different and beautiful each finished top will be at big reveal at our June meeting. I’m happy to answer any questions regarding the sew along but my lips are sealed as to what the finished top looks like. You’ll have to participate to find that answer!

Come and join the fun!
Eldora

March Hint for 2025 Mystery Quilt

Webmaster — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:54:26 +0000

It’s March already and we’re halfway done with the mystery adventure. I sew hope everyone is enjoying the ride and having fun with the monthly clues.

This month you’ll be preparing:

1. 12 3.5″ squares of your colour #3 (original colour brown) — the pattern hints recommend making this a fabric you really really like because it’s the largest single block of one fabric in the quilt! (You’ll need 25 of these for the larger size)

2. 20 5″ 9 patch blocks (or 36 for the larger size quilt). The hint contains instructions for strip piecing these from your background fabric and colour #2 (original colour green)

Below is a link so you can download the clue for this month along with an image of my finished blocks. I’m happy to answer any questions and I look forward to seeing your colours choices and finished top at the June meeting. Only a couple more clues remaining….until then, happy sewing.

Eldora

Download March’s Hints

General Notes:

Full details here

At each meeting, I will be talking about that months’ clue(s) and showing what my fabric choices or pieces look like. It’s a great fun pattern that’s appropriate for all levels of quilters.

Come and join the fun!
Eldora

February Hint for Mystery Quilt Sew A Long

Webmaster — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 17:03:04 +0000

Mystery Quilt Sew A Long – February

February Mystery Quilt Steps

Complete the units called for in the hints sheet for the month. This month it’s half triangle triangles cut from 4.5″ squares of your background fabric and a contrast colour. You’ll need 48 triangle units for the throw quilt or 100 for the queen size. Eldora’s big hint is to make sure that the background and the contrast colour are always on the same side for all the units (background on left and contrast on right, or vice versa. Just be consistent!)

All information including the monthly hints sheet will be posted on both Facebook and here on the website at Mystery Quilt Blocks (found in the menu under the For Members section)

General Notes:

At each meeting, I will be talking about that months’ clue(s) and showing what my fabric choices or pieces look like. It’s a great fun pattern that’s appropriate for all levels of quilters.

Come and join the fun!
Eldora

Mystery Quilt Sew A Long 2025 starts this month!

Webmaster — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 15:00:03 +0000

Mystery Quilt Sew A Long

At each meeting, I will be talking about that months’ clue(s) and showing what my fabric choices or pieces look like. It’s a great fun pattern that’s appropriate for all levels of quilters.

Come and join the fun!
Eldora

January’s Mystery Quilt Steps

1. Pick your quilt size (either throw (47″x61″) or Queen (75″x75″). You can add borders to either of these to customize your size further.

2. Pick your colour scheme. The original uses three colours plus a background.

3. Fabric pull: make it scrappy or use yardage!

4. Finally, complete the units called for in the hints sheet for the month. This month it’s four patch blocks measuring 3.5″ square — you make them from 2″ strips of the background and the “green” fabric, and you’ll need 45 for the throw quilt of 100 for the queen size!

All information including the monthly hints sheet will be posted on both Facebook and here on the website at Mystery Quilt Blocks (found in the menu under the For Members section)

Wonderfil Thread Workshop with Nadine Stevens

Webmaster — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 17:01:15 +0000

On Saturday October 26, MBQG held a practical in person workshop on Wonderfil thread led by longarm quilter and Wonderfil educator Nadine Stevens.

It was invigorating to get together in person, learn more about this extensive line of Canadian thread, make a cute practice project and support each other as we worked with special machine stitches many of us had never used! Thanks Nadine, and thank you to Pina for organizing it!

[See image gallery at mahonebayquiltersguild.com]

The Wonderfil.ca website has a lot to offer ; be sure to check it out. It also has a dedicated section on thread education if you’d like to learn more.

This link will take you to the one-page information sheets on all the threads they carry: https://shopwonderfil.ca/hints-tips You can print or download them for future reference for free and create your own reference library.

There are also a number of videos, educational newsletter and so much more: https://shopwonderfil.ca/thread-talk.

I also discovered that their pre-wound bobbins come in 3 sizes. This is the link to their bobbin booklet:
https://wonderfil.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/lettersize_BobbinBooklet2023.pdf

Nadine Stevens has a Facebook group for her longarm quilting which you can join.