Flight Path Completed: Reflecting on Flyway

A finish so pretty, we’re still flying high about it.

We’re beginning our final descent on Flyway! Last week’s Big Reveal showed how our latest Puzzle Mystery Quilt came together — and wow, is it fresh and beautiful. Can you believe how long it’s been since that very first clue landed on your doorstep? From the moment you opened your package, those gorgeous fabrics in your chosen colorway had you ready to dive in and sew. Piece by piece, clue by clue, you brought Flyway to life — and last Friday’s reveal showed just how stunning it truly is.

From a kitted clue….

to one lovely completed quilt top.

Flyway is unique in its final design because, unlike our previous PMQ patterns, it doesn’t revolve around a central centerpiece that radiates outward. Instead, the design focuses on four stars, creating a balanced composition in a fresh, new way — offering a different perspective on Puzzle Mystery Quilt patterns. It’s fresh, new, and an inspired surprise for all PMQ detectives, both new to the program and long time participants.

It’s a wonderful accomplishment to finish that beautiful quilt top, but the truth is, your journey to a completed quilt is far from over. Did you order extra borders? Those will need to be sewn on. You might even have the skill set to cut and sew your own borders. Some detectives have used the extra fabric from their OOPS kit to create truly lovely and unique finishes. And thinking outside the box with an additional fabric might be just the way to go as well.

Then, you’ll need to sandwich your quilt together with your favorite batting and a coordinating backing fabric. You may have ordered a backing from our shop months ago, or you may choose something new now to make your quilt shine.

Or, maybe at this point, your quilt top is off to the longarmer.

And finally, it’s time to bind. Your binding fabric came with your PMQ clues; all you need to do is cut your strips to your preferred width. The included fabric will be enough to create binding strips up to 2.5 inches wide. And if you ordered extra borders, don’t worry—we sent along an additional strip of that fabric so you’ll have plenty. Cut your strips, sew them together using the diagonal method for less bulk, then press them in half. And just like that, you’re ready to bind.

You could probably bind a quilt differently every time. Some quilters sew the front first, then flip it over and stitch the back. Others do the opposite. Some hand sew all their binding, while others prefer 100% machine sewing. I even have a friend who machine sews the first pass on the back, then hand sews to the front to finish. It truly comes down to preference, skill level, and what feels most comfortable. Play around with your thread color, too—do you want it to pop or blend in like it’s barely there?

You can find much more detail about finishing your quilt, binding, and batting on our YouTube channel. We have addressed these topics and many more in our previous LIVE shows.

But today, be sure to bask in the glory of your accomplishment—finishing your Flyway quilt top. Every colorway turned out beautifully, and, as always, each one creates a unique finish that highlights different fabrics and different elements of the pattern. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that all these finished quilts are born from the same design. What a wonder fabric can be!

And, if these gorgeous quilt tops inspire you, don't forget that our next PMQ is already underway. Field of Dreamers is up on our website under the Get Started section under the Puzzle Myster Quilt drop down menu. You can take a peek at all of the next colorways. Pick your favorite, if you can narrow it down. And set your alarm. Because Field of Dreamers will be available to order on Friday. (Or early order option of Thursday for those who just finished Flyway.) You do not want to delay. Colorways will sell out. And you don't want to get left behind.