Quiltville Winter Mystery: Lupine & Laughter! (Intro)

It's Mystery Season, Quiltvillians!

With everything going on with our son Jason's recovery from brain surgery, I'm getting this out a week early with the best news ever - Jason was released from the hospital yesterday and is now resting at home with his Dad. I leave November 2nd to go spend 2 weeks with him.

My reason for releasing the introduction to Lupine & Laughter a week early is so I can get all ruler orders out to you before I fly to Portland. I will do my best to get your ruler/notions orders out to you as quickly as possible. 

I return on November 25th. The 2 weeks I am gone will also allow me to order more in if need be and I will resume sending things out upon my return home.

Needless to say, thank you so much for your patience with me during this time.

This year's mystery gets its inspiration from somewhere I've been in the past year or so- ICELAND!

This post contains the back story, colors, yardage requirements, and recommended tools.

Our yearly Quiltville Winter Mystery begins in earnest with Part One going live on - PLEASE READ - NOVEMBER 21, 2025!

Yes, I know that is a week early - but I leave for Germany on Black Friday 11/28/25 - and we are getting an early start while we can.

I am planning to post Part Two on Black Friday 11/28/25 before heading to the airport for NYC to meet up with my Craftours group. I will also post Part Three while I am in Germany.

All of the posts for our Lupine & Laughter mystery will be linked under the Lupine & Laughter tab at the top of the blog for easy reference.

Click HERE for Printable PDF.

I have included full-page scans of the paint chips front and back in the PDF.

If you’ve followed along with our many past Quiltville Mysteries, you’ll already have a good handle of what happens.  I’m glad to have you back sewing with me again!

If you are one of the many, many new ones who are joining in from the land of Instagram, Facebook and beyond, I want to welcome you.

The most important thing I can mention is to PRINT YOUR PDF COPIES (or save them to your device, cloud, whatever) as they are released. I can't recommend a site like Dropbox or Google Docs highly enough.

When the mystery retires, likely some time in February - all of these mystery posts will go away and I will not be providing missing parts. You'll be directed to the Quiltville Store to purchase the pattern. SAVE YOUR CLUES.

Why do we do a mystery quilt during the holidays?  It's simple.

No matter how busy you may be during the holidays, there are people who are not. They could be alone, or caring for aging parents, their children may be across country or on the other side of the world. 

We have folks dealing with devastating illnesses - newly widowed or divorced. Maybe there was a loss of a job, or a move across country and away from family and friends.

The holidays are NOT joyful for everyone - so we do this during this time to bring a little joy into their lives.  Sewing in community can heal.  It's a gift I can give.  

This year I am also falling into that category. I don't know what the holidays will bring for us.

If you are too busy to participate because your holidays are bustling and joyful - that's wonderful.  Just save the clues so you can jump in later as your own schedule allows.

Okay!  Now that all of that is out of the way - let's get on with it!

I will be linking all posts pertaining to our mystery under the Lupine & Laughter tab at the top of the blog. 

My Craftours group in Iceland!

June 2025

Yes, it was a bit windy and cold, but we were all enamored with the lupine - everywhere there was lupine!

The controversial Lupine is not native to Iceland but was introduced in the 1940s to help with soil erosion. Since then, it has spread like a weed all around Iceland and has proven difficult to control. Depending on who you ask, they're either a welcome addition of color to the Icelandic landscape or an absolute menace!

I'll throw in my two cents - I'll take Lupine over Kudzu any day!

I'll be sharing more photos from things we saw and did in Iceland as we work our way through the mystery.

Our Lupine & Laughter quilt finishes at 80'' X 80'.  You can make it bigger or change it to a rectangle by adding more blocks and/or adding more borders. You can make it smaller by making fewer blocks.

Colors & Yardage Requirements:

Purples. Pinks, Ice Blue & Neutral!

Back of Paint Chips.

Full page printouts of the paint chips are included in the PDF.

The purples and pinks are there to show you the RANGE of shades in my quilt.  You can push your color families any direction you want. Do not over-match your colors, but let them vary.

Purples contain many red-purples to blue-purples.

Of course, these purples are from the colors of the ever abundant lupine!

Ice blue is more blue than aqua - I was thinking of the color of the sky and water we encountered at the Blue Lagoon out of Reykjavik:

Yes, it is that blue!

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal seawater pool known for its high mineral content, including silica and algae, which gives the water its iconic milky-blue color.

Pinks from light baby pink to magenta and some pushing toward peachy-pink:

Along with the Lupine, there are wildflowers in a variety of pinks as well.  This one is called Seathrift.

And this sweet beauty is called Ice Moss.

A wide variety of fun neutrals - more white, less creamy.

Inspired by the Mountain Avens, so pretty.

Yardage Requirements:

Purples: 2 1/4 yards

Pinks: 2 yards

Ice Blue: 1 3/4 yards

Neutral: 4 1/4 yards

Please note that if you choose any construction method that has you going bigger to sliver trim down that more fabric will be required.

And yes!  Cotton to Quilts has color rolls in our selected Lupine & Laughter mystery colors! Rolls contain 20 pieces 8'' X 22'' each and are great for enhancing your stash.

But hurry on ordering these - they are sure to go quickly!

Specialty Rulers:

Half-Rectangle Trim Tool

Lupine & Laughter has us working with a new-to-us unit! While I will provide paper-piecing templates for any weird-angle units as in the past, I love this ruler for quick piecing, easy trimming of half-rectangle units. Highly recommend!

*NOTE*  Already sold out!  More on order. I'll post when available. Thank you!

My Essential Triangle Tool.

Simple Folded Corners ruler – either large

Or the Simple Folded Corners mini.

Ultimate 3-in-1 Color tool.

I love this tool for helping with color recipes that WORK!  If you don’t want to sew with my 3 colors – this tool will help you choose what goes with what in a very simple way.

You don’t need to be a color wizard to choose a knock-out color plan.

Use coupon code NOTIONS to save 15% on all items in the Rulers, Notions & Tools category of the Quiltville Store. Code must be used for discount to apply. (Shipping within the USA Only.)

To use a coupon code - click REDEEM YOUR COUPON beneath the total in the shopping cart as shown above. Enter the coupon code NOTIONS in the box that opens up. Click enter.

*NOTE* You need to put the code in BEFORE you click to your payment method for discount coupon to be applied. Do not click to your payment until coupon code is entered.

I will provide traditional rotary cutting measurements and/or paper piecing templates for those who wish to work that way.

I will not be giving any Accuquilt die information as it reveals too much too soon.  As each clue comes out with each given finished unit size, you can easily find the corresponding die you need. 

So there you have it.  You have roughly 4 weeks to pull your fabrics together.

We start with PART ONE on Friday, November 21st - the Friday BEFORE Thanksgiving here in the USA.

Let's Do This!

Oh, and one last thing:

What's my number 1 rule?

No whining!

This will be a learning experience for many, but I know you can do this. I will present alternate methods for you to do the units. Try them all and choose the one that works for you.

This is a time to slow down, find out where piecing problems may be coming from, make a change, develop new habits with better results.  You've got this!

I can't wait to share another Quiltville Winter Mystery with you!

If you are newly arriving, we also have a Gift-Away you won't want to miss!

Enter to win on the Lahinch Gift-Away post!

Simple shapes and easy piecing create a stunning repeat of pattern and secondary designs – All from a photo taken of a vintage tile floor white traveling. Full color photos, Optional piecing methods, and directions to press for success!

Quilt size: 80'' X 80''

I'll be drawing for two winners who will each receive a  Lahinch PDF pattern from me AND:

An Atlantic Sky color roll from  Cotton to Quilts.  And yes, they have other rolls to enhance your stash!

Along with the beautiful Atlantic Sky roll, they've got other Ireland themed rolls in all of the rich colors you need from Golden Sand to Cliffs of Moher (Chocolate) and Autumn Heather (Pumpkin).And be sure to check out the neutral rolls as well!

Of course, you can envision your own color plan for Lahinch Just choose 4 colors that you like together and add a background where I used lighter sand.

We will draw for our winners on Monday 10/27/25.

Introductory pricing: I've placed the Lahinch PDF pattern at 25% off - no coupon needed -through 10/31/25. Hurry now and save!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

The journey may be difficult, it may be downright hard and you have to stop and catch your breath. But if it brings you joy keep moving forward! ⁣

Scrappy Mountain Majesties quilt in recycled shirt fabrics - Free Patterns tab at the top of the blog.

Have a FABULOUS Friday, everyone!

 

This mystery pattern is given for personal use only. 

No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical including printing or photocopying for sharing, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the author.

Please no uploading and saving of this file with intent to share, email or distribute, either digitally or in hard copy. 

This is a reader appreciation mystery, something I give back to my readers for their support over the years.

Please help me continue to design and show your support by sending your friends to my blog to print their own copy. 

Please check out my other designs found in the Quiltville Store where my books (paperback) notions, tools, and other goodies along with my digital patterns are found right at your fingertips.