Supplies:
Fans: 8 Fat Quarters (if only using 2 fabrics you need 1 yard of each fabric)
Background squares: 2 fabrics 1 3/8 each. Cut into 18 9" squares. ( you could also use the 9" die)
Center oval: 1/2 yard
Fusible interfacing like Wonder Under for the ovals. Note: you can use this for the fans too. However, You will have to die cut them out first. Ironing the seams open with wonder under... quilting fail!
Clear nylon thread for applique.
Ok, lets get started!
First you need to cut 18 fans from each fat quarter. The best way is to fold the FQ length wise to make a 9" strip. Cut a fan from a scrap of fabric to gage your folds. Lay the scrap fan on the bottom edge and fold like an accordion to cut 8 fans. You will have a little left at the bottom. Like this:
Cut out the fans, then cut one more with the little bit left. This gives you 10 fans. Now going the other way laying the fan long wise, cut 8 more. Like this:
Repeat with all 8 fat quarters. Lay out the fans on the background blocks until you like what you see.
Put all the fans in sets of 2. The two being each set on a block. Sew them together and iron open the seams.
Pay close attention when you sew them together that the seam is on the correct side. I sewed every other one backwards and had to seam-rip them out. Why I messed that up.. I don't know. So pay attention. Ok, lay out your sets on a 9" square like this:
You will need to put a pin in both fans to keep them from flopping around. You could also fuse them onto wonder under. You will need a teflon pressing cloth to keep every thing from getting messy. You will also have to trim the wonder under around the edges of the fan. But it will help to hold down the edges for sewing later. You can also use a basting glue. You could also look at how I appliqued them down and do that now too if you wanted. I just did it all at once...more below on that.
Putting all the squares back into place, sew two squares together. Making sure to match the scallops from the fans on the inside.
Repeat with the other 2 blocks. Iron the seams open. I didn't on my first seam and regretted it later. Then sew the two block sections together. It should look like this:
Lay the blocks out on the floor or a large table and sew them together. Removing pins you don't need as you go along.
Now I did this wrong as I sewed this quilt. After I put all the blocks together, I sewed on my border to hold down the outside fans. They were floppy and I thought this would make it so I could remove all the pins. But when I got to the red ovals, I realized I should have put the ovals on first, then the border. So..... at this point, iron your fusible interfacing to the fabric for the ovals. Cut 19 round ovals. 4 of them cut in half long wise and 2 of them cut in half across the middle. Fold the short ones like this and cut off the outside folds. You should have a pie shape. You need 4 for the 4 corners.
Peel off the paper backing and iron on just the ovals for the outside pieces. To center the ovals, fold the long ones in half and match up with a center seam. The pie shaped ones, you just line up with the corners.
Ok NOW sew on the outside border. Sorry my colors aren't very good. But you get the picture.
Here is another picture of the outside edge. Yes, I didn't have my outside ovals down yet. This is where I messed up. Don't do what I did!
Please Santa, can I have a new camera so my colors come out bright and clear!!
Now you need to sew down the fan tips. I used a clear nylon thread because I really didn't want to see this part. I'll send it off to my quilting goddess later and she will make it pretty. I started to just sew a straight stitch using my regular sewing foot and because my fan tips weren't glued down, things got a little messy. So back to the fabric glue. You could also cut fusible interfacing with just the tip of the fan with the die cutter and put it just under the ends of the fans and iron them down. Then I used my darning foot, lowered the feed dogs and free hand stitched the fan tips town. It was so much easier and with clear thread, you can't see anything messy.This is a great way for beginning free motion quilters to get a little experience. Clear thread is very forgiving. Remember to use regular thread in the bobbin.
Iron down the rest of the ovals to the fan centers and sew around them the same way.
And you are done! Send it off to your long arm quilting goddess. Mine is Dee Small and she does a wonderful job. She has done quilting for Alex Anderson and wins ribbons at our local quilt show every year. I'll show you the finished quilt when she gets it done.
I hope you liked it. See you soon!
Bunny
PS.. ok it is 2am and I can't sleep. I finally got the quilt back from the goddess... here is a picture for ya. Taken with my iphone and the colors aren't too bad if I say so myself.
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