After cutting out the cocoa leaf shapes for the center of the cocoa leaf medallion quilt, I took the loose pieces over to my client’s home. We discussed the arrangement of the colors and how to stack the leaves on top of one another. The input I received was fantastic, and I have to admit that I really love how the center of the medallion quilt came together!
Cocoa Leaf Medallion Quilt Center
Taking a look at how I had originally pinned the leaves to my design wall side by side with the finished center helps point out a few of the great changes that were made. The leaves at 4:30 and 7:30 were swapped to achieve a better color balance. And while I had been focusing on the layering and multi-color effect that stacking the fabrics could achieve, my clients intuitively arranged the leaves in a consistent overlapping sequence that creates a beautiful spiral.
In fact, I love the way the very center of the quilt came together.
Cocoa Leaf Medallion – Center Spiral Detail
To sew down the leaves, I started by pressing the raw edges down with about a quarter inch fold. I carefully pinned down and sewed about half of the yellow leaf first, keeping the upper edge (where the dark purple leaf goes underneath) pinned. I then worked my way clockwise around the pattern trying to leave portions of the leaves un-sewn where I was going to need to “tuck” the final purple leaf. It worked pretty well, but you might notice that I was not able to fully flatten out the dark purple leaf under the yellow. But even nature is not always perfect, right? I was able to sew down around the edge of each leaf. It took me just under 3 hours to do this step.
My next step will be to add on large Kona Cream borders to enlarge this 60-inch by 60-inch center up to the desired queen size. Then I will be repeating the turned edge applique process I described above to add smaller border leaves.
Cocoa Leaf Medallion Quilt – Design
I am so glad I got the input from my clients about the center of the medallion. Have you had any brilliant input that changed the outcome of a quilt design for the better?
Linking up to Let’s Bee Social and WiP Wednesday (buttons to the right).
Wow!!! I mean really…: wow!!!! You have to enter that in some kind of show.
Amazing! I love the spiral look. Are you going to trim down behind the appliqué so there is less shadow on the lighter colors?
I love it, I think the color balance is perfect!!!
Brilliant! I love the swirly way the leaves were centered in the medallion, Yvonne! This is coming along beautifully!
Consulting the client is a good move when the client has a good eye. I’d fear being led to something ugly. This time it really worked well.
What a difference the rearrangement made! It looks just beautiful! The color placement is perfect and I love the delicacy of the piece now. As you know, I’m very much a fan of your work. (Kathy in Fl.)
It looks so great! The spiral works so well!
Yvonne… this is turning out SOOOOOOO good! This might be one of my favorite quilt designs to date! I love the colors and the massive size to it as well! Your method is pretty cool, too as you did a really good job with sewing it down. You are right, the center looks pretty awesome and in a way you could almost do a quilt with just that! haha. I can’t wait to see this finish.
That spiral is wonderful!! I really loved the computer generated layout that had the leaf shapes separate in two different sizes but seeing this (plus remembering your lampshade inspiration) I totally see how you got here and it’s wonderful how true to your inspiration it is!! Can’t wait to see it grow with the borders next!
I liked the way you had it, but I do love the spiral and the center detail! What a fun collaboration!
I love the colorful spiral that forms in the middle, this quilt is going to be awesome!
It is looking fabulous, Yvonne! The new layout looks great, your clients have a great eye for design 🙂
This is coming along beautifully- how great to have such collaborative clients.
That looks ah-maazing Yvonne! Love the layout, love how the center is so perfect and great client collaboration. What more could you ask for.
I love the colors. Great minds working together!
Looking good! It’s great you are working on it with your customer!
This looks amazing! It’s really unique, and I am loving the layout of the leaves on the cream border. I really think it’s fun and special! I am excited to see it as it comes together!
I always love input .. even if I don’t do exactly what they say, it often leads me down a wonderful path of ideas … This is looking great 🙂
love how things change in the doing even with a plan in mind. This looks absolutely brilliant!
How great to have a client with such a good eye, the spiral lay out is just perfect.
The spiral looks great and those curves are impressive. Good move going to see the client!
The spiral design is very striking! This is a really exciting center for a quilt.
I confess I like the spinning spiral effect too.
I have had so many helpful suggestions from friends that I don’t know where to start!