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.

,

Flying Geese, Another Way

On April 18, 2007, I posted a tutorial on my favorite way to make Flying Geese Units.  Any time you are making flying geese units, you can use this technique, which isn’t always given in the block assembly instructions.  Check it out, by clicking on the link.  You make four perfect flying geese in no time flat.  Plus, it is FUN.

I recently posted on my dissatisfaction with the cutting instructions for the Toulouse pattern by Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.  Love the pattern, love Carrie Nelson (the designer), do not love the non-short cut cutting and construction techniques given for that project’s nine patch units.  I won’t say any more about that, having devoted a previous post to whining about it.  To her credit, Carrie is the person who introduced me to my favorite short cut flying geese method.  This completely puts her in my good graces again, now that I have recalled that.

Some buddies and I are working together on the Web Sampler project.  This is a Block of the Month project where participants receive twelve block patterns and the fabric to construct each of the sampler blocks.  These instructions do NOT employ my favorite flying geese method, but instead the more common technique you all know, involving sewing two squares onto a rectangle.  I will  use this opportunity to share a construction technique that you all may find useful.

Img_0695

Here you see two flying geese units with the squares sewn on.  You have all done it a million times, right?  And sometimes they come out perfect, and sometimes they come out a little wonky.  I want to invite you to look a little closer:

Img_0697 

Darn, I wish that picture had come out a bit clearer.  What I want you to see is that I did not stitch precisely on the drawn line.  I stitched about a hair’s width on the outside of it.  No, you don’t measure, you just eyeball it.  What this does is to give you just a teense, just a skosh more fabric to flip over so that the edges match up perfectly.  Plenty of room at the top seam line so you can’t sew over your nice sharp points.  All your geese will be happy ones with this technique.

Img_0698

22 responses to “Flying Geese, Another Way”

  3. I’ve tried both these methods, several times. They both work well. However, I’ve learned that the old method of using one large triangle and two small triangles work just as well for me and result in no waste. It’s the waste of this method that bothers me. I can’t throw away the little triangles – which is why one of my scrap project involves hundreds of tiny half square triangle squares!

  4. I’ve tried both these methods, several times. They both work well. However, I’ve learned that the old method of using one large triangle and two small triangles work just as well for me and result in no waste. It’s the waste of this method that bothers me. I can’t throw away the little triangles – which is why one of my scrap project involves hundreds of tiny half square triangle squares!

  5. I’ll have to remember to add that smidge of allowance next time. I have noticed that this Web Sampler has quite a few flying geese, some of mine come out great, some wonky. Too bad we don’t have enough fabric to do it your other method.

  6. I’ll have to remember to add that smidge of allowance next time. I have noticed that this Web Sampler has quite a few flying geese, some of mine come out great, some wonky. Too bad we don’t have enough fabric to do it your other method.

  7. The fun part about this method is you can quickly stitch up the triangle pieces you cut away and have a happy little stack of broken dishes right before your very eyes. I just love getting 2 for 1 *s*

  8. The fun part about this method is you can quickly stitch up the triangle pieces you cut away and have a happy little stack of broken dishes right before your very eyes. I just love getting 2 for 1 *s*

  9. hmmmm, I always sew ON the line….and it’s wonky. I’ll try just above and see what happens. Thanks for sharing the tip!

  10. hmmmm, I always sew ON the line….and it’s wonky. I’ll try just above and see what happens. Thanks for sharing the tip!

  13. This is a great tip and the way I do my flying geese and my hsts, when I have a specific amount of fabric I am working with. That tiny difference allows for the fabric being folded back upon itself.

  14. This is a great tip and the way I do my flying geese and my hsts, when I have a specific amount of fabric I am working with. That tiny difference allows for the fabric being folded back upon itself.

  17. I’ve been making mine the “patchpieces” way for years. It’s neat because you get a bunch done really fast. I have a sheet with instructions on the wall I often refer to. Love those fabrics you’re using. Very yummy.

  18. I’ve been making mine the “patchpieces” way for years. It’s neat because you get a bunch done really fast. I have a sheet with instructions on the wall I often refer to. Love those fabrics you’re using. Very yummy.

  19. I am going to have a try as this Nicole.Are you receving my emails I am sending to you?.
    Hugs Mary.

  20. I am going to have a try as this Nicole.Are you receving my emails I am sending to you?.
    Hugs Mary.

  21. Thank you so much for both flying geese techniques! You are a wonderful teacher, Nicole, and you have made my quilting life much, much easier!

  22. Thank you so much for both flying geese techniques! You are a wonderful teacher, Nicole, and you have made my quilting life much, much easier!