Wayfinder Quilt - Something Blue Version
It is the same with me as it is with you, my friend. I am not going anywhere. I am only on the way.
— Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
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 particular version is the “5-Color Variation” - with a twist, in that the same fabric is used for three of the five colors - in the Mid-Mod Style, featuring a fun floral print with some coordinating solids. I do love how the darker fabric for Color 3 allows the dotted paths to really stand out, even further emphasizing the design’s inspiration.
The quilt top is all Art Gallery Fabrics:
Color 1: AGF Pure Solids Spruce
Colors 2, 4, and 5: AGF Bluebells and Buttercups in Heron by Bonnie Christine
Color 3: AGF Pure Solids Evergreen
The backing is AGF Beaver and Bloom Bramble by Bonnie Christine
Binding is AGF Pure Solids Evergreen
Be sure to check out the Original and Funhouse 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 Ikat #1 panto by Patricia E. Ritter. I was thrilled to see how this classic quilting design complements the simplicity of this particular version so well.
Tools Used
Machine: Bernina 475QE
Piecing thread: Gutermann Sew All thread
Batting: Pellon White Cotton with scrim
Olfa 45mm rotary cutter & rotary mat
Adobe Illustrator for trusty mockups
