A Fanciful Fan !

Tools and Supplies

Fan Stakes (Cats Paw 10A)
Pretty paper or thin fabric
6 28 32 gauge wire
6 six strand embroidery floss (Separate into two singles and 1 four ply strand)
Tacky glue, Scissors, Cardstock, Protractor, Pencil/pen

Step 1

If you have a protractor and a copier, copy the protractor face down. You can
complete this project without the copier, but you HAVE to have a
protractor. Draw a straight line about three inches long. Mark the
center. Place the center of the protractor on the center mark of the line and
proceed to mark every 15 until you reach 180. There will be 13 lines. (You
will only use 12 as guides).

Step 2
Open your package of fan stakes and look for the 2 ornate
guards. These are the outside stakes. Separate them from the
rest. There should be two guards and 10 stakes.

Step 3
Now, the stakes have to be laid out. Place 1 Guard at the 180 (0)
degree mark, and then one each 15 degrees from that until they are all
placed and a guard stake is at each end. Depending on the size of
your pin, place a pin towards the base between each stake to stabilize
them. You will notice them (barely) in steps three and five. (I will tell
you, this is fiddly. Take your time. This project took me about 4
hours. I did a load of laundry during my leave it alone time.)

Step 4
Each must be threaded together in order and then laid back in the
same order. Otherwise it will not fold. You can do this by threading on
a needle or beading needle and poking back into the work-board.

Step 5
You can use the pattern provided, or make a pattern of your own to
make the leaf. (The fabric covering.) My pattern should be a little more
elliptical, and I trimmed after placing it on the stakes. I have corrected
the pattern somewhat that we offer you here. Test it though.

Step 6
If using a decorative paper or fabric copy your pattern of the leaf to
cardstock. Cut it out carefully leaving a stencil or cutout of the outline
of the leaf. This is to use as a window to line up the design in your
paper or fabric with the pattern on your leaf to see how the pattern will
appear (try origami paper!). This can also be use to trace out your
pattern.

Step 7
Cut out the leaf and test it on your fan. If all is good for you, then place
the tiniest bit of glue on each stake but one Guard. The leaf is placed
on all stakes on the same side, EXCEPT on one guard, that one is on
the underside. That way there is a decorative edge on either end
when the fan is closed.

Step 8
Leave it alone for awhile, go fold a load of laundry, or do some
dishes. Give it a rest.

Step 9
Now that you are back, have a refreshed feeling, take the wire and a rounded
tip pliers and create a ring of the wire. Leave a bit of the wire jutting out. Now
thread the stakes on the wire, all in the correct order. Close the ring. Whew,
that was fine. We are nearly finished.

Step 10
Take 6 inches of the floss and separate two single strands. Leave 4
strands together. Lay one of the single strands across a wide piece
of card. Wrap around until you are out of floss. Tie off the single
strand at the top. Tie it tightly.

Remove it from the card, pin both ends taught to your work
board. Run the last piece of floss under the floss bundle and tie it
tightly near the top.
Thread the top strand onto the ring you created and tie on the tassel
to the ring.

Step 11
Press a fold into the center between each stake. Crease and fold
well. VERY CAREFULLY fold up the fan.

Step 12
Run a bit of gold paint along the top edge to finish off your leaf.

The Finale....ooohhh...aahh