Throughout history, fans have been used by women both as decorative and useful accessories to protect them from the heat. Feather fans, commonly carried by noblewomen in Elizabethan times, are not only charming, but easy to make. The instructions here are for a simple fan with brightly colored feathers from the craft store placed over an underlayer of black lace. The results will look good enough for a costume party or a Renaissance fair. Best of all, it's inexpensive to make.
Instructions
1. Cut a piece of poster board 22 inches long by 9 inches wide to form the body of your fan. Angle the bottom edge so the very center comes to a point.
2. Fold the fan in 1-inch folds one at a time. After the first fold, turn over the poster board and turn the paper in the other direction. For the third fold, turn the poster board over again. Continue this way until the entire length of poster board is folded.
3. Lay the black lace along the fan to position it, leaving bare the center point at the bottom of the fan. Once you see how the lace will fit, set it aside. Run a thin line of craft glue along the flat folds of the poster board, using just enough to hold the lace in place. Lay the lace loosely over the folds and press down. It won't fit precisely, but the extra inches will accommodate the stiffness of the poster board. Once it's glued in place, trim any excess lace from the ends of the fan.
4. Arrange large, jewel-toned feathers along the fan in a color pattern you like before you glue them down. Let them overlap the top of the fan so the pointed ends end up halfway down the fan, leaving about 4 inches of lace exposed toward the bottom of the fan. Hot glue the feathers to the fan. Set it aside to dry.
5. Gather the fan together at the bottom and pinch it closed. Take two decorative chopsticks (or paint plain wooden ones) and lay them next to each other between the folded points of poster board at the bottom of the fan. This will form the handle. Tape the ends together with the chopsticks side by side in the center. Make sure the end is secure so it holds together. When you're done, the fan should open fully into a semi-circle, with a long flat bottom and feathered top.
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