Grandma's Fan quilt block

Grandma's Fan quilt block

February 21, 1933- Nancy Cabot introduced the Grandma's Fan quilt block in her Chicago Tribune column on this day.  She says this block started out as a silhouette block around 1870.  It was pieced in a single dark fabric against a light background just like any silhouette.  "A generation or so later the ribs of the fan were made of many cheerful printed fabrics-each panel different" she added.

I don't think this quilt block works well as a 6" block so I didn't make it.  The curve of the fan blade is very small at this size.

 I wonder how this block was set.  If they were set next to each other, you would end up with circles.  Maybe they were alternated with solid blocks.



I have not been able to find any examples of this quilt pattern, antique or modern, though there are many variations called Grandmother's Fan.


Tomorrow- Log Cabin