Before we jump into this week’s post I have some information to share concerning the Eco dying from last week. The wood was placed in the Nesco to keep the fabric out of the water. The temperature was set at 350 degrees. Please send photos if you try this method of dying on your own. Thanks!
And now onto the Murder Mystery game!
At the end of last year I shared a photo of all the blocks I’d made for the Murder Mystery Quilt (MMQ) adventure. In December we were sent the instructions for putting it all together, along with the second to the last chapter in the murder mystery. We were to make the quilt, read the chapter, and then guess who the murderer was ~ and submit it all by New Year’s Eve. So this is my quilt top.

It’s very bright, and I like it! It was fun to make, and all the parts fit together beautifully. It reminded me of a European tile floor. But here’s the best part. A week after we got the instructions for completing the top, Deborah ~ the originator of the MMQ ~ sent this message:
“One of our VERY favorite things to do at the MMQ is surprise members with bonus content. This year, the ENTIRE QUILT has been hiding a surprise all along! Our quilt design is based on the game board at Knossos, the oldest known game board in existence. And now YOU can play Murder In Greece using your QUILT as the game board!”
What a creative idea! So I searched the web for information on the Game Board at Knossos, and here’s what I found:

“The Knossos board game is a unique archaeological object belonging to the Minoan civilization that is preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. It was found by Sir Arthur Evans in the archaeological excavations of Knossos, in an area to the northeast of the palace that has since been called the “corridor of the zatrikion”. It is dated to the time of the second palaces (between 1700 and 1500 BC). It is a rectangular piece, made on a wooden base with valuable materials such as ivory, rock crystal, glass paste, gold and silver. Four cone-shaped ivory pieces were found next to the board, which were probably part of the game.”
Deborah included printable pdfs for the game rules and a large die to roll in the game. The grandkids were here the weekend I finished the quilt top ~ and we decided to play.

Sommer really liked the big die.

The kids and I chose items in my studio for our game pieces. Trey was a spool of red thread, Sommer was a tomato pin cushion, and I was a miniature bed with the quilt I call Flying Goslings.

The game Deborah came up with is similar to Clue. Trey was great at moving our pieces since the “game board” was so large.

The rules were a bit complicated, but we had a great time figuring it out ~ and Sommer was the winner.
I emailed my MMQ friends for photos of their game board quilt and April sent me this one of her’s in progress. Great job April! I wonder how far the others have gotten.

After the murderer had been found, and the quilt instructions were complelte, Deborah held a live chat in which she explained the clues in the chapters and the quilt blocks. She is such a creative and fun person! I’m so glad I traveled along on this journey with her. If your interest has been piqued, and you’d like to participate in the 2025 Murder Mystery, I can tell you it takes place in Machu Picchu and you can Click here for all the information!
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And one more thing…
I will be teaching at the AQS show in Paducah again this year ~ Praise the Lord!

My dear friend, and travel companion, Lori Dickman will be teaching there too!

Member registration is now open and you can click here to join in on the fun. Non-member registration begins on January 28th, but to join AQS is only $30 for the year, and if you join you can register now!
Please consider joining us in a class if you’re planning on making the trip to Quilt City USA. And please tell your friends!
judy raddatz says
What a fun project. Any game board would be a good project. Thanks
Connie Clark says
After reading your post about the Murder Mystery Quilts I joined last year too. I have my top put together.
I also joined the 2025 mystery because I have enjoyed the challenge of a new block each month with a deadline to obtain the bonus clue.
So far I have been able to make both quilts from my stash with the exception of one fabric!
clkquilt says
I’m so happy to hear you joined in on the adventure. I agree, it was fun to look forward to the patterns and chapters each month. Please send photos of your Machu Picchu quilt!
Kim Holt says
I’m so glad you’re a teacher at Paducah, I wanted to learn how to do a quilt from a picture. I don’t know how to get the right illusion to make it. It is wooden bridge with leaves in it. Would you be able to teach a class at our guild? Patched lives.Kim Holt