From Piecing to Perfection: Finishing your PMQ

Yee Haw, Wild West detectives!

The mystery of our Wild West Puzzle Mystery Quilt has been solved. And we are thrilled to show you how it has all come together. 

Katie Bridwell shared her Calamity colorway as soon as she sewed it together. Gorgeous!

So round up those clues and corral them in a paddock close to your sewing machine. Clue 10 instructions were wrangled together and sent to you on Friday during our Big Reveal LIVE, and you will have all you need to sew your quilt top together.

Here are some helpful hints to help your puzzle piecing assembly go smoothly. And you can give Jack the Ripper some time off!

1. Label all of your clues with the correct number and letter for each coordinating month. You can get fancy if you are so inclined. But simply cutting up some small pieces of paper and writing the number on each, then pinning the paper to the clue should be just fine. I suggest writing your clue number with a Sharpie or bold marker. This will make it easier to see each label as you spread out your clues. And, pin to the front.
2. Have a space set aside where you can spread out to work. Obviously, a work wall is great if you have one. A guest bed works well, or a spot on the floor with little or no traffic in the corner. 
3. Sometimes, my monthly clues do not come together perfectly. So as I start lining them up and clipping them together (I prefer clips, but maybe you are using pins) make sure they are lined up in a way that your straight stitch won’t miss any small sections. Your inside seams may be a little wonky, but that won’t matter in the end.
4. The sections you are sewing together get larger and larger at the end. Make sure you have plenty of thread in your bobbin! 
5. Keep that seam allowance at ¼ inch for maximum strength.
6. Remember the “measure twice, cut once” rule? Apply that to sewing your section together. Check at least twice to make sure your sections line up to each other correctly. There are four sides to every block and that “puzzle piece” could slide into the finished design in any direction.

Karma Metzgar clearly labeled her clues for easy assembly.

Gwen Brown shared her progress as she assembled her clues for Goldrush colorway.

Also Remember:

• If you ordered extra borders, those ship out around the same time as Clue 10. Even if you paid up front and received all of your clues in one box ten months ago, your extra borders will be arriving soon. 
• Your pre-ordered backing will also be packaged and shipped as the Big Reveal takes place. It’s on the way!
• Make sure to tune in to the Big Reveal and take a look at all of our finished Wild West quilt tops. You can find the recording on our YouTube channel.
• Our Facebook group, Cotton Cuts Fabric, is full of photos from all of our members as they finish up their Clue 10 and sew it all together. Need help? Have a question? Make sure to check it out.
• Be sure to join us every Saturday AFTER each PMQ's Friday Big Reveal. We always host a sew-in, highlighting clue assembly and sharing of our colorways as they come together. It's a great chance to meet other detectives, swap sewing stories and meet new friends. And, Cotton Cuts always gives away fun prizes. Join us the day after our Flyway reveal, which will be here before we know it!