Design Inspiration

While in the bit of a “life re-examination” I’ll call it (though, it appears - for me at least - that this process is never-ending), I picked up Siddhartha and began re-reading this book I’m sure I’d been assigned back in high school. There are so many nuggets of wisdom in this book, which is no doubt why it is such a classic, but one passage resonated with me so deeply. It was clearly something I needed to understand at that particular time. “Siddhartha says: ‘It is the same with me as it is with you, my friend. I am not going anywhere. I am only on the way.’” Something immediately clicked for me. Many of us - myself most certainly included - have been so conditioned to be constantly pursuing and grasping for what’s ahead, expecting the reward of satisfaction once we’ve reached that next summit. It was burning me out and making me miserable.

Wayfinding is the orientation toward and navigation from place to place, with signs and experiences along the way. I imagined a new perspective where instead of high-speed highways to major destinations, there were scenic backroads and points of interest along the way. Road closures become fascinating detours. The Wayfinder design, with its wandering dotted paths, is about that all-too-trite sentiment of “enjoying the journey.” It turns out this advice has been a key for my finding contentment and joy in life because the hedonic treadmill will keep running so long as a myopic focus stays on the next big thing - whether that be related to wealth, status, love, pleasure, or anything else that we think will, once achieved, suddenly solve our problems or make us happy. Ambition is, of course, a wonderful thing - it’s just when I forget to smell the proverbial roses and fully appreciate what’s lovely about the current path that I find life gets heavy. A reminder that there really is no “destination” - except that, morbid as it is, our time on this planet eventually ends - helps to lighten things up a bit. If we never, in the ultimate sense, actually “arrive,” why not enjoy wherever we are along our path?

Details & Techniques

The Wayfinder Quilt is packed with customizable options, making it easy to create a version that fits your style. It’s available in 6 sizes, from Mini to King, and includes two distinct design styles: a mirrored, graphic Mid-Mod layout (like this version!) and a rotating Starburst layout. Whether you are looking for a more consistent look, or using up fat quarters, there’s options for multiple color variations! The pattern uses traditional piecing techniques and Half Rectangle Triangles (HRTs) to build bold, modern designs with striking visual impact.

Fabrics

This pattern has several possible variations, and I was excited to make this “scrappy” version with “mixed color” blocks using some lovely bright solids. Not always easy to photograph, but definitely fun to sew with and just so happy-looking. In my head, I refer to this one as the “funhouse” version (I absolutely love funhouses), it just seems to give me those vibes. And, completely appropriate, as the point of the funhouse isn’t so much to get through it, but enjoy all the fun & quirky experiences within.

Flat lay of the colorful Funhouse version of the Wayfinder quilt, showcasing a bold, modern patchwork layout with playful geometric shapes and vibrant hues, with a coral dandelion print backing

The quilt top is all Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids:
- Color 1 (Background): Coconut Milk
- Non-background colors: Fresh Water, Olive Oil, Grapefruit, Coral Reef, Rock Candy, Secret Lagoon, Aurus, Mirage Blue, Cosmos
This really seemed like a pretty off-beat mix of fabrics when I finally pulled my fat quarters together. I was, to be honest, a bit worried as I started to cut into them. Thankfully, I trusted the process, my mockup and my instincts for what has become one of my favorite and most asked-about quilts.
This exact version is available as a kit from Lamb and Loom Fabrics!
The backing is AGF Tiny Dancer Six. While I don’t typically use much red in quilts, this one seemed to complement the Coral Reef color, and the whimsical dandelion print seemed so fitting - the idea of being willing to drift sometimes, allowing the wind to take you where it may.
Binding is AGF Cactus Flora Lily. This was fabric I had left over from another quilt’s backing, and it pulled together all the colors so well, and also contrasts the very geometric piecing.

Be sure to check out the Something Blue and Original versions of this pattern for more inspiration!

Want to color your own version? Create your own mockups of the Wayfinder quilt on PreQuilt!

Quilting

This quilt was longarmed by Wild Phil Quilting using the Sunrise Skateland panto by Julie Hirt, which I think only adds to the whimsical sort of carnival feel to this quilt. I often love using pantographs to contrast with the patchwork elements - in this case, offsetting the sharp, geometric piecing with those undulating curves.