Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

,

Tumbling Leaves, a Few Changes

IMG_2278

This is what is on my small design wall at the moment.  Two adorable small quilts that need quilting.  Lately I am so in the mood to make smaller, in season projects that I can get done in a day or so and get into my decor.  The one on the upper left is Tidbit, a Little Bites pattern by Miss Rosie, made with Boo Crew fabric by Moda.  The larger project is called Tumbling Leaves, a pattern by Lori Smith from My Heart to Your Hands.  I used fabrics from my stash for that one.  Scraps mainly.

Both were made in a day, believe it or not.  Not the same day.  I just got a whim to make something early in the day when I went up to the sewing room to work on Viola, and these were the results.  Honestly, poor Viola, she is going to get a complex if I don't get back to her.

I made Tidbit exactly as the instructions dictated.  Carrie Nelson, the designer,  always instructs one to cut your units a tiny bit too large and trim them down.  Perfect results every time.

Lori Smith's Tumbling Leaves was another story.  Remember a week or so ago I vowed never again to make half square triangles using those stupid 3/8" or 7/8" inch measurements?  They always come out wonky.  I said from now on I am going to make them bigger and trim them down to the perfect size.  If the instructions say to cut  2 3/8 squares for your HSTs, make it 2 1/2".  If it says 2 7/8", make it 3", etc.  It is so much easier to take a minute and trim those units down to 2" or 2 1/2" than to fool around trying to wrestle around to make a crooked half square triangle fit.

I also used Monique Dillard's Fit To Be Geese method to make the flying geese.  Instead of cutting 4 1/4" squares and 2 3/8" squares for the units, I cut 4 1/2" squares and 2 3/4" squares.  You cut the larger square diagonally twice and cut the smaller square diagonally once to make your geese.  You end up with four of them with this method.

Trim them down and every single one is perfect.  Honestly, there is  nothing sadder than a wonky flying goose.

IMG_2270

Position your Fit To Be Geese ruler over your oversized unit and trim.

IMG_2271

Heaven.  A perfect flying goose.

The  Tumbling Leaves pattern is a bit wasteful in that you end up with 36 flying goose units and you only need 9.  Oh well.

Tomorrow I will tell you how I did the stems on the Maple Leaf blocks.

33 responses to “Tumbling Leaves, a Few Changes”

  1. I love your Tumbling Leaves! I also like making small seasonal projects — I have so little time for personal projects. I did make my first maple leaf quilt in September — I love it!

  2. I love your Tumbling Leaves! I also like making small seasonal projects — I have so little time for personal projects. I did make my first maple leaf quilt in September — I love it!

  3. I love your Tumbling Leaves! I also like making small seasonal projects — I have so little time for personal projects. I did make my first maple leaf quilt in September — I love it!

  4. I love your little projects … and your tutorial. I have to admit that while I love flying geese, I’ve never been able to really master them. Inspired by you, I’ve now ordered the Fit to Be Geese ruler … woo hoo! Flying Geese here I come!

  5. I love your little projects … and your tutorial. I have to admit that while I love flying geese, I’ve never been able to really master them. Inspired by you, I’ve now ordered the Fit to Be Geese ruler … woo hoo! Flying Geese here I come!

  6. I love your little projects … and your tutorial. I have to admit that while I love flying geese, I’ve never been able to really master them. Inspired by you, I’ve now ordered the Fit to Be Geese ruler … woo hoo! Flying Geese here I come!

  7. mOnique’s ruler is the best! i always use it and make them big! Your projects are adorable. Love Tidbits!
    Mary

  8. mOnique’s ruler is the best! i always use it and make them big! Your projects are adorable. Love Tidbits!
    Mary

  9. mOnique’s ruler is the best! i always use it and make them big! Your projects are adorable. Love Tidbits!
    Mary

  10. Did I say you’re the fastest piecer on the planet? One of these wee quilt tops in a day?? Yep, you’re speedy!
    AMIL was the first quilter I knew of to cut her 2 7/8″ squares at 3″ and it was a revelation to me. Ever since then, I’ve cut mine larger and trimmed them a tad. So easy!
    Good tutorial!
    Hugs!

  11. Did I say you’re the fastest piecer on the planet? One of these wee quilt tops in a day?? Yep, you’re speedy!
    AMIL was the first quilter I knew of to cut her 2 7/8″ squares at 3″ and it was a revelation to me. Ever since then, I’ve cut mine larger and trimmed them a tad. So easy!
    Good tutorial!
    Hugs!

  12. Did I say you’re the fastest piecer on the planet? One of these wee quilt tops in a day?? Yep, you’re speedy!
    AMIL was the first quilter I knew of to cut her 2 7/8″ squares at 3″ and it was a revelation to me. Ever since then, I’ve cut mine larger and trimmed them a tad. So easy!
    Good tutorial!
    Hugs!

  13. I have to chime in about Monique Dillard’s rulers. I always make my flying geese using Fit To Be Geese & her Fit To Be Square is equally helpful with HST”s. Cutting the pieces a ‘smidge’ bigger makes all the difference! And, as you & other bloggers say, I am not paid to say nice things about those rulers. Have a great day!

  14. I have to chime in about Monique Dillard’s rulers. I always make my flying geese using Fit To Be Geese & her Fit To Be Square is equally helpful with HST”s. Cutting the pieces a ‘smidge’ bigger makes all the difference! And, as you & other bloggers say, I am not paid to say nice things about those rulers. Have a great day!

  15. I have to chime in about Monique Dillard’s rulers. I always make my flying geese using Fit To Be Geese & her Fit To Be Square is equally helpful with HST”s. Cutting the pieces a ‘smidge’ bigger makes all the difference! And, as you & other bloggers say, I am not paid to say nice things about those rulers. Have a great day!

  16. Adding that ruler to my list! Thanks for the tip. I’m also giving up on cutting pieces with 3/8 and 7/8 measurements. I’d rather trim.
    Your little quilts are fantastic. You’re inspiring me to make some.

  17. Adding that ruler to my list! Thanks for the tip. I’m also giving up on cutting pieces with 3/8 and 7/8 measurements. I’d rather trim.
    Your little quilts are fantastic. You’re inspiring me to make some.

  18. Adding that ruler to my list! Thanks for the tip. I’m also giving up on cutting pieces with 3/8 and 7/8 measurements. I’d rather trim.
    Your little quilts are fantastic. You’re inspiring me to make some.

  19. I love the Fit to Be Geese rulers. My flying geese were horrible no matter what method I used until I started using this ruler. Now I love flying geese.

  20. I love the Fit to Be Geese rulers. My flying geese were horrible no matter what method I used until I started using this ruler. Now I love flying geese.

  21. I love the Fit to Be Geese rulers. My flying geese were horrible no matter what method I used until I started using this ruler. Now I love flying geese.

  28. Your Tidbit looks fabulous!
    If I only need single flying geese units I use my Companion Angle and Easy Angle Rulers, cut my pieces slightly oversized and trim them to the correct size – no waste, no extra geese flying around and they come out perfect!

  29. Your Tidbit looks fabulous!
    If I only need single flying geese units I use my Companion Angle and Easy Angle Rulers, cut my pieces slightly oversized and trim them to the correct size – no waste, no extra geese flying around and they come out perfect!

  30. Your Tidbit looks fabulous!
    If I only need single flying geese units I use my Companion Angle and Easy Angle Rulers, cut my pieces slightly oversized and trim them to the correct size – no waste, no extra geese flying around and they come out perfect!