MOONBEAM MEDALLION
Mix moody blues with pretty pink and a hint of mustard to create a colour palette inspired by moonlit evenings
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in, unless
otherwise noted.
■ Press seams open throughout,
unless otherwise instructed.
■ WOF = width of fabric.
■ HST = Half-square Triangles.
■ FPP = Foundation Paper Piecing.
■ Zigzag borders are Foundation
Paper Pieced.
■ For FPP, set your stitch length to 1.5.
■ Templates include seam allowances
around the outer edges only.
■ For templates, see p14.
■ Refer to the Layout Diagram on p13 for direction/placement of each round.
■ Press all fabrics well before cutting.
■ Press after each seam.
■ Lynne used Aurifil 50wt thread for
piecing and 40wt for quilting (aurifil.com)
■ Lynne used Vlieseline 279 80:20 Cotton
Mix batting (vlieseline.com)
■ Fabrics supplied by Ruby Star Society (rubystarsociety.com) and Moda (modafabrics.com)
TACKLE THIS MEDALLION QUILT IN EASY-TO-FOLLOW ROUNDS FOR SMOOTH CONSTRUCTION
FABRICS USED
■ Print fabrics are from the Stellar collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Ruby Star Society.
■ Solid fabrics are Bella Solids by Moda in
American Blue and Baby Pink.
CUTTING OUT
1
From the pink solid fabric cut:
■ Three (3) 6¼in x WOF strips. Subcut into seventeen (17) 6¼in squares and two (2) 4½in squares.
■ One (1) 2½in x WOF strip. Subcut into
sixteen (16) 2½in squares.
■ One (1) 1½in x WOF strip. Subcut into
two (2) 1½in x 20½in strips.
■ Two (2) 1½in x WOF strips. Subcut into
two (2) 1½in x 22½in strips.
■ Four (4) 2½in x WOF strips. Subcut into two (2) 2½in x 30½in strips, two (2) 2½in x 34½in strips and four (4) 2½in x 4½in rectangles.
■ One (1) 4½in x WOF strip. Subcut into three (3) 4½in squares and four (4) 4½in x 6½in rectangles.
2
From the blue solid fabric cut:
■ Four (4) 2in x WOF strips. Subcut into
eight (8) 2in x 21in strips.
■ Twenty two (22) 2in x WOF strips. Then subcut into:
- Sixteen (16) 2in x 5in strips.
- Eight (8) 2in x 6½in strips.
- One hundred (100) 2in x 7in strips. - Four (4) 2in x 10in strips.
■ Four (4) 2½in x WOF strips. Subcut into two (2) 2½in x 34½in strips and two (2) 2½in x 38½in strips.
■ Twelve (12) 2½in x WOF strips. Sew together along the short ends and then subcut into:
• Two (2) 2½in x 47½in strips.
• Two (2) 2½in x 51½in strips.
• Two (2) 2½in x 63½in strips.
• Two (2) 2½in x 67½in strips. ■ Two (2) 5in x WOF strips. Subcut into two (2) 5in x 14½in strips and two (2) 5in x 19in strips.
3
From the dark pink prints cut: ■ Five (5) 6¼in squares.
4
From the dark gold prints cut: ■ Six (6) 6¼in squares.
5
From the dark blue prints cut: ■ Six (6) 6¼in squares.
6
From the light blue prints cut:
■ Two (2) 2in x 21in strips.
■ Nine (9) 2in x 5in strips.
7
From the light grey prints cut:
■ Two (2) 2in x 21in strips.
■ Nine (9) 2in x 5in strips.
8
From the light pink prints cut:
■ Forty eight (48) 2in x 8½in pieces.
■ Four (4) 2in x 10in pieces.
9
From the light gold prints cut:
■ Fifty (50) 3½in squares. Subcut each square in half on the diagonal.
10
From the cream/gold print cut:
■ Two (2) 5½in squares. Subcut each square in half on the diagonal.
11
From the binding fabric cut:
■ Seven (7) 2½in x WOF strips.
PIECING THE HSTS
12
Place one pink solid and one dark pink print 6¼in square RST. Centre on the unprinted side of the HST template, with the solid fabric against the paper. Make sure the fabric covers the entire printed square. Pin in place.
13
Reduce your stitch length to 1.5. Sew along all the dashed lines. Then cut along all the solid lines, trimming the corners last. Press each unit open, then remove the paper by tearing along the stitched line, to complete eight 2½in square HSTs.
14
Repeat steps 12–13 to make the following HSTs:
■ Dark pink print/pink solid: forty.
■ Dark gold print/pink solid: forty eight.
■ Dark blue print/pink solid: forty eight.
PIECING THE CENTRE
15
Arrange the dark pink/pink solid HSTs, sixteen of the dark gold/pink solid HSTs, sixteen solid pink 2 in squares, four solid pink 2 in x 4 in strips and five solid pink 4 in squares as shown in Fig 1.
16
To sew the double rows, first sew the HSTs in pairs. Then sew the pairs together in a row with the 4 in squares. Once all rows are assembled, sew together, carefully matching seams.
17
Sew the pink solid 1 in x 20 in strips to the top and bottom, pressing seams toward the strips. Sew the pink solid
1 in x 22 in strips to either side, again pressing seams toward the strips.
ROUND 1
18
Arrange the remaining HSTs in sets of four, as shown in Fig 2, to make a chevron block. Sew the HSTs in pairs, then sew the pairs together. Make twelve with dark blue HSTs and eight with dark gold HSTs.
19
Sew two blue and two gold chevron blocks in a row, alternating the colours, and all pointing in the same direction. Sew a pink solid 4 in x 6 in piece to the end of the blue block (Fig 3). Repeat to make four rows.
20
Sew one row to each side of the medallion centre, referring to the Layout Diagram on p13 for direction.
21
Sew the remaining blue chevron blocks to either end of the remaining rows. Make sure to orient in the correct direction, referring to the Layout Diagram. Sew the rows to the top and bottom of the medallion centre.
22
Sew a 2 in x 30 in pink solid strip to the top and bottom. Then sew a 2 in x 34 in pink solid strip to the sides. Press all seams toward these strips.
ROUND 2
23
Sew a blue solid 2 in x 34 in strip to either side of the medallion centre. Then sew a blue solid 2 in x 38 in strip to the top and bottom. Press all seams towards these strips.
24
Sew a blue solid 2in x 21in strip to either side of a light blue 2in x 21in strip, along the long edges. Subcut into nine 2in x 5in strips (Fig 4). Repeat with the remaining light and solid blues strip to make eighteen 2in x 5in strips.
25
Sew two of the pieced strips to the top and bottom of a light blue
2in x 5in strip (Fig 5). Repeat to make nine cross blocks.
26
Repeat steps 24–25 to make nine light grey cross blocks.
27
Join two blue and two grey cross blocks with 2in x 5in solid blue strips in between, alternating the colours. Sew another solid blue 2in x 5in strip to the side of a light grey block. Sew a solid blue 5in x 14 in strip to the other end (Fig 6). Repeat the process in this step to make a mirror image row.
28
Sew these cross rows to either side of the medallion centre, referring to the Layout Diagram for orientation. Press seams towards the centre of the quilt.
29
Join three blue and two grey cross blocks, with 2in x 5in solid blue strips in between, alternating colours. Sew a 5in x 19in solid blue strip to one end. Repeat with three grey and two blue cross blocks.
30
Sew the strips from step 29 to the top and bottom of the medallion centre. Press seams toward the quilt centre.
31
Sew a 2½in x 47½in solid blue strip to either side. Then sew a 2½in x 51½in solid blue strip to the top and bottom. Press seams toward these strips.
ROUND 3
32
Foundation Paper Piece each of Templates A and B using the following method and strips:
■ Section 1: light pink print 2in x 8½in strip.
■ Sections 2 and 4: blue solid 2in x 7in strips.
■ Sections 3 and 5: light gold 3½in HSTs. 33
Take the fabric for Section 1 and place on the unprinted side of one template, so it covers all of Section 1, plus at least ¼in all the way around.
34
Place the Section 2 piece RST, so it overlaps the line between Sections 1 and 2 by ¼in, and when sewn will cover all of Section 2 plus at least ¼in all the way around. Pin in place.
35
Turn the template to the printed side and sew along the line between Sections 1 and 2, extending into the seam allowance at each end. Fold the paper template back and trim the seam.
allowance to ¼in. Unfold the paper and press the fabric open.
36
Repeat steps 34–35 to piece the remaining sections of the template in order. Trim around the outer dashed line and remove the paper by tearing along the seam lines.
37
Repeat steps 33–36 to piece all of Template C, using the following strips:
■ Section 1: light pink print 2in x 10in strip.
■ Section 2: blue solid 2in x 10in strip.
■ Section 3: cream/gold 5½in HST.
■ Section 4: blue solid 2in x 7in strip.
■ Section 5: light gold 3½in HST.
38
Arrange six each of completed Templates A and B in a row, alternating to make a zigzag pattern. Sew together. Add a solid blue 2in x 6½in strip to either end. Repeat to make four identical rows.
39
Sew one row to either side of the medallion centre. Press seams towards the centre of the quilt.
Sew the completed Template C pieces to either end of the remaining rows. Sew these rows to the top and bottom. Press seams open.
40
Sew the solid blue 2½in x 63½in strips to either side of the quilt. Sew the 2½in x 67½in strips to the top and bottom to complete the medallion quilt.
QUILTING AND FINISHING
41
Cut the backing fabric in half across the width. Remove the selvedges and sew the two pieces together using a ½in seam. Press the seam open. 42
Press the quilt top and backing well. Make a quilt sandwich by placing the backing fabric right side down, the batting on top, then place the quilt top centrally and right side up. Baste the layers together using your preferred method.
43
Quilt as desired. Lynne quilted a contrasting diagonal cross-hatch of lines approx 1½in apart, using a cream Aurifil 40wt thread. Trim off the excess batting and backing fabric and square up the quilt to 67in square. 44
Sew the binding strips together end-to-end using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim away the dog ears. Fold in half lengthways, wrong sides together, and press.
45
Sew the joined binding strip to the right side of the quilt, creating a neat mitre at each corner. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt and secure in place temporarily with pins or binding clips. Hand stitch in place using a coordinating thread to finish.