Quiltingboard Forums

Quiltingboard Forums (https://www.quiltingboard.com/)
-   Main (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/)
-   -   Quilt pattern level of difficulty??? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/quilt-pattern-level-difficulty-t119891.html)

ruck9085 05-01-2011 09:43 AM

Pretty easy actually. Me, I just make Dresden plates with points and then hack them in half. Viola! Grandmother's fans.

millivanillisask 05-01-2011 09:54 AM


Originally Posted by glenda5253
I would like to hear from you quilters that have made "Grandmother's Fan" as to the level of difficulty. I'm asking because that was the pattern that Mom used whenever a grandchild married. She would find out what the couple's favorite color was and make a queen size quilt for them. Since she passed away two years ago there has been one grandson to marry and another will marry in May. I'm thinking about continuing the tradition only with a scrappy GF from my stash. So how would you rate this pattern, please?

Try Eleanor Burns she makes every pattern easy.

grannypat7925 05-01-2011 10:00 AM

I haven't made one yet but looks like it should be fairly easy.

Vera Seemann 05-01-2011 11:24 AM

I have a "grandmother's fan" pattern that you do not have to applique. It is pieced.

Vera Seemann 05-01-2011 11:27 AM

I have a "grandmother's fan" pattern that you do not have to applique. It is pieced. I have also appliqued a grandmother's fan crib quilt. Both were very easy.

FroggyinTexas 05-01-2011 12:34 PM


Originally Posted by glenda5253
I would like to hear from you quilters that have made "Grandmother's Fan" as to the level of difficulty. I'm asking because that was the pattern that Mom used whenever a grandchild married. She would find out what the couple's favorite color was and make a queen size quilt for them. Since she passed away two years ago there has been one grandson to marry and another will marry in May. I'm thinking about continuing the tradition only with a scrappy GF from my stash. So how would you rate this pattern, please?

I ordered the "Easy Dresden" ruler from Missouri Quilt company and watched the tutorial on how to use it. The ruler comes with a template to make the round Grandmother's Fan. I think it is a little more challenging than the Dresden plate, but neither is difficult.

I have become addicted to Dresden plate because it is so simple and is such a great way to use scraps. Why don't you look at the Missouri Quilt company tutorial on YouTube and see what you think? What you are proposing to do is a lovely gesture. froggyintexas

cheezythequiltmaker 05-01-2011 12:49 PM

It's a fairly easy you cut the blades and then if you want a circular edge, leave as is. For points, you fold each blade right sides together at the outside edge and stitch across. trim the corner excess off and turn out. Use a point turner to get the good point. I the use a piece of heat resistant template plastic which has an exact 90 degree angle which I put inside the point and has a 45 degree line marked. I Line that up with the seam line I just sewed. and press.

When stitching the blades together I always work from the outside edge inwards. You are going to cover the base with a circle anyway so I would rather any slips or slides end up down there than on the edge.

Spray starching you fabric before you cut makes the sewing easier. remember you have both edges on some bias so be careful of stretching.

Piece 90 degrees of blades together and then Square it up with your big quilting square before sewing it to the next one. You can just appliqué to a square and use that as the template if doing a single quarter circle. If doing a full plate square them up before sewing them to the next set of blades. That way they should sit flat when you come full circle.

If points you can appliqué the folded edges down by hand or machine. Just pin it carefully to the background square and it is well worth running some large hand basting stitching around the edge to hold it so you can take the pins out.

I did do a small one hand piecing over papers but I prefer to machine piece. I have never got one to be exactly 90 degrees with out some trimming but no one would ever know!

Oh dang it I just told you didn't i :)

madamekelly 05-01-2011 12:59 PM


Originally Posted by rusty quilter
I thought it was easy. You just keep making fans (or Dresden plates if you go in a full circle) until you have enough, then machine applique them onto squares.

I found an easy trick for basting them in place on the back ground. I use thin strips of heat and bond (approx. 1/8th inch) around the outside of my fan blades, then iron it to the backing. Holds long enough for me to hand sew them down, and no skootching.

k9dancer 05-01-2011 01:17 PM

Why don't you make a sample block or three, trying different techniques, and decide for yourself whether it's something you want to do?

ann31039 05-01-2011 01:53 PM

kaye woods tv has a video with very easy instructions.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:16 AM.