Bloomington fabric Sampler Projects

2020 Designer Mystery Block of the Month: The Finished Quilt

I’ve had this quilt finished for a couple months, but am just getting around to posting about it! Have you ever heard of a designer mystery block of the month program? They are so much fun! I have always loved Fat Quarter Shop’s designer mystery quilts.

Designer Mystery Block of the Month

How a Designer Mystery block of the month works:

  • 12 Moda designers are invited to design quilt blocks around a certain theme. The block designs are kept a surprise–which means the finished quilt top layout remains a mystery as well.
  • The subscribers of this block of the month receive monthly kits where each month reveals the designer of the month and their block.

There are so few surprises in life, it is such a fun thing to sign up for. The 2020 Designer Mystery block of the month by Fat Quarter Shop just wrapped up and featured my Bloomington fabric collection. Here’s how the final quilt turned out:

2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!

Did You Know?

Even though the official block of the month sew along is over, anyone can make this quilt! Fat Quarter Shop has released a PDF pattern bundle including all 12 Mystery Block patterns + the finishing pattern:

2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns from Fat Quarter Shop here! | Mystery Block by popular US quilting blog, Lella Boutique: image of a designer mystery block quilt.

Blocks #7-12

Let’s get a closer look at the individual blocks! I shared blocks #1-6 a few months back in a blog post here. Here is the second batch:

2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. Block 7 is "Daylily Daze" by Anne Sutton. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!
2020 Mystery Designer Block of the Month. Block 7 is “Daylily Daze” by Anne Sutton.
2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. Block 8 is "Vivid Violet" by Corey Yoder. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!
2020 Mystery Designer Block of the Month. Block 8 is “Vivid Violet” by Corey Yoder.
2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. Block 9 is "Dancing Dahlia" by Joanna Figueroa. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!
2020 Mystery Designer Block of the Month. Block 9 is “Dancing Dahlia” by Joanna Figueroa.
2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. Block 10 is "Tulip Tango" by Lisa Bongean. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!
2020 Mystery Designer Block of the Month. Block 10 is “Tulip Tango” by Lisa Bongean.
2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. Block 11 is "Fully Flora" by Chelsi Stratton. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!
2020 Mystery Designer Block of the Month. Block 11 is “Fully Flora” by Chelsi Stratton.
2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. Block 12 is "Hydrangea Hoopla" by Sherri McConnell. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!
2020 Mystery Designer Block of the Month. Block 12 is “Hydrangea Hoopla” by Sherri McConnell.

The Finished Quilt Details

2020 Designer Mystery Quilt in Bloomington fabric by Lella Boutique for Moda Fabrics. See the finished quilt and download the block patterns here!

I think Jocelyn at Fat Quarter Shop came up with such a brilliant finishing plan! It was definitely a fun one to make. Have you ever participated in a designer mystery block of the month? Let me know in the comments.

What do you think of this mystery block? Let me know in a comment below!


Like this post? Drop your email in the box below to get new post notifications via email.

13 Comments

  1. Nancy Boylan

    July 26, 2021 at 7:12 am

    I finished my quilt top a month or so ago. I love it. I still have to quilt it. I might look into pantograph you used. It is very nice getting one block a month to work on. I’m now working on the 2021 mystery BOM. Loving the colors in this one too! It is so nice all of you designers work together on these blocks. Thank you

  2. Patty

    July 26, 2021 at 10:13 am

    The Designer Mystery Block of the Month 2020 was my first mystery BOM. I have all the blocks completed, but haven’t even started the finishing yet……..it will probably have to wait until fall after the garden and canning season are over. It is beautiful, and I can’t wait to finish it!!

    1. lellaboutique

      August 8, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      It sounds like a wonderful reason to hold off! It’s always nice to have those seasonal activities to look forward to. 🙂

  3. Lisa L Walters

    July 26, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    I havent, but I am doing the 2021 FQS Mystery BOM and I’m so excited. The quilt you showed here is beautiful. I love the layout. It’s very unique.

    1. lellaboutique

      August 8, 2021 at 9:04 pm

      Oh you are going to love it!

  4. Stephanie Wild

    July 26, 2021 at 7:10 pm

    Loved this block of the month. The fabrics are beautiful. My blocks are done and I spent the afternoon cutting the finishing fabrics. Ready to be assembled this week.

    1. lellaboutique

      August 8, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      Oh yay! You’re so close!

  5. Loanne

    July 29, 2021 at 12:04 am

    I signed up for the 2020 Designer Mystery Block of the Month, because I loved the fabric when they showed the sneak peak. Every month was a surprise as to what the block was going to look like, which made it exciting waiting for the next block. All the blocks are completed and I have sewn together the centre of the finish. Not quite done, but getting there. It is gorgeous. {Off topic to this BOM, I made a different quilt in the Harvest Road fabric. I have bought the Folktale fabric ready to make another quilt. I did not make a connection. I just pick because I love the colourway. Then I signed up for the November Rose in Bloom BOM and I thought the name seems familiar. It was then I realized I think I am drawn to a specific fabric designer}. I love the Christmas Morning, so I am sure that will make it into my hands too.

    1. lellaboutique

      August 8, 2021 at 9:03 pm

      Oh wow, I’m super flattered! Years ago (before I became a designer) I found myself always drawn to Moda Fabrics. It’s super cool to think I get to be part of that group now. Thank you for sharing!

  6. Christine C Pearl

    August 15, 2021 at 8:18 am

    I’ve come upon a couple of problems completing this quilt. First, each pattern states the finished block will measure 12.5″ x 12.5″; you state (https://blog.lellaboutique.com/2021/04/2020-designer-mystery-block-of-the-month/) the finished block will measure 12″ x 12″. None of my finished blocks measured 12.5″ x 12.5″, so every month I stressed that I was doing something really wrong and my quilt would never turn out correctly.

    Second, the finishing pattern/instruction diagrams simply note: Block One, Block Two, Block Three, etc. There is nothing provided to show at what angle each block should be placed; no picture/diagram of the completed quilt, either, to help with block placement. In this blog the finished quilt DIAGRAM even shows a different placement setting than the PICTURE of the completed quilt. If block placement is supposed to be eclectic then that should be stated; if I wish to complete the quilt as designed, information should be specific in the finishing pattern regarding how blocks are placed. I shouldn’t have to search on the internet for this information.

    1. lellaboutique

      August 15, 2021 at 11:09 pm

      Hi Christine!

      Thanks for your note. It sounds like there is some confusion about the difference in “finished” and “unfinished” block size terminology – which is totally understandable if you’re new to quilting. You may not have known about this, but before blocks are stitched into a quilt top, their measurement is referred to as the “unfinished” block size. Once they’re stitched into the quilt top (the seam allowance subtracted), their measurement is referred to as a “finished” block size. So in my post, I was referring to the finished block size of 12″. You will notice that most quilt pattern instructions will list the “finished” block size – so you’ve got to add the seam allowances back in when thinking about what the unfinished blocks will measure at. Hope this helps! It is definitely an important part of quilting terminology that comes up a lot!

      Regarding the Designer Mystery finishing instructions – those were designed and written by Fat Quarter Shop. You should definitely pass your comment to them – I’m sure they would appreciate the feedback! Please let me know if you have any other questions. Always happy to listen. 🙂

    2. lellaboutique

      August 15, 2021 at 11:22 pm

      Oh and you’re totally right – it looks like my quilt doesn’t quite match the mockup! I didn’t even notice – nor does it bother me in the least. It seems to me there is some flexibility in this particular layout and block orientation, not just one “correct” layout.

  7. Kym

    January 18, 2022 at 5:14 am

    Love this! Is there a Materials List? I followed the link to FQS but couldn’t see it. Thanks 🙂

Leave a Reply