Stumbling Fans

Grandmother’s Fan: UFO  (Started: 1983)

Grandmother's Fan in progress...after all these years

That first quilt was certainly a challenge.  Despite having the “fan” pattern and McCalls very clear instructions I could only manage to assemble some strange rectangular shapes. Curves were simply beyond me.  I cut shapes from cardboard and each piece of silk was over-locked to within an inch of its life.  Blocks, as they were machined together, were all backed with light cotton cloth.  This was to support the light weight and seemingly fragile silk.  

My fan project was abandoned and not seen again until the mid 80’s when I finally managed a patchwork class or two.  I sought help full well knowing that my fan did not look anything like the original!  “Go crazy”, Joc said, “add embroidery and beading.”  I think now I was a little timid….one of my many early quilting lessons courtesy of that quilt.  Crazy quilts were in vogue and despite not being particularly enamoured with embroidery I decided to go all out and decorated each fan with modest layers of stitchery.  Then it was all sewn together.  A huge top, reminiscent of a circus tent, was finally pieced!

Thank Heavens for Dorothy Bond's "Crazy Quilt Stitches"

Anyway, it remains as a top today, just waiting to have some more embroidery added and be quilted.  Modern machine quilting may be my salvation and perhaps, just perhaps, this poor quilt will decorate a bed yet.....before it disintegrates.

A romance with textiles continued however in the streets of Saramban and KL’s downtown Chinatown.  Globe Silk Store was a favourite and bargains were always to be had.  Sarongs were plentiful, colourful and cheap.  We managed to track down a Malaysian batik factory on a visit to Penang.  I particularly loved Malaysian outfits – colourful batik shirts for men and sarong kebaya for women.  Even then, fashion designers were pushing traditional shapes to new limits and integrating new and time-honoured fabrics such as songket and ikat.

I returned home to Australia with lots of ideas and many more things to make.  Finish that crazy silk quilt?  No time for that, I’ve just seen the most wonderful fabric...  

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size:
Block Size:
Cut in:  1983 Port Dickson Malaysia
Pieced & Basted:  1983-86
Quilted:
Quilt Type: Group/Workshop/Own Design/Friendship   DIY Quilting
Quilt Finished: Yet to be finished
Exhibited: No
Collection: Home# 001
Pattern Name:  Grandmother’s Fan
Pattern Source:  McCalls 1980*
Fabrics Purchased:  Thailand 1980
Fabric Design:  Jim Thompson & others plain jewel colours
Fabric Style:  Loom Woven Silk
Materials Type:  Silk & cottons
Wadding Type: 
Backing:

*McCalls Needlework & Crafts Magazine September 1988 p64 (Original shown in Winter 1980 edition)

Lessons Learned:
Start small and don't fiddle about with things you don't particularly enjoy (for me - embroidery).  Also, seek help - join a class, a guild or local group - get some expert advice.  When I did these things, I relaxed and started to really enjoy quilting! 

Trial & Error 1980

M'Calls 1980

This was the quilt that inspired my patchwork beginnings.  Somewhere, somehow I managed to throw out the original magazine but had kept this black & white photocopy.  (Did they make colour photocopiers for home back then?)  The original quilt was a deep forest green with colourful fans, all in rich jewel colours - as only silk can be.  I think the outside edge of the fans were finished with velvet ribbon.  The rich moiré self patterning in the border fabric also added to its charms.  I was keen to give it a go.  And so I discovered the complexities of patchwork patterns.  The result, seen in the post to follow, will be finished.....one day!