Design is so often a wandering path. Inspiration sparks, an idea is sketched, but the final iteration is often yet to be discovered.

When I started sewing the medallion center of my Nineteen Thirty quilt, I was focused mainly on fabric choice. I truly love the dark, dramatic Rifle Paper Co. fabrics, but feared they could overpower the softer low volume prints. Careful, careful does it.

I had sketched flying geese blocks at the center of my Nineteen Thirty medallion, so that’s what I sewed. Only when I put the finished geese in formation did I realize that hourglass blocks would do better. Oops.

Do you recognize this star? Among quilters it is known as the Ohio star. Somehow I’d never sewn this variation of a patchwork star. That explains how I initially overlooked the simplified construction! With these hourglass blocks there are fewer seams - always a win.

In my initial quilt sketch the medallion center of Nineteen Thirty was not a flower. That twist came about when I translated the sketch to a digital form. I realized that I could add curves in the empty gaps adjacent to the star to transform the medallion into an on point bloom.

What a delightful discovery! That was a high point, but it still wasn’t done evolving. I also had planned to repeat the petal shape from the Orchid flower blocks in the medallion center. You can spy a few petals hanging out in these in-process images.

Yes, as much as I gain from sketching and erasing, the process of sewing is usually where the magic happens. The design wall plays an indispensable roll. Are the proportions right? The colors and values in balance? Does it make me smile?

And it does! I’m perfectly delighted with the finished medallion center. With just a handful of curved blocks it has a fanciful look that’s still elegant. The rest is simple patchwork, pure and simple.

Plus, those little circles are something new and fun for me! They’re so small that they don’t take long to hand applique. I attached them the other afternoon, while Elora and I cuddled on the sofa.

With my medallion center finished and the surrounding Orchid blocks too, I’m heading toward a finished quilt top soon. This weekend I hope to sew the border. I
can’t wait to see it all together!!!

Enjoy your weekend, friends.

I hope that you’re also falling in love with Nineteen Thirty! The pattern releases on February 20th. Care to join us for the 4-month sew-along? Then subscribe to stay in the know. We start in March!