Summer Dragon, a Medallion Quilt Pattern in Two Sizes

By Janet Wickell

Quilting Expert

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Make a Summer Dragon Quilt

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Make a Square Wallhanging Using the Summer Dragon Patchwork Quilt Pattern. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Updated May 30, 2016.

Summer Dragon is a medallion quilt pattern with a large center quilt block that's surrounded by a border of smaller, different patchwork blocks. Two borders surround the interior design. Make the quilt illustrated on this page or opt for the rectangular bed quilt shown on page 5 if you prefer.

Finished Quilt Sizes

Alter either quilt's size to suit your needs by adding borders or changing the widths of borders.

You can also sew additional patchwork borders to change both size and appearance.

The name Summer Dragon suits the oriental themed fabric shown in this quilt, but you can change its look dramatically by choosing different quilting fabrics.

Square Quilt: 48" x 48"
Rectangular Quilt: 69" x 90"

Fabric for the Square Summer Dragon Quilt

Black background dragon themed fabric for medallion center

3/8 yard (or 12-7/8" x 12-7/8" square)

Black background print fabric:

coordinating but smaller scale print than above, for small block centers and outermost triangles: 1/4 yard

Orange, small scale or mottled fabric

for large block half-square triangle units and small block triangles: 1/2 yard

Orange, larger scale print fabric

for small block triangles and inner border: 1 yard

Gold print

for large block's outermost triangles (also shown in binding, but not included in yardage): 1/2 yard

Black used in multiple locations: 1-1/2 yards

Other Materials

Backing: 3-1/4 yards (you'll have leftovers; use the extra print fabrics and you'll have enough without an additional purchase (Quilt Backing Instruction)

Batting: About 54" x 54" low loft batting

Binding: About 215 running inches of doublefold binding in your choice of width (1/2" wide backing shown) (Quilt Binding Instructions)

Materials for the rectangular quilt are on page 5.

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Make the Patchwork Medallion Quilt Block

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Make the Patchwork Medallion Quilt Block. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

I'm rechecking the patch dimensions. Please hold off on assembly. 5/30/16.

The patchwork center medallion block finishes at 21" square. It's made from a combination of quick pieced half square triangle units and individual triangles, all positioned around a large center square.

Use any method you like for the half square triangle units but alter cutting instructions to suit the method. The Magic 8 half square triangle technique is very easy and allows you to make eight units at once.

Cut a 3-3/8" wide strip of black fabric from selvage to selvage. Cut (11) 3-3/8" squares from the strip.
Cut the same number of black squares in the same way.
Cut one of each type of square in half once diagonally and set aside.
Make 20 half square triangle units by pairing the remaining squares, teaming a black square with an orange square and using an easy quick piecing method for construction. When complete, the half-square triangle units should measure 3" x 3".
Cut two 9-5/8" x 9-5/8" gold print squares. Cut each square in half once diagonally. Trim the tips of the corners (optional) to make it easier to position the squares when it's time to sew.
Cut a 12-7/8" x 12-7/8" square of the focal print fabric chosen for the medallion center.
Refer to the illustration. Create a row of five half square triangle units as shown in the middle portion of the drawing, upper strip. Sew a loose black triangle to the left end and an orange triangle to the right end. Take care that all triangles are positioned as shown. Press seam allowances either direction. Repeat to make a second identical unit.

Sew two more rows, each with five half square triangle units (noting the difference in orientation).
Sew the triangle rows without triangle ends to opposite sides of the square as shown, orange sections against the square. Press seam allowance towards the square. Sew the remaining strips to the square.
Center and sew a gold triangle to each side of the quilt block. Press seam allowances towards the gold triangles. The quilt block should measure 21-1/2" x 21-1/2".

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Make the Small Quilt Blocks

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Make the quilt blocks for patchwork border. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Cutting Instructions

Cut (20) 3" x 3" squares from the smaller print fabric with black background (for center squares)
Cut (40) 2-5/8" squares of small print or mottled orange for the innermost triangle layer; cut each square in half once diagonally
Cut (40) 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" squares of slightly larger print orange fabric for the next layer of triangles; cut each square in half once diagonally
Cut (40) 4-3/8" x 4-3/8" squares of black fabric; cut each square in half once diagonally

Cut (80) 2-1/4" x 2-1/4" squares from the smaller print fabric with black background (for outermost triangles)

Aligning triangles for sewing is easier when you trim their tips.

Quilters who are already comfortable with foundation piecing can download the template for this block in order to paper piece it. Patch sizes will differ slightly.

Make the Quilt Block

Press seam allowances towards the newest triangles.

Center and sew a triangle cut by dividing 2-5/8" squares to one side of the center square. Repeat on the opposite side of the square. Repeat on two remaining sides of the square.
Add triangles cut from 3-3/8" squares all the way around the unit in the same manner.
Draw a line from one corner to the opposite corner on the back of each 2-1/4" square. Use the quick-pieced Snowball technique to sew one of the squares in the 90-degree corner of each black triangle. Trim excess 1/4" past the seam and flip resulting triangle right-side-up. Repeat to make 80 black/black print units.
Sew four units created in the previous step to the sides of the block unit just as you added others. Press the block -- it should measure 7-1/2" x 7-1/2". Make a total of 20 quilt blocks.

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Assemble the Summer Dragon Wallhanging

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Assemble the Summer Dragon Wallhanging. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Assemble the Summer Dragon Wallhanging

Sew the small blocks into four rows: two rows of three blocks and two rows of five blocks. Press.
Sew a 3-block row to one side of the center medallion. Repeat on the opposite side. Press.
Sew a 5-block row to the top of the quilt. Repeat to add the remaining 5-block row to the bottom of the quilt.
Press.
Use 2-1/2" wide strips of orange print fabric to make the inner borders for the quilt. Use 4-1/2" strips of black fabric for the outer borders. Beginners - don't be tempted to measure your quilt along its outer edges, because it is likely skewed a bit. Borders are an opportunity to square up the quilt before the finishing steps. (Border Instructions)

Mark the top for quilting if necessary. Sandwich with batting and backing and quilt. Finish by applying the binding

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Bed Quilt Size Summer Dragon Quilt

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Summer Dragon Bed Quilt. Photo Credit: Janet Wickell

Rectangular Quilt: 69" x 90"

Quilt Fabrics

Black background dragon themed fabric for medallion center: 1-1/2 yards

Black background print fabric, coordinating but smaller scale print than above, for small block centers and outermost triangles: 3/8 yard

Orange, small scale or mottled fabric for large block half-square triangle units and small block triangles: 1 yard

Orange, larger scale print fabric for small block triangles and inner border: 1 yard

Gold print for large block's outermost triangles (also shown in binding, but not included in yardage): 2 yards

Black used in multiple locations: 3 yards

Other Materials

Backing: 5-5/8 yards or wide yardage piece about 79" x 100" (Quilt Backing Instruction)

Batting: About 79" x 100"

Binding: About 345 running inches of doublefold binding in your choice of width (1/2" wide backing shown) (Quilt Binding Instructions)

Large blocks: Make 6
Small blocks: Make 34

Cutting for Large Blocks

black fabric: (36) 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" squares
mottled orange: (36) 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" squares
large print black background: (6) 12-7/8" x 12-7/8" squares
gold print: (24) 9-5/8" x 9-5/8" squares, each cut in half once diagonally

Cutting for Small Blocks

small print with black background: (34)4" x 4" squares
small print or mottled orange: (68) 2-5/8" x 2-5/8" squares; cut in half once diagonally
larger print orange: (68) 3-3/8" x 3-3/8" squares; cut in half once diagonally
black: (68) 4-3/8" x 4-3/8" squares; cut in half once diagonally

small print with black background: (136) 2-1/4" x 2-1/4" squares

Assemble blocks as instructed on previous pages. Sew six larger blocks into three 2-block rows and join. Sew 9-block rows of smaller blocks to the left and right. Finish with 6-block rows on the top and bottom. Use border strip widths as directed for wallhanging.