Find Your Dance Style for Brown Bag Mystery Two Step Tango!

Posted by Angie Lamoree on February 3, 2026

Brown Bag Mystery 2026 kits are here! The theme this year is Two Step Tango, but you know the Monkey House does things a little differently. The tango isn't for everyone, and we want all of our dancers to feel duly represented by their dance style of choice!

This year, we created kits based on different dance styles so you can choose the kit that best reflects your quilting personality. But before we get into the kits, let's review the Brown Bag Mystery basics.

Brown Bag Mystery Basics

Brown Bag Mystery is an annual, exclusive program for Sewposium shops. Each shop creates kits with mystery fabrics for the event. Some shops will include a strip of fabric to give you a hint to the fabrics included in the kit—we like to use funny names and descriptions to clue you in to the fabric contents.

At 5 Little Monkeys, each Brown Bag Mystery 2026 kit includes the cutting instructions and 100% cotton batik and/or printed cotton fabric for the quilt top. The quilt top without borders will measure 60"x60". You can also choose a finishing kit that includes borders and binding for the quilt, as well as a backing kit.

We STRONGLY recommend getting your borders when you choose your bag. This quilt will look good on its own but it will also look fully complete with the border and binding. Want a larger quilt top? We also have 'double bags' with extra fabric. Remember, if you choose an add on, also choose the larger finishing kit.

After you receive your kit, it's time to request to join Karen Montgomery's private Brown Bag Mystery Facebook Group.

The clues for Brown Bag Mystery are NOT included in the kits. Instead, they are released via the Facebook group. Karen tunes in to the group regularly with helpful tips, great techniques, and lots of guidance—it's a very active and fun group! Clues will be issued to the group in the following schedule:

March 20 - First Clue, on International Quilting Day
April 3 - Second Clue
April 17 - Third Clue
May 1 - Fourth Clue
May 15 - Finishing Instructions

Ok, that's the Brown Bag Mystery Basics. Let's talk kits!

Chicken Dance

Everyone knows the Chicken Dance. This oompah-style song has permeated so many weddings and large group gatherings that it would be impossible NOT to know it. The Chicken Dance kit leans heavily on its name—think fresh, farm air, golden sunlight hitting green grass, dusty neutrals and a reliance on all things natural.

Monster Mash

Monster Mash is, as the song goes, a graveyard smash. If you love Halloween fabrics, this one is for you. Think Toxic Avenger greens, bright and deep purples, tombstone grays, raven blacks, creamy skulls, and lots of pumpkin orange.

Moonwalk

It's one small step for man, one giant leap for monkey kind with the Moonwalk kit. This is for all of the Ziggy Stardusts out there. Think the spiraling cosmos, moons and stars, outer space sparkles and comets, planets and other planetary objects.

YMCA

Young man, there's no need to feel down—we have the perfect Brown Bag Mystery kit for you! This one is for all of the guys and the girls who love masculine tones, themes, and colors.

Hand Jive

Your chills will definitely multiply with all the fantastic batiks in the Hand Jive kit! If you love the unique swirls of color and pattern designs that only batiks can provide, this kit is for you.

Robot

Do androids dream of electric sheep? Do you dream of comic books, algebraic equations, and being best friends with a 50-foot-tall robot? The Robot collection is for you. Think comic book characters, math, gaming, and other nerdy fabrics.

Breakdance

Let me break it down for you—the Break Dance kit is like a grab bag for your special interests. Think Disney, novelty items and themes, and animals. Break dancing is all about pushing your dance skills to the limit to express your unique personality. The Break Dance kit reflects that spirit—YOU tell US what you like, what you're about, and we'll customize Break Dance just for you!

Hokey Pokey

You put your right hand in to the Hokey Pokey kit, and you'll pull out floral fabrics. That's what it's all about! If you love flowers, this is the Brown Bag Mystery kit for you. Think flowers of all colors and types, but with each kit cohesive, like a curated garden.

Time Warp

It's just a jump to the left and then a step to the right, and you've landed in the Time Warp kit with all of its bright, brilliant colors and modern themes. If you love vivid hues and contemporary patterns, this is the kit for you.

Burlesque

Monkeys, some years we do a Fool Around And Find Out (FAFO) Brown Bag Mystery Kit, and this year it is the Burlesque Kit. You get ZERO clue as to what this kit might contain, but we can guarantee it will be thoughtfully curated by the Monkey House. If you love surprises, this is your kit!

That's all of our Brown Bag Mystery Two Step Tango kits! Make sure you're following us on Facebook and Instagram to catch our Just for Fun bonus content to go along with our dance theme. We'll be posting fun things throughout the mystery!

One final note: Did you know we still have Brown Bag Mystery kits available for 2020-2025? If you've never participated in a Brown Bag Mystery before, consider exploring the previous kits. Each one includes some finished quilts that showcase that year's pattern.