Inklingo Cleopatra's Fan - Top 10
There are at least 10 reasons quilters love Inklingo for Cleopatra’s Fan Quilts.
These are our Cleopatra’s Fan Top 10 reasons for using Inklingo for this delightful old design.
Just like David Letterman, we’ll start at #10 . . .
. . .so you will need to scroll all the way down to see #1, okay?
10. Perfect straight grain, precision corners and matching marks
Cleopatra’s Fan quilt blocks are easier to sew thanks to the lines printed on the fabric with Inklingo and layouts with straight grain in the right places.
You have every advantage when you start with perfection.
Printing the shapes on fabric with Inklingo is ideal whether you are making a traditional quilt or something very modern.
9. Combo Layouts
These special layouts allow you to print fewer sheets when one fabric is used for different shapes.
Inklingo quilters love combo layouts. Of course, you can print the shapes separately too.
8. Classic design with options for fussy cutting
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety. (Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra) The play is a masterpiece of tragedy. Cleopatra’s Fan is so delightful with Inklingo that a happy ending is almost guaranteed.
If you have been influenced by Lucy Boston (Patchwork of the Crosses) or by Willyne Hammerstein (Millefiori Quilts), you can add fussy cutting with Inklingo to lift your design to the next level.
By the way, my best instructions for two methods of fussy cutting are in Winding Ways – Quilting the Inklingo Way. Those instructions apply to Cleopatra’s Fan too.
7. A line to cut on with scissors or a rotary cutter
It is easier to rotary cut following a line than it is with acrylic templates.
There are a few simple tips in this short video.
Love the lines. Quilt more!
6. A line to sew along
Just follow the lines—by hand (portable) or by machine (fast).
Never a doubt. Haven’t we always preferred lines?
5. Free EQ project file for Cleopatra’s Fan
Design your own or find inspiration on Pinterest.
You don’t have to use Electric Quilt with Inklingo but it is a wonderful design tool and the free project file givs you a fast start.
4. Accurate fabric requirements for Cleopatra’s Fan
There are two pages of description for every Inklingo layout of shapes, so you know exactly how to use yardage or scraps very efficiently—at a glance.
3. Combine hand and machine (the best of both worlds)
The curves in Cleopatra’s Fan are very gentle whether you are sewing by hand or by machine.
You can get a fast start by machine and sew the final seam by hand to get perfect intersections.
2. A choice of sizes that fit together
This is fun. You can combine 4.5 and 9 inch blocks or 6 and 12 inch blocks or 4.5, 6 and 9 inch blocks for spectacular effects!
See them all on the Main Cleopatra’s Fan Page (under the Shop).
Diana Krall and Tony Bennett are great together, just like quilters and fabric. (You don’t have to be Canadian to love Diana!)
And the number 1 reason to love Inklingo Cleopatra’s Fan is . . . .
1. Free Cleopatra’s Fan Design Book
Number 1 in our Top 10 list is the 138-page design book.
The design book includes inspiration and the how-to with 24 worksheets to help you plan your design.
Update April 2025 – Inklingo Design Books are no longer free.
Everything you need to Design and Sew Cleopatra’s Fan
- gallery of quilts that will inspire you
- notes about fabric selection
- tips for rotary cutting curves
- my favorite hand and machine piecing tips
- step-by-step guide for assembling the quilt blocks
- pressing diagrams
- 24 worksheets with variations using 1, 2, or 3 sizes
You might want to get the Cleopatra’s Fan Design Book first. (PDF, 138 pages)
The “shape collections” have the shapes to print on fabric (choice of sizes) and the “design book” has inspiration and the how-to.
It’s all on the Main Cleopatra’s Fan Page (under the Shop).
I would like to buy Cleopatra Fan book
How do I order?
I would like to get patterns too.
Hello Anu,
I am pleased that you are interested in making Cleopatra’s Fan with Inklingo.
You can order the Cleopatra’s Fan Design Book here:
https://www.inklingo.com/product/cleopatras-fan-design-book/
It is a PDF (138 pages) to download to a computer (PC or Mac), not to a phone or tablet/iPad.
There is more info about Cleopatra’s Fan here:
https://www.inklingo.com/product-category/a-b-c/cleopatras-fan/
Acrylic templates make this design much harder than it needs to be. You can print on fabric and make your best quilts.
Before you buy anything from Inklingo, I strongly recommend that you start with the free shape collection, so you understand how Inklingo works before you pay for anything.
https://www.inklingo.com/product/free-diamond-triangle-square-quilt-templates/
If you have questions, please ask. I am happy to help.