Focus on the Center

I’m thrilled to be participating in Pat Sloan’s Focus on the Center Book Tour. There are 10 quilters participating in the tour this week and we each have two copies of Focus on the Center to give-away to our lucky readers. See below to enter my give-away and for the links to the other participants.

Plus, visit Pat’s blog as she’s asked each of us some fun questions and her publisher’s blog too:


Focus on the Center features seven medallion-style quilts. Confession, I have never made a medallion-style quilt before, but I’m really tempted by this one called Lucky Charms:

Lucky Charms

I just adore the scrappy-ness of this quilt and the unique on-point borders around the center appliqué followed by rectangular borders. There’s lots of interest in this quilt! It finishes at 61″ square, but you could easily make it larger or smaller by adding more borders or removing some. I also love that it has flying geese .. I really need a quilt with lots of flying geese for myself.

I’m not really big on making Christmas quilts that only get enjoyed for a month, so I would do the alternate center that’s included in the book for this quilt, here it is:

alternate

For the center appliqué, I’d use solid white and then scraps of my other fabrics. I’ll also continue the white into the large half square triangles/flying geese units around the appliqué. Here are my fabrics:

printed-fabrics

yardage-fabrics

black-white-prints

The colourful fat quarters and yardage prints are Treasures and Tidbits by Piece O’ Cake Designs for Robert Kaufman fabrics. The black and white prints are a fat quarter bundle put together by Jodie of Fort Worth Fabric Studio.

The red yardage will be used similar to how Pat used red in her sample: inner thin border and triangles around the white appliqué, for the wider border around the entire on-point layout and for the binding.

For the green used in the sample, i.e. the setting triangles in the center and for the flying geese sky units, I’ll use the black and white prints. I’ll alternate between black on white vs. white on black prints for the flying geese sky units. It’ll still be very scrappy, but the black and white will add some calm to the wild colours in the prints… I think! The prints will be used for the flying geese body units, the two scrappy outer borders and the rectangles inside the on-point layout.

Can you picture it?? I really wish I had time right now to start something new as this quilt is calling me! Maybe later in the summer.

See that fabulous yellow flowered print beside the red one above, well I have a few yards of it and there will be enough fabrics left over from the above quilt to make a coordinating one.

I love this one from the book, Antique Mist, and would use that flowered print in place of the large blue aqua flower print that Pat used for the middle border. Black and white prints would replace the pinks and the coloured fabrics would be used in place of the off whites. Not sure if I’ll have quite enough red yardage for the pink striped borders, but if not, a solid from my stash would work well too. This medallion quilt finishes at 57″ square.

Antique Mist

One of the things I love about Pat’s book, is that she’s included quick piecing methods such as making four flying geese units from squares of fabric.

tutorial

I find when I’m browsing new books at the local quilt shop, I’m disappointed when I see authors not using the quicker methods we’ve all come to love from quilting tutorials from our blogging friends. Please tell me I’m not alone in this!


Give-Away

I have two copies of Pat’s Focus on the Center book to give-away. Leave a comment below answering:

Have you ever made a medallion-style quilt? If so, how many rounds did it have? If not, are you encouraged to do one now after seeing a few from Pat’s book?

Winners will be randomly chosen on May 7th.

Be sure to visit the other quilts in the tour too and enter their give-aways:

Tuesday

249 thoughts on “Pat Sloan’s: Focus on the Center Blog Tour

  • May 2, 2012 at 10:57 pm
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    I think that Pat’s book was some great ideas for medallion quilts and it is about time to try something new. Thank you for the chance to win.

  • May 2, 2012 at 11:32 pm
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    I have never made a medallion quilt, but after seeing some of these quilts, I think I will try to make one.

  • May 2, 2012 at 11:36 pm
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    I would love to make a Medallion quilt. This is one I’ve never made yet.

  • May 3, 2012 at 12:49 am
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    I haven’t made one before but have always admired them, and love the patterns in this book. Definitely inspiring!

  • May 3, 2012 at 12:53 am
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    I made a Medallion quilt once and loved deciding what each round needed. I ended up with 5 rounds (including the center medallion). I’d love to make any of the quilts in this beautiful book. nena@bnads.com

  • May 3, 2012 at 1:30 am
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    I started a Medallion quilt about 4 years ago. It has an Asian theme and quite lovely. I looked at it a couple of weeks ago and can’t remember why I didn’t finish it. Think I will take it to a fall retreat and get it done.

  • May 3, 2012 at 2:51 am
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    I helped make a medallion quilt with my small group. We had a bunch of Civil War prints that traveled around to each quilter’s home, plus we added fabrics from our stash. I think we had 7 or 8 rounds. We picked numbers to establish the order and there were no “deadlines” so it was a low stress project. The quilt is done and one of our members is stitching down the binding that I attached a couple of weeks ago.

  • May 3, 2012 at 7:24 am
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    I have not made a medallion quilt. I made a Miss Rosie quilt that had a focus center but not a true medallion. It’s interesting to see the quilts made in different fabrics and helps to stir my imagination.

  • May 3, 2012 at 7:59 am
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    I made a medallion with the carpenters wheel in the center, with three rounds of borders. The quilts in this book are calling to me to pull fabrics and get started.

  • May 3, 2012 at 8:02 am
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    I have made several medallion quilts including the Lucky Charms twice! One had a summer theme and one a winter theme.

  • May 3, 2012 at 8:55 am
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    Medallion quilts have always looked like more than I could handle. I’m rethinking that now!

  • May 3, 2012 at 9:12 am
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    I haven’t made a medallion quilt, but i’ve always looked longingly. I’m inspired to give it a try. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • May 3, 2012 at 11:15 am
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    I made a round-robin medallion quilt a few years ago … but there were lots of problems getting them completed, due to a few lagging participants …
    I’d love to win Pat’s new book and make another one, thanks for the giveaway!

  • May 3, 2012 at 11:50 am
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    I am presently making a medallion quilt , so far I havefive rounds completed and plan on doing maybe two more to make it a larger quilt .I enjoyed the challenge that it presented as it was a RR with some friends. Thanks for the chance to win this great book.

  • May 3, 2012 at 2:02 pm
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    I have a medallion in the making. Don’t know how many rounds I’m going to add yet. Would love to win a copy of Pat’s book. Love your fabrics!

  • May 3, 2012 at 2:13 pm
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    Yes, I’ve made some medallion quilts… the largest had 7 rounds and became queen-sized! Love the quilts in Pat’s book, so of course they’ll be an inspirations. Thanks for the chance to receive a copy of the book.

  • May 3, 2012 at 2:24 pm
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    I think I made one a number of years ago for a sample for the quilt shop I work at but never got to quilting it. Can’t remember the number of rounds but I know it wasn’t a huge one. I’ve got my eye on a couple I’d like to make. Winning the book could jump start the process.

  • May 3, 2012 at 2:35 pm
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    I’ve done round robins where the result is a medallion style quilt. How many rounds depended on how many participants. The book looks wonderful.

  • May 3, 2012 at 2:51 pm
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    Thanks, I love Pat’s books. the medallion looks great.

  • May 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
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    I have never made a medallion quilt, but with book I just might!

  • May 3, 2012 at 5:27 pm
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    I have made medallion quilts with large center stars and a couple of rounds of borders. I am so excited about Pats book. I can definitely see me making some of them!

  • May 3, 2012 at 7:23 pm
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    No, I have never made a medallion quilt! But with Pat’s new book (she breaks things down to simple steps) I would love to try. Thanks for a chance to win one.

  • May 3, 2012 at 7:44 pm
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    The only medallion quilt I have made was our guild BOM last year. It was designed by one of our members, and the center was a Farmer’s Delight block. I did mine in CW repros. It turned out great! It would be fun to try another.

  • May 3, 2012 at 8:31 pm
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    I love the Antique Mist quilt, and think it would be beautiful in shades of blues, creams, and browns. I have not made a medallion style quilt but think I will!

  • May 3, 2012 at 9:35 pm
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    I have never made one but I’d love to make the Lucky Charms and Antique Mist.

  • May 3, 2012 at 9:36 pm
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    No, I have never tried a medallion quilt, all the more reason why I hope I win a copy of the book.

    Thanks

  • May 3, 2012 at 9:43 pm
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    I made a medallion quilt top years ago in navy and pink. It’s rather pretty but still needs to be quilted. I need to find it and finish it!

  • May 3, 2012 at 11:05 pm
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    No, I’ve never done one, but YES, I’m definitely encouraged to make one. I’d love to win Pat’s book!

  • May 3, 2012 at 11:10 pm
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    I have not made one, but I do have a round robin that would be. Thanks!

  • May 4, 2012 at 2:19 am
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    I made a pickle dish with 5 borders, does that count? I’m ready to make Pat’s Antique Mist and also try out hand appliqué with Lucky Charms. I think it is my favorite picture pranced so far!

  • May 4, 2012 at 2:24 am
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    I have never made a medallion quilt, but one is on my to do list after seeing the posts the last few days.

  • May 4, 2012 at 6:52 am
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    I’m pretty new to quilting, so I haven’t made a medallion quilt before, but these are calling me. I love how easy it is to make all different sizes. I think I would use all sorts of aqua.

  • May 4, 2012 at 7:33 am
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    I have never made a medallion quilt but have the supplies to start one. This blog is so inspiring and I think I have a new book on my wish list! I love your fabric selections!

  • May 4, 2012 at 7:46 am
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    I have done a few medallion quilts; but it has been years. Right now I am not remembering how many rounds there were in them. But I do know there there was one round of piano keys; which I hated putting together…and loved the look of.

  • May 4, 2012 at 7:52 am
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    I have not made one, but am definitely inspired to make one.

  • May 4, 2012 at 7:52 am
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    I have never done a medallion quilt, but am joininga round robin group this summer, so this book would be a huge help in planning my center piece. thanks for the opportunity to win.

  • May 4, 2012 at 7:55 am
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    Those fabrics scream summer, would make a great quilt. I’ve never made a medallion quilt.

  • May 4, 2012 at 8:01 am
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    I made a medallion quilt years ago and enjoyed it for many years before I gave it away. It had a pieced basket center and rounds of borders and 9 patch squares. I always loved it and don’t know why I haven’t made another one. This one is somewhat different in that it has an appliqued center which I love. I have been appliqueing a lot more the past few years and love these quilts.

  • May 4, 2012 at 8:21 am
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    Absolutely, I would love to make a quilt like one of these. I really like the fabrics you chose and can’t wait to see how it turns out.

  • May 4, 2012 at 8:30 am
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    I have never made a medallion quilt, but I love the look of the blue and orange center!! I would love to try one.

  • May 4, 2012 at 9:11 am
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    I haven’t made a medallion quilt yet. I like the one you like ‘Lucky Charms’. Your fabrics are delish.

  • May 4, 2012 at 9:11 am
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    I’ve made 5-6 medallion quilts. I feel they need at least 3 rounds after the center – but I have made up to 5-6 rounds.
    I like Pat Sloan’s style and would love to win a book.

  • May 4, 2012 at 9:30 am
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    Have not made a medallion quilt, yet. That Antique Mist is calling out to me now.

  • May 4, 2012 at 9:49 am
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    I have not made a medallion quilt but seeing this does peek my interest to make one now. Will be adding to my to-do-list.
    Thanks for a chance to win Pat’s Book..I like and follow her.

  • May 4, 2012 at 10:08 am
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    No I have never made a medallion quilt but am inspired to make one. Love the new book.

  • May 4, 2012 at 10:15 am
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    Hello,

    I am in the process of completing a 12 block samplet that could use a medallion to make it bigger and way more interesting. Would love to have the book to help me along!

  • May 4, 2012 at 10:31 am
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    I’ve never made a medallion quilt; but after seeing these examples, I’d sure like to. All of them are beautiful; and I’m convinced that one or more of them appeals to all quilters!

    margaret

  • May 4, 2012 at 10:37 am
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    I will have to take a pic of the quilt that has been my bed for 15+ years and post to my Blog. It is a round robin and there are 5 rounds plus all the stuff work, pillow tuck and bottom bow I added! Over 12 hours of home machine quilting on it…LOVE my old quilt!

  • May 4, 2012 at 10:59 am
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    A guild I am in has been working on a medallion quilt all year. It has 14 borders. I has been a real learning experience.

Comments are closed.