Fan Quilt Pattern: part 1

This is the first time I will be posting instructions to make an entire quilt. Here goes! Please let me know how this goes or if you have any questions. I hope you will sew along with me.

These are the instructions for making these fans:

supplies needed:
basic quilting tools: sewing machine, iron, rotary cutter and mat, rulers, thread

• template plastic or lightweight cardboard for making templates (the backing cardboard on charm packs and layer cakes works great for templates)
• fusible thread or web (optional)
• freezer paper
• triangle paper (optional for half-square triangle inner border)

Fabric Requirements for fan blocks (to make a quilt like mine, which is about twin size)
1 yard light and medium value prints: variety as desired, I used scraps and small cuts of yardage to maximize the scrappy look of the quilt.

3/4 yard dark fabrics (for points on the fans): I used a variety of scraps of black, gray, brown and red

3 yards white for background

1/8th yard fabric for square centers of blocks: I used a light gray print, you could also use scraps of the fan prints

1/2 yard fabric for inner arcs of fans: I used a gray floral print for all of them, but you could also use a variety of prints, a solid, the same fabric as the center squares, etc.

For the Borders (I am estimating these amounts):
3/4 yard each dark fabrics and white for half-square triangles: I used the same pieces/scraps of the darks I used for the points on the fans.

2 1/8 yard border fabric, for solid fabric borders 10" wide. I pieced the border with scraps of the same fabrics I used in the fans plus some larger-scale coordinating prints


For this step, we will make the components of the fans. First, you will need to make templates.

to draft a trapezoid template A, draw a straight horizontal line on graph paper 1 5/8" for the bottom (shorter) edge.
From the center of that line draw a vertical line 2 3/4", this will be the height of the trapezoid. Next, draw a line across the top, perpendicular to the 2 3/4" vertical line, that is 2 1/2". This forms the top (longer) side of the trapezoid. Connect the ends of the two horizontal lines to form the trapezoid shape A as shown in the photo above.

The arc piece that forms the center of the fan is created by drawing a 90 degree angle with each straight edge 3". Connect the two points with an arc (use a saucer, compass, or other circular template to trace).
Template includes seam allowance along the straight edges, but not on the curved edge. More on that later.

that is the hardest part, I promise! Now to the fun part: choose your fabrics and fire up your rotary cutter and sewing machine.....

cutting instructions: I am listing cutting for the entire quilt, 48 fans/ 12 blocks. I recommend reading all the instructions and then cut a few pieces, make one fan and then go from there rather  than cutting all fabric at the beginning.

• from the medium prints: cut 10 strips  2 3/4" by width of fabric, then use "A" template to cut trapezoid shapes from strips as shown below. Turn the template to maximize use of fabric. Each WOF strip will result in 20 trapezoids. I recommend using a large variety of fabrics so that you have scrappy fans (you don't have to use full WOF cuts of fabrics, scraps, fat quarters, etc. are great)

                     cut a total of 192 trapezoid shapes (this is enough to make 48 fans, or 12 blocks)

• from the dark fabrics: cut 12 strips 1 3/4" by width of fabric. Do not cut any further at this point.
• from the medium print for center arc of fan (gray floral on mine): cut 48 from your arc template, add 3/8" seam allowance to the curved edge if you want to apply it with a turned edge (instructions provided), or cut from the template if you want to apply it with a raw edge.
• from the light gray print for block-center square: cut 12 squares 3 1/2"
• from the white: cut 48 rectangles 7 1/2" x 10 1/2" BEFORE YOU CUT THE BACKGROUND WHITE:  there are many options for setting the fans together! I will show you several ideas, wait to cut your white fabric until you know how you will put the fans together. The rectangles listed are for the setting like mine.

Sewing!! Here we go. Piece with right sides of fabric together with 1/4" seam allowance, except where specified.

1. starting with one of the dark fabric strips face up, sew the LONG edge of the A trapezoids along the length of the strip, leaving one inch between each A piece as shown below:

2. press toward the A pieces

3. use a rotary cutter and ruler to cut the A units apart, continuing the angle of the trapezoid shape of the A. You may like to make a separate template for this, but it works just as well to use the shape of the A pieces to guide your cutting. See photo above. Now you have larger trapezoid shapes.

4. fold the pieces length-wise so that the long edges of the dark strip are in half, right sides facing:

5. using 1/4" seam allowance, sew along the raw edge of the dark strips to form folded units as shown above.

6. fold the sewn seam down so that the dark strip forms a triangle as shown below:

                                   use your finger to open the seam and finger-press it down.

7. turn the unit right-side out, use the tip of scissors to push the point of the dark fabric out so you have a sharp tip to your triangle. Press. Your unit should look like this: (front and back)

8. Sew these units together, first in pairs, then in groups of four to form the fan. Press seams open:

back view of fan

9. turn the fan over and use the corner of a ruler to check that the edges of the outer pieces form a 90 degree angle:

10. if needed, trim the edges of the fan so that they form a straight 90 degree angle. As shown in the picture above, the corners sometimes stick out at the wrong angle. Trimming will not affect your finished block.

trimmed fan

Make 48 of these.

Aren't they just so cute!? I hope you are as excited about this as I am. Thanks for joining me. Soon we will add the inside arc and background fabric.

Sharon

to move on to step 2, click here!