Flying Geese

Flying Geese are one of my favorite blocks for their looks. Once I learned how to do several at a time, I now love making and using them. These, like half-square triangles, can be put together many, many ways. Use half-square triangles with them and the designs you can make are infinite (well you can make a lot!).
                                        

Flying geese have two parts – the sky and the geese. The sky are the small triangles on the sides. The large triangle in the middle is the goose. Traditional geese are measured in a 2 to 1 ratio for the finished size. This means the length is twice the height measurement.  If the height is 3”, then the width will the 2 X 3 = 6”. 

Making One Goose at a time (for 1-3 blocks needed)

1. Figure out what you want your goose block to measure once it is sewn in (H and W). FINISHED
2. Add ½” to these measurements (H +1/2”, W + ½”). UNFINISHED SIZE
3. Cut two squares the height number ( H + ½ by H + ½”). Cut one rectangle the two measurements (H + ½” by W + ½”).
4. Draw a line from corner to corner on each square.
5. Place one square on one side of the rectangle. Right sides together. The drawn line should go from an outside corner to the middle. Sew on the line.
6. Trim the fabric on the outside corner to ¼” from the seam. Press the fabric open with the seam allowance towards the sky piece.
7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 for the other square on the other side of the goose.

Example

Finished size is 4” X 8”

Unfinished size is 4 ½” X 8 ½”

Cut two squares 4 ½” X 4 ½”

Cut one rectangle 4 ½” X 8 ½”

No Waste Method – Makes 4 at a time

1. Figure out what you want your goose block to measure once it is sewn in (H and W). FINISHED
2. Add 7/8” to your height. Add 1 ¼” to your width (H + 7/8”, W+1 ¼”). UNFINISHED SIZE
3. Cut four squares of the unfinished height (H + 7/8” by H + 7/8”) This is your sky.
4. Cut one square of the unfinished width (W + 1 ¼” by W + 1 ¼”). This is your goose.
5. Draw a line from corner to corner on each small square.
6. Place two small squares on opposite corners of the large square. Lines should go across the large square. These lines should match up from small square to small square. The small squares will also overlap a bit in the middle.
7. Sew across ¼” away from the drawn line in both directions.
8. Cut across between the sewing, on the drawn line. Press the pieces up so it looks like a heart.
9. Place a small square on the open corner of the large square pieces. The drawn line should go from the point to between the two sewn on pieces.
10. Sew across ¼” away from the drawn line in both directions.
11. Cut between the sewing, on the drawn line.
12. Press open and you now have 4 flying geese blocks.                

Example

Finished block is 3” X 6” (H X W)

Cut 4 blocks 3 7/8” by 3 7/8” (H + 7/8” by H + 7/8”) Sky

Cut one block 7 ¼” by 7 ¼” (W + 1 ¼” by W + 1 ¼”) Goose

                      

There are lots of patterns that use just flying geese. The site on the illustrations is a good place to start. We have many books that use flying geese too. If you have a specific pattern you would like to try, let us know. We can order it for you most likely.

We have a beginning quilting class on half-square triangles and flying gees starting Tuesday night. Give us a call if you would like to take the class with us. 

New this week at the store are some wide backings. We also got some straw, Kelly green, royal, and a print minky in. Solids are slowly being replenished as well.
  
            
  

Hope everyone stayed safe and warm this past week.

Happy sewing,

Phyllis and the QA staff