Memphis Cotton Museum and the Davies Manor are showing mini quilts with connections to quilting in the 1800's. Each quilt is to show a type of block used in one of the decades in that century.
I chose the fan block.
I found information on the fan block online at the MET Museum and the Nebraska Quilt Museum.
Fan blocks came after the 1876 USA Centennial and were similar to Crazy Quilts but more orderly.
Embroidery stitches like Herringbone, Fly, and Feather were used to attach the silk and velvet scraps.
The earliest documented quilt was made in 1883.
The earliest printed pattern came in 1896.
My blocks are 6 inches finished. The base block is modern quilting cotton.
The fan blades are made using fabric from men's ties.
My mom, Helen Thornton, cut the shapes for a fan quilt that was never finished.
I tried two different settings and chose the setting above.
I call it Sun and Butterflies.
It is copied partially from a red and white fan quilt I saw on the MET website.
Above is a close up of the center circle.
The blades are sewn together then applied to the base.
I used an embroidery stitch on my Pfaff to stitch on each seam, around the outside,
and on the inner quarter circle.
The quilting is very minimal.
Instead of binding I made facings and added a hanging sleeve at the top.
The white triangle is the label.
Above is a close up of the quilting on the back.
The corners have a ghost quarter circle quilted where a fan could be placed.
Close up of the quilting and embroidery on the front.
The machine stitch is similar to a feather stitch, I think.
So, here is my entry to the mini quilt show.
It will help me remember my mom's quilting and my dad's spiffy ties.
Happy Sewing!
Next up - October piano runner.
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