Category: Quilting and Sewing

I managed to get the 4th border on my medallion quilt, and that’s no small accomplishment at this time of year!

(My 15 minute approach was what made it happen.)

For this border I went with half square triangles made from two of the prints in the Carnaby Street collection by Pat Bravo.  I really like how the pink and citron are so unexpected.


For the corner blocks I made a simple pinwheel using solid fabrics.  The pink and yellow are similar but a little brighter and I’m pleased with how the corners stand out without competing with the rest of the border.

How I made it:

Half square triangles:  cut 20 – 4 inch squares of two contrasting fabrics.  Use these squares to make 40 half square triangles.  Trim them to 3.5 inches square.  Sew 10 squares together.  Make four strips.  Strips should be 3.5 inches wide and 30.5 inches long.

Corner pinwheels:  cut 8 – 2 5/8 inch squares of two contrasting fabrics.  Make16 half square triangles.  Trim to 2 inches square.  Sew four squares together to make pinwheel.  Make sure pinwheel block is 3.5 inches square.  Sew a pinwheel block to both ends of two of the half square triangle strips.

Attach the border:  carefully pin and sew a strip of pinwheels to one side of your medallion quilt top.  Press.  Attach a second strip to the opposite side of the medallion.  Carefully pin and sew a strip with pinwheels to one of the remaining sides.  Repeat with remaining border.   The quilt top should now measure 36.5 inches square.


This is a medallion quilt of my own creation.  You can see previous posts, including measurements and other instructions (including where to find the paper pieced arrow pattern), in these posts:

Lone Star Medallion center Lone Star medallion center tutorial Paper Pieced Arrow Arrow Border and Border #3 I’ve started working on border #5 and am excited to see how it looks.  This quilt top is turning out to be one of the most fun projects I’ve ever worked on.   And my Marcelle Medallion ?  Still hanging in the sewing room, waiting for the flying geese border.  Hopefully I’ll get to it soon.

Happy Sewing!
Jennifer Linking to Freshly Pieced

I finished all the arrows, and border 2 on my modern medallion quilt is complete!  I’m so glad I took the time to do this.  Not only was it fun to try paper piecing for the first time, it looks as good as I pictured.  Relief!

I mentioned last week that I found the pattern on Craftsy, by Sew What Sherlock.
I shortened the length of each arrow by 1/2 inch so it would fit on each side.  Because the measurements of my center block were a little bit random, I decided to add a third border that is just a single print to bring the measurements to a number that’s a little easier to work with.  With the arrows, the quilt top now measures 24 inches unfinished, or 23.5 inches finished.


I cut four strips that are 3.75 inches wide by 24 inches long, plus four 3.75 inch squares to make the third border.  I love this Jennifer Paganelli print from her Poodle collection in the perfect shade of mint.  It looks fabulous with the Carnaby Street prints! The corners are fussy cut from another Carnaby Street print.  Now the medallion measures 30.5 inches unfinished, or 30 inches square finished which makes the math much less complicated.


I went scrappy with the arrows, using lots of little pieces in the general color scheme of my lone star.  I must say it is really fun to have those tiny strips of white show up between the arrows.  There’s a precision about paper piecing that’s awfully fun, although I felt like I made a new mistake every time.


I’m so proud of myself for figuring this out!  I’m in spring sports mode with my children, which means that sewing has come to an almost standstill, but I find myself walking into my sewing room just to peek at it again.  I used a navy blue text print for the arrow shafts and love the little patches of white text that show up along the shaft.  It gives each shaft a bit of variation that I’m pleased with.


In fact, I like it so much I keep thinking “maybe I should do another arrow border…”


And this medallion thing?  I really enjoy it, and there are so many different things you can do!  SO much fun.

I’ve got the next border planned and hope to work on it soon.

Jennifer Linking to Freshly Pieced

It’s time for border #2 on my Lone star medallion quilt. I decided to try paper  piecing for the first time:


It’s not perfect but I’m happy with it. I did mess up on the end of the arrow so we’ll see how the next three turn out.


Here it is next to the center block.


I hope I like this idea.  I’m going to make the rest of the arrows and then decide.  I signed up for a paper piecing class in a couple of weeks and am looking forward to learning all the things I should have known when the arrow idea popped into my head.  I’m hoping to have all four arrows pieced before Saturday. Wish me luck!

Jennifer Note: the pattern for the arrows I found on Craftsy . It’s made by Sew what Sherlock and is only $2.00. I have altered it so it will be the proper length for my project.