Mix And Match Magic: A Medallion Quilt With the Twilight Creatures Panel -

Hi, quilting friends! It’s Sara here from Rose Hill Quilts, and today I’m thrilled to share a fun and creative approach to designing a medallion quilt using a mix-and-match method. Medallion quilts feature a central motif surrounded by borders, creating a striking, layered effect. This project is perfect for experimenting with your favourite quilt blocks and techniques while letting a beautiful quilt panel shine as the centrepiece.

Here’s how I built my medallion quilt and my top tips for making one of your own!

Why Mix and Match?

Using a mix-and-match approach lets you combine different quilt blocks and border styles to create a quilt that’s uniquely yours. Adding a quilt panel in the centre simplifies the design process while giving your quilt a professional, cohesive look.

For my medallion quilt, I started with a stunning quilt panel from the Twilight Creatures collection by Natàlia Juan Abelló as the focal point. From there, I added multiple borders, each with its own personality, to frame the center and build outwards. Blocks and patterns include:

Flying geese and a self drafted acorn block
Night Owl pattern by Pen and Paper patterns
Star Trails pattern by A Bright Corner

My Design Process

The Centrepiece:
The quilt panel set the tone for the entire quilt. It became my design anchor, inspiring the colour palette and style of the surrounding borders.
Planning the Borders:
Each border featured a different quilt block or piecing technique. I included classic flying geese, simple squares, and half-square triangles for a mix of visual interest and texture. Some borders were pieced, while others were simple strips of coordinating fabric to create balance. I alternated light and dark so keep the quilt cohesive while adding contrast between borders.
Layering Colors and Patterns:
I played with fabric placement to ensure each border complemented the center panel without overpowering it. Mixing prints and coordinated blenders from the storyboard helped create contrast and variety. I also added Confetti Cottons in Ochre – this colour was not in the storyboard, but it helped to add contrast and perfectly matched the fox, deer and other creatures in the fabric collection.

Top Tips for Making Your Own Medallion Quilt

Start with a Vision:
Select a central quilt panel or block that speaks to you. This will guide your color and design choices.
Plan Your Borders Thoughtfully:
Map out your borders before you start sewing. Decide how many borders you want and consider alternating complex pieced borders with simpler ones to create visual balance.
Stay Flexible:
While planning is essential, don’t be afraid to adjust as you go. Sometimes a border idea doesn’t translate well, and that’s okay—trust your instincts and pivot if needed.
Mind Your Math:
Accurate measurements are key when working on a medallion quilt. Each border needs to fit perfectly around the previous one, so double-check your math and use a consistent seam allowance throughout. Being accurate with your math will also help you avoid borders that are too ‘full’ and therefore tricky to quilt.
Play with Color and Texture:
Use a mix of large-scale prints, small-scale prints, and solids for depth and variety. The Twilight collection offers lots of different options of prints and blenders, as well as some beautiful coordinating basics.
Focus on Finishing:
A medallion quilt has many visual elements, so finish with a border and binding that ties everything together. In this case, I used the main print from the collection, which matches with the colours and design of the centre panel.

Why You’ll Love Making a Medallion Quilt

Creating a medallion quilt is like embarking on a creative journey. Each border you add feels like a mini-project within the larger quilt, making it both rewarding and manageable. The mix-and-match approach ensures that no two medallion quilts are ever alike, and using a quilt panel in the center makes it a breeze to start!

I can’t wait to see your medallion quilt creations. If you give this a try, be sure to share your photos on social media and tag me and Riley Blake Designs so we can celebrate your beautiful work. Happy quilting! Sara @rosehillquilts