Grandmother's Fan Advice
 

I am about to tackle my next baby quilt and love the photo below of a traditional Grandmother's Fan quilt.

Anyone done one of these and have advice for me on best way to go?

Paper pieced? Using a template set or ruler set?

Thanks for tips and tricks, including the tools that helped you most.

Oh i'm going to watch this. I have some lovely fans print I want to use in making one soon.

Watching this too! I have some 1930's prints that would look nice with this design.

lots of YouTube videos on grandmothers fan or Dresden plates. You can make them as show in your photo or make the blade wide end pointed before sewing them together.

I understand the technique, just looking for improved methods if they are out there!

I purchased a Dresden ruler. Then I experimented with size of strips to get to one I liked (for me 7"). I sewed a piece of scrap fabric to turn the edges - I would use some interfacing. I also experimented with the size of circle I liked until I found one I liked. I made 2 templated out of cereal box. One circle.to trace and cut - 2nd circle to iron in the edges. I did a loose stitch around the edges and then pulled them in around the edges and ironed. Then I cut those into quarters. I applique the fan onto a 10" square.around the top edge and then sewed the quarter circle.on top of the fan. I didn't bother to do the sides because it was caught when I put the squares together.

I set mine in point. Remains one of my favorite quilts ever

I've been looking around at youtube for the Grandmother's Fan Block and the one I like the most is from the Martelli site. I want to make a queen size, Grandmother's Fan Quilt, now that WesternWilson has put it in my thoughts :) . You can also buy the Grandmother's Fan template in the project template part of their web site, if you are looking for a good template that isn't tiny or you can make your own, from what I am seeing on other youtubes for what size you want.

The reason I like the Martelli Youtube is that it is a totally pieced block, which is how I want to make it. I saw a lot of youtube video with making it as a partial applique, but that isn't what I was looking for.

I use Darlene Zimmerman's easy Dresden tool to cut the wedges for this kind of project. For grandmother's fan, I make a template out of plastic that can be ironed and, after sewing the wedges together, I iron the outer seam allowance over the plastic before appliqueing to a square. Then I applique the inner quarter circle.

I've always wanted to make a Grandmothers fan quilt using my left over jelly roll strips. But the template set I want to use can't be found for purchase anymore. I can find websites that "say" they have it, but no longer do. It's the Fon's and Porter Small Fan Template Set. Wonder how hard it would be to use a Drunkards path template set instead? i probably wouldn't get the curves right!

I made one using a dresden template. Then I appliqued it on to blocks. Easy. Gave it to my daughter, now her daughter has asked for it when she dies. lol

Best tip I have is to use a Go. Many libraries have them now to use or check out. I have the Grandmother's Fan die for my Go. It finishes at 9". I had throw size quilt cut in just a few minutes. The units sewed together perfectly. If there is a die for the quilt I'm making I buy if the library doesn't have it.

The Grandmother's Fan template from Martelli I believe finishes up as a 12" block according to their video.

I am making a throw size Grandmother's Fan using the Martelli templates. Super easy. Watched the You Tube video they have for hints when cutting out the pieces.

And she also has great advice on sewing the curves on the video, as well. Especially when sewing the different pieces because you match them up and sew them differently to make it easier. There is a special pressure foot demo/ad in the middle from them that you can either watch or skip over, and the video resumes after it.

Yes, the sewing demonstration was really helpful. This is probably the easiest quilt I've ever made and it looks way more time consuming than it is. Templates are totally worth the cost.

I second it, that the Templates are totally worth the cost.

I'll agree that the Martelli templates help to make an easy quilt block...just wish they also carried this template set in a small size also. Not everyone wants to make 12" blocks.

Same here - I've been trying to find 10", 8" and 6" GF Templates, because I was also thinking of doing a quilt with different size fans scattered in it. But for now, I'll be doing the 12" blocks that finish to 11.5"

I found one with the different sizes (10/8/6) on Amazon, called Crazy Fan Templates, but the third party has not so good ratings. So, definitely a no there for me. I don't want to chance it.

Quilt guild member showed her Grandmothers Fan that had rickrack sewed on both ends of wedges. Loved it.

Seems like an appropriate time to post this again. Not quilted yet but my November/Thanksgiving quilt top.

I used the John Flynn acrylic templates for 2 projects. It is a 10" square finished block size. Then of I used what I call the Eleanor Burns methog using 1/2" rickrack for the curves, both for the fan blades and the pies. On the top side of the fabric you sew rickrack along your 1/4" seam allowance, I chose basic white. The rickrack is already bias and so you use it to help turn the curves. Then you stitch it down to the foundation block, first the fan blades, and then the pie piece. The rickrack will then add a textural element. Clear as mud, eh? LOL here's link to a video by Eleanor, the rickrack part starts around 18 minutes in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktzb2wMMwzc

So here's two very different quilts using the same template and fan technique. The turkey quilt will be for me when finished. The Michigan quilt was for my husband's aunt who is a big Blue/Wolverines fan (fan quilt for a fan)

OH I love both of your quilts!! thanks for the link too. If I can find the gumption to sew one, i hope to make one myself soon. The fabrics are just waiting on me!

Years ago I made my first Grandmother's Fan the traditional way with set-in arcs. It was ok and within my skill set but using the Eleanor Burns method took hours and a bunch of stress off of me. In terms of technique for the traditional one I set in the arcs into an L piece, putting the pie into the fan blades first.

The Eleanor Burns method is more the "partial" applique and I cut squares for the background. But then I went back and trimmed out the double layer of fabric once the fan pieces were put in. You don't have to do that but it is an option. It was really not hard at all, maybe not something I would suggest for a beginner but with medium skills and templates it is certainly doable.

Here's a link for the template:
https://www.flynnquilt.com/shop/Acry...-x18848031.htm
I was very happy with the templates, especially cutting so many different fan blades. The Turkey project were charms -- that is each one was different. The Michigan one had multiples. The template kit is designed for set-in arcs and contains the L, the Fan Blade and the pie piece.

And here's pictures of the rickrack in progress. I found buying rounds at Hobby Lobby to be the best deal -- especially on sale!

The tricky part is sewing the curves. I recently saw a u-tube video using tiny dots of Elmers glue, used within the 1/4" seam, then ironed dry instead of pinning. It looked easy. pieces secured no pins in the way.

Amazon guarantees your purchases. They handle the credit card information. You really don't have much to lose.
bkay

It has taken me forever to find this on photo on the web. It was in a Tide commercial. I would love to make something with this much background space. i can't seem to get my head around this block.
bkay

Omnigrid makes a wedge ruler. Has lines for 9,10,18,22.5,36 and 45 degree angles. When I decided to do a Dresden style quilt I was thrilled to find this ruler. It is 6x24” and so much less expensive than buying a bunch of different fans.
I have only made one Grandmother’s fan quilt way back when Bethany Renolds(?sp) came out with the original Stack-n-whack book. I made the fans and appliquéd them to a block. Pretty heavy quilt but so much fun. I used a decorative stitch (Greek key) to stitch them down, it was the first for me quilt that I made.

Sorry I don’t know how to edit. That Omnigrid ruler is called Omniangle.