Grandmother's Fan Quilt Pattern

From Vintage Quilts - Fall 1997 Issue
Compliment of www.mccallsquilting.com

Grandmother's Fan
Owned by Cindy Rennels

With a splash of bright color, this bed-sized antique honors the fans that embellished a lady's wardrobe in past times. Floral prints intermingle with solids in the fan blocks, set off by the sunny yellow background. Lavender fans all around the outside edge form a delicate scalloped border. Preserve the colors of a bygone era with this quilt, or make it in a contemporary color palette.

FINISHED QUILT SIZE
75" x 83 1/2"

NUMBER OF BLOCKS (Finished size)
72 Fan Blocks 8 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Grandmother's Fan

PLANNING THE QUILT
When making her Fan Blocks, the quiltmaker chose to intersperse 4 solids with 5 varying prints, creating a bright, cheerful quilt. You may wish to use contemporary fabrics in today's colors and prints, or you may choose vintage or reproduction fabrics that are readily available today to capture that look of yesteryear.

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
Assorted prints and solids
... 4 1/2 yds. total
Purple solid
... 2 yds.
Yellow solid (binding)
... 6 1/2 yds.
Backing ... 5 yds.
Batting ... Double size

OTHER MATERIALS
Sewing thread
Quilting thread (hand quilting)

CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
Template Diagrams
Assorted prints and solids
... 648 Template A
Purple solid
... 124 Template B
... 4 Template C
Yellow solid
... 72 squares 9" x 9"
... 56 Template D

QUILT TOP ASSEMBLY
PIECING THE BLOCKS
1. Referring to Diagrams I and II, make pointed fan blades. Fold Template A fabric in half lengthwise with right sides together. Stitch a 1/4" seam along top edge. Turn right side out; top edge forms a point. Repeat with all Template A pieces to make 648 fan blades.
2. Referring to Diagram II to make fan, sew 2 blades with right sides together. Repeat until 9 blades are sewn together to make fan. Press all seams to one side. Make 72 fans.

Diagram I

Diagram II

3. Position blades on 9" yellow square so that first and last blades slightly overlap raw edge and pin securely (see Diagram III-A). Appliqué top edge of blades to yellow square. Trim edges even (see Diagram III-B). Make 72.

Diagram III-A

Diagram III-A

Diagram III-B

Diagram III-B

4. Turn under 1/4" on curved edge of Template B and baste. Position over bottom raw edge of fan blades and even with raw edges of 9" yellow square. Appliqué curved edge. Remove basting stitches (see Diagram IV). Make 72 Fan Blocks.
5. To construct border, stitch yellow Template D fabric to purple Template B fabric. (see Diagram V) Continue adding triangles and cones, making certain long yellow edge remains even. Top and bottom borders are made of 13 yellow triangles alternating with 12 purple cones. Side borders are 15 yellow triangles alternating with 14 purple cones. Each strip begins and ends with yellow triangle.

Diagram IV

Diagram IV

Diagram V

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
Note: Refer to Assembly Diagram for following steps:
6. Sew 8 Fan Blocks together to form row, alternating placement of fan. Make 9 horizontal rows. Stitch rows together.
7. Sew side borders (15 yellow triangles) to sides of quilt. Sew top and bottom borders (13 yellow triangles) to top and bottom of quilt. Stitch purple Template C fabric to each corner.

Assembly Diagram

QUILTING AND FINISHING

8. Layer and baste quilt top for quilting method of your choice. Quilt as desired.

9. Bind quilt with yellow solid (see Quiltmaking Lessons).

Due to variations in materials and equipment, mccallsquilting.com disclaims any liability of untoward results in doing the project presented. Because mccallsquilting.com has no control over your choice of materials or procedures mccallsquilting.com assumes no responsibility for the use of this data.

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