
Way back when in 2017 I came across a YouTube creator (Yvette Renee) who was sharing an unboxing of Cotton Cuts Classic Box. Back then I signed up for the Cotton Cuts Classic Box. Later, I became more receptive to YouTube creators who were sharing their unboxing of all things quilt-related. I came across a video about the Cotton Cuts Puzzle Mystery QAL. At the time I was so new to quilting that I had no idea what I was getting into but I really wanted to become involved so that I could learn how to make quilts and gain a skill set in the process of learning.
This blog is going to be about the first PMQ starting with my own along with sharing others who have shared their first PMQs photos with me so that I can write them into a blog. This is in celebration of the Puzzle Mystery Quilt along and how it has brought so many of us together while creating new friendships as well as becoming more involved with future PMQ endeavors. In late fall of 2018, I signed up for the Spring 2019 Stratford – “Team Titania”.

At the time I was sewing on a small Singer Talent and I was so new to making quilts. I really had a strong desire to learn. I didn’t complete it with everyone else at the beginning because I was really struggling with the sewing machine I was using but I had about 75% of it finished. After a year of that, my “Heart Light” bought me a Janome 6700P. I have to say the machine made me feel a bit intimidated but once I began to sew on it, there was no turning back once I got started. My skills as a sewer have improved so much because of it and also because I continued to participate in more PMQs, which also improved my sewing skills. I love the Puzzle Mystery Quilt program. Cotton Cuts has simplified it so much that all a person has to do is follow each month’s clue instructions by just sewing. A person doesn’t have to decide on what fabrics to buy, measure, or even cut. It’s all precut and ready for sewing! By month ten a beautiful quilt top is built from all the clues.

To start off the list of first PMQs from people we will start with the owner of Cotton Cuts – Kim Moos. Her first PMQ was from the Spring 2017 – “All A Glow” – Team Boardwalk Fun If you want to learn more about Kim Moos of Cotton Cuts, come over and watch Part 1 and Part 2 of an interview I have conducted with Kim. There will be more installments as we dig deeper into Cotton Cuts.
Jennifer Lee Merkley – (Fall 2022: Piazza – Team Duomo (small) “While I’m an experienced quilter, I struggled to find my motivation again after Covid, a rough pregnancy, and adjusting to life as a parent to a newborn. I found out about the PMQ and it felt like the perfect way to motivate myself to sew again. And it worked. I was hooked and fell in love. Village Green will be my 3rd PMQ!”


Brianna Robeck-Schwartz: Fall 2020 “Are You Game” – Team Catan
Lisa Turner – Fall 2021 “Olympia” – Team Scott


Trish Read – Spring 2017 “All A Glow” – Team Sedona Sunset
Lindsey Endris – Spring 2022 “Sew Sweet” – Team Abelskiver


Jossalin Newsom – Spring 2022 “Sew Sweet” – Team Red Velvet ” I honestly don’t remember how I found these, but I’m hooked. Had to skip Village Green, but making up for it with two Carnivals… maybe 3 if they reopen Ferris Wheel
“
Janice Wagner – Fall 2022 – “Piazza” Team Valle (Small) Using Michael Miller Marine Metallics


Autumn Ela – Fall 2022 “Piazza” Team Vittorio
Margaret Mager – Fall 2021 “Olympia” – Team Scott


Marie Singer: Spring 2022 – “Sew Sweet” – Team Beignet – “I love batiks!”
Deb Fothergill – Fall 2022 – “Piazza” Team Miracolli (Large) “I have just finished quilting my first PMQ. I am now looking forward to binding it! I am an experienced sewer from NZ who pieces and quilts my own quilts, but I have only recently been introduced to Sheila’s designs and the PMQ concept and after finishing this one I’m hooked. I absolutely adore the ease of the piecing, and how well they go together. I have since started two colorways of Village Green and I am looking forward to starting the latest, “Carnival”. I am obsessed!” 🙂 🙂


Ashley Ledford – Spring 2022 “Sew Sweet” – Team Blueberry Cake “This is my first PMQ. I still need to quilt it! I’ve been a regular participant ever since.
Krista Cline – Fall 2020 – “Are You Game” – Team Candyland


Katrina Kuegel – Spring 2021 – “Sparkle and Shine” – Team Garnet “I gifted it to my niece.”
Mel Heimo Meister – Spring 2020 – “Name of the Rose” Team Colorific


Drusilla Tostenson – Spring 2021 – “Sparkle and Shine” Team Jasper” Drusilla made her first quilt at age 90+. What a wonderful accomplishment!
Gretta Soble – Spring 2017 – “All A Glow” – Team Boardwalk Fun. “I received an invitation from Kim Moos to check out Cotton Cut’s new PMQ and I’ve been hooked ever since.”


Anna Rootbeer – Spring 2021 – “Sparkle and Shine” – “I did this quilt but not during the mystery quilt period, and Sheila Christensen Quilt Designer also advised me on the right fabrics to suit my friend’s wishes. I think it came out great!”
In honor of “Mary Jo LaLonde” – Fall 2020 – “Are You Game” – Team Labyrinth (Krista Cline; “I found Cotton Cuts PMQ through Sew Becca’s Youtube channel. I started it when clue 3 had already been sent out. I enjoyed how quick and easy it was to do each clue, so I shared it with my mom and that’s how she became a detective. One of the things we enjoyed sharing is this project along with choosing a different colorway that we loved and seeing how the same quilt came out differently. ” What a beautiful relationship!


Heather Bennett Ohye – Spring 2021 – “Sew Sweet” – Team Blueberry “My sister, Gretta Soble introduced me to the PMQs. Loved this and now I’m hooked!” 🙂 🙂
Spring 2021 – “Sparkle and Shine” (Team Pearl) “I chose this colorway because it was outside of my comfort zone. I usually gravitate towards floral prints that are more colorful. This colorway was so different with all the geometric prints and neutral colors.” Fallon from “Sew Be It Quilts“


Yvette was Cotton Cuts, 1st ambassador. What an honor to be one of the first to start making tutorials of the Puzzle Mystery QAL. Her first PMQ was the “This Way and That Way” QAL, Team Ballet.
Fall 2021 – “Olympia” Team Valerie
Dani from Sew Not An Expert


Linda Feris
Sparkle and Shine, Spring 2021, Team Amber was my very first one. I found out about Cotton Cuts PMQ on a Facebook quilting thread. Someone posted a link on a thread and I followed it and was instantly intrigued. Since I was late in signing up, there were few options for me to choose from, but I was very happy with the Amber colorway. I made a mistake in the borders, but only one person ever noticed. I gave it to a long-time friend of at least 50 years. He is afraid to use it, so it is draped over a chair, lol. Sparkle and Shine opened the door to Cotton Cuts and that is the best thing about it. I simply love being a part of this group and have nothing but crazy respect and appreciation for all of the Cotton Cuts staff. Every encounter with Cotton Cuts is a cut above other fabric companies. (no pun intended haha) Since the first one, I have assembled seven more and I’m currently doing three Carnival. I’m hooked.
Bryanna Shindler – “Village Green” Spring 2023, Team Aster
This was my first PMQ. And loved it so much I have 3 Carnivals going! ![]()


Tony Miller – “Village Green” – Spring 2023, Team Peony
“The Village Green was my first PMQ. I chose the Peony color way because I loved the rustic, calming and muted colors of the fabric line. Peony’s are my Sister Laura’s favorite flowers, so it also reminds me of her. I don’t have a great picture of it finished as it was just up on my makeshift design wall. It is now off to the longarm to get a sweet flower pattern quilted on it.”
~ Anna Miller
Mel Heimo Meister – Name of the Rose – Team Colorific
“Finally bound my very first Puzzle Mystery Quilt! I just love it! I didn’t learn about Puzzle Mystery quilts until the sign up was almost done. There weren’t many colorways left. I didn’t have much choice, but I love the colors so I am very happy. I loved having cut pieces sent to me! I’ve made (or need to finish) about 21 PMQ’s since then, maybe more. I’ve lost count. What did I learn about myself? LOL That I can easily bite off more than I can chew!”


Christine Hammer McHenry – Team Begonia
Here is my Village Green Small Begonia. When I saw the final design of the small and large, I decided to make my small a square lap quilt. Using my oops kit, I took the top and bottom designs and carried them to the sides, and used my favorite fabric pattern (the turtle) as corner squares. It was close, with me having to sew together some of the half square triangles to finish the corners of the border and make it large enough. I LOVE how it turned out. My first PMQ. I picked the colorway because I loved the seahorse, turtle print and the orange/blue-green combo. I liked the process ok, mostly because the monthly clues were manageable in my busy life. I will say that I prefer the new prepay of getting all clue fabric at once. Gives me a box to keep it all in. I had one clue that was less fabric, and the replacement process was smooth. This might be addictive. Lol
Kasia Brodzik Hansen – Team Louise
“This was my first one completed. I have two more to finish. I like that everything is coming precut and ready to sew, I don’t like that it takes 10 months to receive all the fabric. Sometimes I’d make blocks every month, but I decided I like it better when I have everything sewn before final layout is revealed.”


Sheryl Tucker Schulze – Team Churro
“Since it was my first PMQ, I was slow to commit. So, my first choices were sold out. I decided on the Churro colorway and so glad I did. I love the PMQs! I love receiving the little mailers each month with the precut pieces. I would not have chosen any of these patterns on my own. Cutting all of those triangles would have been mind boggling!😉 I learned that I could sew those more intense patterns with the PMQs. I did add the green border and used one of the other prints for the binding.”
I will be adding to this blog when more detectives come forward to share their very first PMQ. It is my hope that sharing the PMQ in a blog will show the diversity of quilts along with sharing what we love to do with each other! Being a PMQ detective gives all those who participate a chance to make something beautiful as well as to become part of a friendship with others who are participating as well.
Greenland Quilter YouTube Channel
Living Greenland Kalaallit Nunaat – Land of the People
Kathryn Joelsen’s Flickr Page
Living Greenland Blog
Greenland Quilter Facebook Page
Nicely done, Katy! Congrats on the blog!!! 💐💐💐
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Thank you so much! I am enjoying making the blogs. 🙂 🙂
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