I ordered this pattern from Bonnie Blue Quilts recently. Actually it is a kit. I loved the red and green, brown and gold color palette of the fabrics and the flying geese unit has to be my favorite thing to make.
I had the entire day off yesterday, and certainly did not want to spend it in the kitchen. So what did I do? I started a new project! What a perfectly lovely day it was. I would sew for awhile, go out and admire the Christmas tree, go back and sew some more… Idyllic.
I love these blocks. The fabrics that they sent in the kit are definitely NOT the exact fabrics on the pattern cover, which is moderately annoying. Some of the greens are almost black, they are so dark, which will give the quilt a different look entirely. It isn't that I don't like the very dark greens, I just need to think this whole thing through and make a decision to keep them in or not. Lord knows I have plenty of Civil War greens in my stash that I could substitute. I think I will make more blocks and see what I think.
This block is so fun to make. I must say though, I changed up the instructions from what was given in the pattern. I have a certain method of making flying geese that is unbeatable.
I use Monique Dillard's (Open Gate Quilts) special flying geese ruler, called Fit To Be Geese. The trick to perfect flying geese is that you must make them bigger and cut them down to the perfect rectangular size. Her ruler is a dream to use and these geese are so perfect, I half expect them to sit up and honk.
Monique tells you just what size triangles to cut to make your finished geese, and you assemble them in the usual way.
Remember they are a skosh bigger than you need, so you need to cut them down, using her ruler. Place the ruler on the geese unit so the lines are flush with your point at the top of your "sky" piece.
Trim the excess away on the left and top.
Flip the unit upside down and reposition the ruler, lining up the left side (that you just cut) with the ruler. Cut off the right side and top.
And you have yourself one perfect little flying geese unit! Or four, or eight…
Seriously, they are so perfect. Points just where you want them, each one the exact same size as the other. Wonderful when you have to sew them together.
42 responses to “Shiloh, My New Project”
I just made Winter White Schnibbles and had a horrible time with the geese. This ruler wouldn’t work for Carrie’s method of geese would it? I don’t see it anyway. Then I am not sure how much more fabric to use. I would really like to try this ruler since my geese are not very healthy. That looks like a great pattern. I’m heading back toward a few civil war looks too. Just got Hope and it’s beautiful.
I just made Winter White Schnibbles and had a horrible time with the geese. This ruler wouldn’t work for Carrie’s method of geese would it? I don’t see it anyway. Then I am not sure how much more fabric to use. I would really like to try this ruler since my geese are not very healthy. That looks like a great pattern. I’m heading back toward a few civil war looks too. Just got Hope and it’s beautiful.
Oh my I love that quilt pattern!! Can’t go wrong with a Bonnie Blue design. I don’t blame you about the fabrics, though. Happened to me before too. I’m sure they probably just sold out of the collections they used originally. It’s going to be stunning. That’s they ONLY way I like to make flying geese too. Perfection! Sounds like you had the perfect day too!
Oh my I love that quilt pattern!! Can’t go wrong with a Bonnie Blue design. I don’t blame you about the fabrics, though. Happened to me before too. I’m sure they probably just sold out of the collections they used originally. It’s going to be stunning. That’s they ONLY way I like to make flying geese too. Perfection! Sounds like you had the perfect day too!
I love this pattern! I’ve been to Shiloh twice and it, like Gettysburg, is hauntingly serene.
Interesting ruler. My method for Flying Geese is in Mary Sue Suit’s book “All the Blocks are Flying Geese” that was published more than a decade ago. You start with two squares and end up with 4 identical Flying Geese using her method. Each is slightly oversize so are trimmed to perfection.
I’m so glad you had such a lovely day!!
Happy Christmas Eve Eve!
Hugs!
I love this pattern! I’ve been to Shiloh twice and it, like Gettysburg, is hauntingly serene.
Interesting ruler. My method for Flying Geese is in Mary Sue Suit’s book “All the Blocks are Flying Geese” that was published more than a decade ago. You start with two squares and end up with 4 identical Flying Geese using her method. Each is slightly oversize so are trimmed to perfection.
I’m so glad you had such a lovely day!!
Happy Christmas Eve Eve!
Hugs!
Oh, I don’t know if it’s the light on your picture or what, but it looks like a perfect Christmas quilt. Reds, Greens, golds. It’s gorgeous. I love Bonnie Blue patterns. I still need to start on my Fort Sumpter quilt from there. The brown and pink one that I’m not doing in browns and pinks. lol.
Happy Christmas Eve!
Oh, I don’t know if it’s the light on your picture or what, but it looks like a perfect Christmas quilt. Reds, Greens, golds. It’s gorgeous. I love Bonnie Blue patterns. I still need to start on my Fort Sumpter quilt from there. The brown and pink one that I’m not doing in browns and pinks. lol.
Happy Christmas Eve!
Another beautiful quilt to add to your collection!
Another beautiful quilt to add to your collection!
I love my F2BG rulers! I can’t sing it’s praises enough. I got my daughter hooked on them too!
I think we must be mentally connected on this project. My daughter started Shiloh a while ago and on a web hope around my favorite shops I ran into this new version. I loved it. I actually sent my daughter the link to show her the pattern in Xmas tones. She has loved the process of this one but had to take a break when she moved the NE and lost access to my F2BG rulers.
http://ndrea-abreu.blogspot.com/2010/06/shiloh.html
I love my F2BG rulers! I can’t sing it’s praises enough. I got my daughter hooked on them too!
I think we must be mentally connected on this project. My daughter started Shiloh a while ago and on a web hope around my favorite shops I ran into this new version. I loved it. I actually sent my daughter the link to show her the pattern in Xmas tones. She has loved the process of this one but had to take a break when she moved the NE and lost access to my F2BG rulers.
http://ndrea-abreu.blogspot.com/2010/06/shiloh.html
I would seriously trade a few of my cookie frosting skills for a few of your sewing skills…
I would seriously trade a few of my cookie frosting skills for a few of your sewing skills…
This will be a beautiful quilt. I like this method to make flying geese, too.
This will be a beautiful quilt. I like this method to make flying geese, too.
I happen to know that Santa is bringing me both sizes of this ruler, so seeing this post made me so excited!!
Also, I think it makes me more determined to get my angler set up right. My lovely sweet machine is all curved and “modern” looking which means it doesn’t have a single straight edge to line things up with. SO FRUSTRATING, grr.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I happen to know that Santa is bringing me both sizes of this ruler, so seeing this post made me so excited!!
Also, I think it makes me more determined to get my angler set up right. My lovely sweet machine is all curved and “modern” looking which means it doesn’t have a single straight edge to line things up with. SO FRUSTRATING, grr.
Thanks for the inspiration!
What a great ruler! I wonder if it is too late to add it to my wish list!?
What a great ruler! I wonder if it is too late to add it to my wish list!?
Oh! I’m so happy to see the comments on this ruler. I had posted a note on a Flying Geese Flickr group about a month ago asking if anyone had tried this ruler and got no responses. I’m going to order mine today. Thankyou!
Oh! I’m so happy to see the comments on this ruler. I had posted a note on a Flying Geese Flickr group about a month ago asking if anyone had tried this ruler and got no responses. I’m going to order mine today. Thankyou!
Lovely quilt. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that kits are never what they show. I too, was disappointed with one that I ordered from a magazine, so from now on, I just use my one selections.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Lovely quilt. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that kits are never what they show. I too, was disappointed with one that I ordered from a magazine, so from now on, I just use my one selections.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
What a beautiful quilt this is going to be and I love the fabrics ! I have purchased the geese ruler and am hoping to use it in 2011. What perfect geese you have there. I really like your 1/4″ quide you have on your sewing machine, where can I find one like that , I could really use one ?
What a beautiful quilt this is going to be and I love the fabrics ! I have purchased the geese ruler and am hoping to use it in 2011. What perfect geese you have there. I really like your 1/4″ quide you have on your sewing machine, where can I find one like that , I could really use one ?
lol: “sit up and honk”. I’m gonna laugh at that for the rest of the day! ;0
BTW, the geese do look perfect. 🙂
lol: “sit up and honk”. I’m gonna laugh at that for the rest of the day! ;0
BTW, the geese do look perfect. 🙂
I’ve been drooling over this pattern for some time, Nicole! Love seeing it come alive through your eyes! And I adore this ruler as well – I have both sizes!
Cheers!
I’ve been drooling over this pattern for some time, Nicole! Love seeing it come alive through your eyes! And I adore this ruler as well – I have both sizes!
Cheers!
I want to try this ruler. I have been using the big square plus 2 smaller squares technique, and it is not real satisfactory. My geese are not all the same, and I really do not like using patterns that have a lot of flying geese.
I want to try this ruler. I have been using the big square plus 2 smaller squares technique, and it is not real satisfactory. My geese are not all the same, and I really do not like using patterns that have a lot of flying geese.
I love that ruler method and I am atrue believer when it comes to make bigger cut to size! So many heartaches avoided! Enjoy your Christmas dear Nicole! Pam in Chico
I love that ruler method and I am atrue believer when it comes to make bigger cut to size! So many heartaches avoided! Enjoy your Christmas dear Nicole! Pam in Chico
That company is usually really good about sending the same fabrics as the picture so I’m surprised. Regardless, it’s going to be beautiful. I can’t wait till after the holidays and I can get organized and start sewing. Babysitting two boys leaves no time for sewing! I think I purchased that ruler. If not, I will most certainly get it. I need all the help I can get.
That company is usually really good about sending the same fabrics as the picture so I’m surprised. Regardless, it’s going to be beautiful. I can’t wait till after the holidays and I can get organized and start sewing. Babysitting two boys leaves no time for sewing! I think I purchased that ruler. If not, I will most certainly get it. I need all the help I can get.
I love the quilt and the fabrics look great. I also have a flying geese ruler I love to use – they make life so easy. I was wondering what was on your sewing plate – it is some sort of sewing guide? It looks very interesting and I was wondering how useful it is for sewing? I use painters tape but this clear guide looks amazing – I would love you to tell me more about it. Many thanks, and Merry Christmas.
I love the quilt and the fabrics look great. I also have a flying geese ruler I love to use – they make life so easy. I was wondering what was on your sewing plate – it is some sort of sewing guide? It looks very interesting and I was wondering how useful it is for sewing? I use painters tape but this clear guide looks amazing – I would love you to tell me more about it. Many thanks, and Merry Christmas.
What a gorgeous quilt and I couldnt think of a better time to start it!!
What a gorgeous quilt and I couldnt think of a better time to start it!!
A beautiful quilt pattern!
I am determined to conquer flying geese in 2011!!! Mine don’t want to fly in formation!
Thank you for the information about the ruler.
A beautiful quilt pattern!
I am determined to conquer flying geese in 2011!!! Mine don’t want to fly in formation!
Thank you for the information about the ruler.