Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Crazy Quilted Fan Ornament Tutorial

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Turn your fabulous fabric scraps and a few embellishments into beautiful, crazy quilted ornaments.

If you’re captivated by the charm of crazy quilting and seek a festive project to showcase your embroidery and embellishment skills, Sandie’s “CrazyQuilted Fan Ornament Tutorial” from her Delightfully Crazy blog is an ideal choice. Originally published in October 2006, this tutorial guides you through crafting a delicate fan-shaped ornament using fabric scraps, silk ribbons, beads, and lace.

The process involves the flip-and-sew technique, followed by intricate embellishments like spiderweb roses and beaded accents, culminating in a unique piece perfect for holiday decor or as a heartfelt gift. Although the original blog is now private, the tutorial remains accessible via the Wayback Machine, preserving this timeless guide for crafters.

Sandie of the Delightfully Crazy blog offers a really nice step-by-step tutorial here.

Editor’s note 4/27/2014: This tutorial in no longer available; the blog owner set her settings to private. Sorry for the inconvenience. –Scarlett

Comments

  1. I guess Sandie forgot to change her settings, on her blog.
    Because I clicked on the tutorial link it took me to a page that stated it was an invite ONLY web-blog and you must be a member and have a login and password. It sure would have really nice to make a few dozen of her gorgeous fans in multiple colors for a pretty Christmas tree. When this is fixed could someone please let me know.
    Thanks for sharing.
    “Happy Crafting”

Have you read?

Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness Review

A Soft, Vintage-Inspired Quilt Kit That Lives Up to Its Name

Some quilt kits are bold and modern. Others lean heavily into dramatic colour palettes. But every now and then you come across a quilt kit that feels calm, comforting, and quietly beautiful — the kind of quilt you imagine folded on a guest bed or draped across the back of a favourite armchair.

That’s exactly the feeling behind the Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness from Fat Quarter Shop.

This kit is all about soft, coordinated fabrics and classic quilt construction that lets the fabric collection shine. It’s the sort of project that feels relaxing to sew and produces a quilt that looks timeless rather than trendy.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

What’s Included in the Simplicity Quilt Kit

One of the best parts of working with a quilt kit is that the planning stage is already done for you. Fabric choices, yardage calculations, and colour coordination are handled by experienced designers so you can focus on the stitching.

The Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness includes everything needed to create the quilt top and binding using fabrics from the Handmade Sweetness collection.

Inside the kit you’ll find:

  • Coordinated quilting cotton for the quilt top
    • Binding fabric to finish the quilt edges
    • Fabrics from the Handmade Sweetness collection
    • The official quilt pattern that guides the layout and piecing

Like most quilt kits, batting and backing fabric are purchased separately so quilters can choose their own finishing style.

The Look and Style of the Quilt

The design of the Simplicity Quilt lives up to its name. The layout is clean, balanced, and very easy on the eyes, making it perfect for quilters who prefer classic patchwork over complicated layouts.

The Handmade Sweetness fabric collection adds a gentle vintage feel to the quilt. The prints lean toward soft florals, small-scale patterns, and comforting colours that work together beautifully without feeling overwhelming.

The finished quilt has that handmade heirloom look — the kind of quilt that feels like it belongs in a cozy home filled with handmade touches.

If your quilting taste leans toward:

  • Vintage-inspired quilts
    • Soft cottage style fabrics
    • Classic patchwork layouts
    • Calm, coordinated colour palettes

…then this quilt kit will likely be right up your alley.

Skill Level – Perfect for Beginners and Relaxed Sewing

One of the nicest things about the Simplicity Quilt Kit is that it truly is approachable.

The construction focuses on traditional patchwork techniques most quilters already know:

  • Straightforward cutting and piecing
    • Repeating quilt blocks
    • Block arrangement into rows
    • Simple borders that frame the quilt

There are no tricky angles or complex piecing methods, which makes it a very comfortable project for beginners or anyone wanting a stress-free sewing experience.

This is the kind of quilt you can work on slowly over a few evenings while enjoying the rhythm of sewing.

Why Quilt Kits Like This Are So Popular

Many quilters love designing quilts, but not everyone enjoys the fabric selection stage. Choosing prints that coordinate, calculating yardage, and ensuring colour balance can take hours.

That’s where quilt kits shine.

With a kit like Simplicity – Handmade Sweetness, you get:

  • Professionally coordinated fabrics
    • The correct fabric amounts already measured
    • A pattern designed specifically for those fabrics
    • A clear path from first cut to finished quilt

Instead of planning a quilt, you get to jump straight into the creative part — sewing.

And let’s be honest… finishing quilts is always more satisfying than collecting half-finished projects.

Who This Quilt Kit Is Best For

The Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness is ideal for quilters who:

  • Prefer gentle, vintage-style fabric collections
    • Want a calm and relaxing sewing project
    • Enjoy traditional quilt layouts
    • Are newer to quilting and want an approachable kit

It would also make a lovely handmade gift or a cozy everyday quilt for a bedroom or living room.

Where to Find the Simplicity Quilt Kit

If this soft, vintage aesthetic speaks to you, you can explore the kit here:

It’s a quilt that feels comforting from the very first block — a project built around the quiet joy of sewing something beautiful with your own two hands.