From the outside in

I've never made anything like this before from the outside in. The construction has been so fascinating and I've really enjoyed making this. I suspect I'll do another one for me. The pattern writer made the comment that you could use a linen middle or you could crochet it like I'm doing. I think it might be interesting on another one to work it this far or maybe a little further and then use the linen for the middle. At this stage it looks like a flower. My Grannie would have loved this pattern and I love that.