April 2020 NZP Block of the Month: Fan Block
Nancy’s Red Elegance
2020 Block of the Month April: Fan Block
Introducing the fourth of 12 FREE! Quit Block Tutorials in the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series! The Fan Block, also known as 1/4-Wagon Wheel Block, is quickly made with fan wedges and a little bias trim!
In January, Team Nancy Zieman introduced the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series. Join the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Nancy’s Red Elegance Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series, anytime, by viewing the Basic Supplies and Tools Listing in the January 1, 2020 NZP BoM20 Kick Off Blog Posting.
On the third Saturday of each month, we’ll feature one block design, and we’ll be stitching one or more blocks of the same design each month. The blocks are created using Our NEW! Red Elegance Fabric Collection by Riley Blake and the Carefree Curves Trace ‘n Create Template Set by Nancy Zieman for Clover. Follow along as we show step-by-step how to create the April Fan Block.
April Fan Block
NOTE: This block is 8-1/2″ square; 8″ finished square when sewn into finished quilt.
Block Fabrics
For the Nancy’s Red Elegance April Fan Block, select the following four fat quarter fabrics from the NEW! Red Elegance Fat Quarter Bundle along with the “Wagon Wheel & Fan” Template from the Carefree Curves Template Set.
Red Elegance Brick Textured, Red Elegance Brick Rose, Red Elegance Cream Rose and Red Elegance Red Rose.
Prepare your fabrics! Pre-shrink fabrics by steaming and pressing, and steaming and pressing a second time. Then, stabilize fabrics for the sewing process by pressing and starching fabrics with June Tailor’s Starch Savvy. Press and starch, press and starch.
Gather Supplies
- Carefree Curves Trace ‘n Create Template Set by Nancy Zieman for Clover
- Optional: 3/8″ Fusible Bias Tape Maker
- Optional: 1/4″ Fusible Web Tape
- Optional: Mini Iron II “The Adapter”
View the complete Basic Supplies and Tools Listing in the January 1, 2020 NZP BoM20 Kick Off Blog Posting.
Cut Fabrics for the Block
Create four of Nancy’s super-simple Fan Blocks from just three fabrics, and a little bias trim made from a fourth fabric!
- Cut four 8-1/2″ background squares from Red Elegance Brick Textured.
- Cut one 3-3/4″ crosswise fabric strip from Red Elegance Cream Rose.
- Cut one 3-3/4″ crosswise fabric strip from Red Elegance Red Rose.
- Using a Rotary Cutter, mat, and 6″ x 24″ Ruler, cut 3/4″ bias fabric strips from Red Elegance Brick Rose. Cut and sew approximately 72″ of continuous bias strips. Or simply cut four strips approx. 3/4″ x 6″, and four strips approx. 3/4″ x 12″.
Construct the Blocks
Build the Fan Appliqué
- Place Wagon Wheel & Fan Template along 3-3/4″ crosswise fabric strip cut from Red Elegance Cream Rose.
- Align the lower Wagon Wheel & Fan Template along edge of fabric strip, and trace template side edges, and trace the curve die-cut opening. Trace four fan wedge shapes.
- Each April Fan Block will use two fan wedges from Red Elegance Cream Rose and Red Elegance Red Rose. Trace four fan wedge shapes from both 3-3/4″ crosswise fabric strips.
- Cut along straight lines with Rotary Cutter, Mat and Ruler
- Use Fabric Shears to cut along top curved lines.
- Place one Cream Rose fan wedge to one Red Rose fan wedge, right sides together. Pin.
- Set sewing machine for a scant 1/4″ seam, and stitch side seam on right only.
- Press seam allowance flat, then press open.
- Repeat steps above and create two fan appliques with the Cream Rose fan wedge located at left.
- Repeat steps above, stitching side seam on left only, and create two fan appliques with the Red Rose fan wedge located at left.
- Layer one fan unit to one 8-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ background fabric square, matching cut edge. Pin.
- Baste along lower edge and side left edge – stitching within the scant 1/4″ seam allowance.
Create Fusible Bias Tape
- Following directions included with Clover’s 3/8″ Fusible Bias Tape Maker, feed bias cut fabric strip into the tape maker and feed Clover’s 1/4″ Fusible Web Tape into top channel.
- Press the folded bias strip, as it exits the narrow end of the maker – the fabric edges are magically folded toward center.
Finish the Blocks
- Remove paper backing from fusible bias, and position bias tape over the curved fan edges.
- Using an iron, press the fusible bias tape in place – to conceal the cut edges of the fan appliqué.
- Using a Size 75 Schmetz Quilting Needle, edgestitch along edge of the bias tape with Monofilament Thread.
It’s always easier to stitch smooth curves with a shorter stitch length – such as a 2.0 mm setting.
- Repeat steps above and and cover the remaining fan appliqué cut edge.
- Repeat steps above and create four April Fan Blocks: Two Blocks with Cream Rose fan wedge located to left. And Two Blocks with Red Rose fan wedge located to left.
The Nancy’s Red Elegance April Fan Blocks are complete!
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Shop Ponte Knit Fabrics & Jersey Knit Fabrics at shopnzp.com!
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Shop Pellon Interfacing & Supplies at shopnzp.com!
Shop Schmetz Sewing Machine Needles at shopnzp.com!
For a chance to be the random winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with S!S button & sticker, please leave a comment below sharing your thoughts about the NEW! 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series and/or The April Fan Block.
Nancy Zieman Productions will give away one Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack to one US resident in the 48 contiguous states. Winner must reply within 30 days to the official giveaway announcement email message – sent from Nancy Zieman Productions.
The randomly selected winner of a Stitch it! Sisters 5″ Fabric Short Stack with exclusive S!S button & sticker, from the April 11 and 14 Blog Posts, NEW! Stitch it! Sisters Tunic Pattern Fitting – The Nancy Zieman Way – Program 113 and Stitch it Sisters Tunic Pattern Fitting Tutorial the Nancy Zieman Way – McCall’s M8022, is Susan Du.
Her comment is: I have always been fascinated by this technique when Nancy demonstrated it years ago. Thank you for the refresher video and I’d love to try a basic tunic using this technique.
Happy Quilting!
Team Nancy Zieman
Nancy Zieman Productions. LLC.
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Laurie Ladd
I love this mystery quilt. In fact, I am making all of them. I already hand 2017 done.
Ann West
I really love the Red Elegance fabric. I have been wanting to make a red quilt for quilt a while, and this mystery quilt should be the perfect one for me. Thanks!
Charlotte Dunn
Its exciting to see what comes next. I love this pattern so much in fact I bought the iron, bias tape maker, fusible, and I cant name how many more of her products I own. This technique of wrapping the bias trim over the seams is brilliant.
Carolyn T
I always appreciate the efficiency of cutting multiples of a given shape using your templates. The details in the Stitch it! Sisters tutorials take the guesswork out of every project!
Lorna
Loving this red fabric!
BevM
At first, I wondered why bias strips were being used in this Fan Block, instead of fusible interfacing. Then, the little “extra” provided by the bias strips became evident. I could see this technique used with more contrasting bias strips, too.
Beverly Smith
Love the fabrics for the mystery quilt. The template used this month is a huge help.
Valerie A.
I find the April Fan block method very helpful and like the red fabrics.
Barb K
Love the fabrics you are using for the quilt block!
Wonderful reds look really stunning!!
Doreen
Love this mystery project.Doing new techniques with different rulers.
The fabric is fantastic, love this.
Rosalind Gutierrez
I always feel more confident learning a new technique like the fan block with step by step directions or a tutorial. The Red Elegance fabric has eye appeal with this quilt idea.
pat saft
I purchased the fabric and template two months ago. Need to get re-inspired again, as I love the fabric. Thanks for the patterns.
Dixie
I love this quilt and the fabrics used.
Joyce Migliore
I have been enjoying the 2020 Nancy Zieman Productions Free! Block of the Month Mystery Quilt Series. And the April block is so pretty!
Jeanne Brown
This is my favorite block so far.
Janet
I love this red fabric. The directions for this block seem easy to understand.
Lorraine Alves
I’m enjoying the Mystery Quilt presentations. The fan block is one of my favorites.
Susan Green
I love the red fabric! This is a great series.
Cynthia d
This looks tricky. I would use this lovely fabric for something else since I have difficulties with curves.
beth d.
I would love to try the fan block with the template. I was always amazed at the way Nancy did it.
Gail S
WOW, this block looks a bit challenging. I haven’t done much with curves. I’ll have to give it a try.
Julie Kill
The new twist on the fan block is ingenious! I really like that biased edge! I was thinking that the gray tonal with the smaller flowers would look really neat in this block as the bias trim! I just received my Red Elegance fabric and plan on making the quilt! The techniques are AWESOME! Thank you!
Janice Still
I was surprised that the web tape would be used with the bias tape maker now. Wish I had them at the beginning of the project- now I have to order these since the size of this will be too small for me to work with without burning my fingers.
Janice Still
I’m VERY confused. I’m trying to do the April block and not sure which fabric piece I’m suppose to use–the fat quarter of the actual fabric by the yard piece. Another question I have, when you cut the 3 3/4″ strip- fro which fabric piece again? m HELP
Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC
Hello Janice, Thank you for your participation in Nancy Zieman Productions 2020 Block of the Month. For the April Fan Block all fabrics will be cut from the Red Elegance fat quarters. One 3-3/4″ crosswise strips will be cut from the Cream Rose fabric and one from the Red Rose fabric. The darker Brick Rose Fabric is used to create the fusible bias strips in the this months Fan Block.
Janice Still
Thank you answering me. However, when it reads to cut 3 3/4″ from whatever color fabric, is this the yardage piece or the fat quarter itself? That’s my confusion. It should read, cut from fat quarter or cut from yardage.