On the Blog: 2016 Medallion Quilt Along Instructions – JANUARY

January 22, 2016

This year we are starting a monthly sew-a-long for anyone who wants to participate. 

 We thought it would be an interesting and unique challenge to make a medallion quilt. The Seattle Modern Quilt Guild created a monthly medallion quilt in 2015 and they have graciously given us permission to use their patterns and instructions. 

Example of a Medallion Quilt – Image Courtesy of Debbie Jeske of A Quilter’s Table
(Seattle MQG Member)


We will start with a 12.5″ center block (of your choice) and add a border each month through September, leaving the last three months of the year for catch up and finishing.


You can sew-a-long as much or as little as you want. This is a no-pressure, work at your own pace project. 


 The border for each month will be presented at that month’s meeting and posted on the guild’s blog. At each month’s meeting we will have a show and tell of everyone’s medallion progress, so make sure to bring your Medallions!


If you have an account on Instagram, please share your progress using the hashtag #chicagomqgmedallion


If you have questions at any point you can send them to the guild email, using the email icon on the right sidebar, or, click {here}.


On to the instructions, let’s quilt!


January Instructions:

Plan your color scheme for the full medallion, then make, design, find a 12.5″ block for the center of your medallion. Examples and ideas for center blocks are on the guild Pinterest (see below) and the Seattle MQG blog



There are also many other resources online and in quilt books and magazines. Pinterest and Google are also a great resource and always sure to inspire.

image courtesy of Fresh Lemon QuiltsGreat center block ideas!

Need some help or inspiration finding your color scheme for your quilt? You can try searching palette sites like ColourLovers or Design Seeds to ‘get your color on’!

The coloring sheet for planning your medallion is also imaged below, courtesy of the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s site.

Courtesy of Seattle Modern Quilt Guild
Medallion Quilt Along Coloring Sheet



































Our Guild has also created a Pinterest board with examples of finished Medallion quilts from the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild to help inspire you:



This may also be a great way to get one of those orphaned blocks or works in progress resuscitated.

We can’t wait to see everyone’s center blocks at our next meeting, and stay tuned for February’s blog post for the first border’s instructions.

Happy creating, everyone!

– written/edited by Sarah S., Holly H. and Erin D.
– posted by Erin D.

Become a new Chicago Modern Quilt Guild member

Photo: Triangles quilt by Erika Mulvenna