Murder Mystery Quilt Block of the Month

I'm not normally a quilter, but this year I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and joining a block of the month program with a friend. We signed up at MurderMysteryQuilt.com and I have to say, I'm genuinely excited about this year-long quilting adventure!

What Is a Block of the Month Program?

Block of the month programs (often called QBOMs) are a fun way to work through a quilt one block at a time over the course of a year. Some programs send you both the pattern and the fabric each month, while others just send the block design and let you source your own fabric.

The Murder Mystery Quilt falls into the second category. Each month you receive a new quilt block pattern along with something pretty unique: a chapter from a murder mystery novel. You sew the block and read the chapter, and together they build toward solving a mystery.

About the Murder Mystery Quilt

The novel this year is called "Murder on the High Seas," written by Deborah Moebes. It follows an archaeobotanist named Kitty Campbell who discovers a sunken pirate ship, stolen treasure, a SCUBA diving accident, and a mysterious potted tropical plant. As you sew each new quilt block, you help Kitty piece together the clues.

Some clues are hidden within the block designs themselves, and after you submit a photo of each completed block you receive additional clues to the mystery. I love that detail!

There's also a private Facebook group for participants where you can ask questions and see everyone else's finished blocks. Here's my completed block for January:

Is It Right for You?

Most QBOM programs, including this one, start in January or June and run for a full year. Registration for the Murder Mystery Quilt closes February 10th, so don't wait too long if you're interested. Spots are limited!

If you've already missed the registration window, there are other block of the month clubs you can join at any time of year.

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I'll be honest: I only joined because my friend wanted to do it together, and I'm glad I said yes. That said, the mystery quilt format isn't for everyone. I personally prefer knowing what the finished quilt will look like before I start, and I like my fabric to be coordinated and consistent throughout. With a mystery quilt, you're choosing fabric without knowing what each block will look like, which makes it genuinely tricky to plan. Every block is different because you're telling a story through the quilt.

If the surprise factor sounds exciting to you, you'd probably love it. If you'd rather have everything coordinated from the start, a quilting subscription box might be a better fit. They send you curated, coordinated fabric each month that you can quilt any way you'd like.

Have you ever done a block of the month program? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!