I am making a lot of flying geese. A lot. You see 140 of them in the photo above, and I have at least that many more to make.
I absolutely love this setting, which makes the quilt as far as I am concerned. It ties all the different blocks together cohesively in a beautifully unifying way. The blocks started out as a sew along that Primitive Gatherings sponsored a couple of years ago. There were 25 different 6 1/2" blocks, each one a star, with lots of tiny little pieces. It was the first time I had tackled making 2 1/2 inch stars or 1 inch half square triangles in any sort of quantity. I definitely learned a lot about piecing with mini sized block units. And my blocks weren't really very good when I re-examined them two years later. It was a learning process and I am grateful for the practice.
I needed 48 blocks for the setting shown above, so I needed to make more blocks. And I also needed to re-make most of the blocks I had constructed two years ago. So here is what I have learned for making successful and accurately pieced blocks:
1) Starch your fabric before cutting
2) Make your units a bit larger and trim up each one to an accurate size
3) Use trimming tools such as specialty flying geese rulers such as BlocLoc or Fit to be Geese
4) Use triangle papers for making half square triangles- they are a godsend for those tiny 1" ones
5) Trim your final block to the designated size
I have to give a big shout out to Carrie Nelson who designed this brilliant setting. She used it for her Moda Blockheads 1 sew along blocks, but honestly, it works fabulously for any type of sampler blocks that you want to look tied together. For my extra blocks, I wanted to have a basket block in each quadrant, and those patterns came from several different sources. I used a couple of sources for block ideas. Both have instructions for blocks in several different sizes.
I'm so pleased with how this project is coming together–maybe I will get a finish this week!
57 responses to “Stars and Baskets Christmas Quilt Setting”
Lots of progress made on this and have to agree that the settings of flying geese really make the blocks. Not fun making blocks over but in the end you will be happy….sure is going to be a very pretty quilt.
Lots of progress made on this and have to agree that the settings of flying geese really make the blocks. Not fun making blocks over but in the end you will be happy….sure is going to be a very pretty quilt.
Lots of progress made on this and have to agree that the settings of flying geese really make the blocks. Not fun making blocks over but in the end you will be happy….sure is going to be a very pretty quilt.
THe geese really do pull the blocks together. I think they focus your eyes looking at all the different blocks. great choice!
Mary
THe geese really do pull the blocks together. I think they focus your eyes looking at all the different blocks. great choice!
Mary
THe geese really do pull the blocks together. I think they focus your eyes looking at all the different blocks. great choice!
Mary
Oh it is looking so good! It is already a beauty. . . can’t wait to see it completely finished.
Oh it is looking so good! It is already a beauty. . . can’t wait to see it completely finished.
Oh it is looking so good! It is already a beauty. . . can’t wait to see it completely finished.
Beautiful. Aren’t you glad you finished it?
Beautiful. Aren’t you glad you finished it?
Beautiful. Aren’t you glad you finished it?
It really is gorgeous! Isn’t it amazing the difference starch can make? Can’t wait to see the finished quilt!
It really is gorgeous! Isn’t it amazing the difference starch can make? Can’t wait to see the finished quilt!
It really is gorgeous! Isn’t it amazing the difference starch can make? Can’t wait to see the finished quilt!
Looking good!
Looking good!
Looking good!
Just beautiful! The geese tie it all together. When doing this, how do you determine what size geese to make so the geese will come out perfect around the block?
Just beautiful! The geese tie it all together. When doing this, how do you determine what size geese to make so the geese will come out perfect around the block?
Just beautiful! The geese tie it all together. When doing this, how do you determine what size geese to make so the geese will come out perfect around the block?
It’s a fabulous setting. All those tips add up to accurate piecing.
It’s a fabulous setting. All those tips add up to accurate piecing.
It’s a fabulous setting. All those tips add up to accurate piecing.
This quilt is going to be a stunner when it’s finished–it’s well on its way! You should add 6) Use plenty of sticky notes to label quilt components! I have a few pads close by to keep myself straight on what’s what for piecing. Have a great week sewing!
This quilt is going to be a stunner when it’s finished–it’s well on its way! You should add 6) Use plenty of sticky notes to label quilt components! I have a few pads close by to keep myself straight on what’s what for piecing. Have a great week sewing!
This quilt is going to be a stunner when it’s finished–it’s well on its way! You should add 6) Use plenty of sticky notes to label quilt components! I have a few pads close by to keep myself straight on what’s what for piecing. Have a great week sewing!
Such a timely post! I participated in last year’s Triangle Gatherings sponsored by Lisa Bonjean and Primitive Gatherings. I kept up with the program and finished it on time but they never presented any finishing/setting ideas….so my 6 1/2” blocks sat… all 80+ of them. I think you have filled that gap for me!
Such a timely post! I participated in last year’s Triangle Gatherings sponsored by Lisa Bonjean and Primitive Gatherings. I kept up with the program and finished it on time but they never presented any finishing/setting ideas….so my 6 1/2” blocks sat… all 80+ of them. I think you have filled that gap for me!
Such a timely post! I participated in last year’s Triangle Gatherings sponsored by Lisa Bonjean and Primitive Gatherings. I kept up with the program and finished it on time but they never presented any finishing/setting ideas….so my 6 1/2” blocks sat… all 80+ of them. I think you have filled that gap for me!
Brilliant! Thanks for the stellare suggestions, too.
Hugs!
Brilliant! Thanks for the stellare suggestions, too.
Hugs!
Brilliant! Thanks for the stellare suggestions, too.
Hugs!
I just love this! I appreciate the tips you’ve given-someday I would like to attempt this too. And I admire you for re-making the blocks you didn’t really like-that sounds like something I would do!. I just can’t enjoy mine unless its my best work. Good luck with the finish!
I just love this! I appreciate the tips you’ve given-someday I would like to attempt this too. And I admire you for re-making the blocks you didn’t really like-that sounds like something I would do!. I just can’t enjoy mine unless its my best work. Good luck with the finish!
I just love this! I appreciate the tips you’ve given-someday I would like to attempt this too. And I admire you for re-making the blocks you didn’t really like-that sounds like something I would do!. I just can’t enjoy mine unless its my best work. Good luck with the finish!
Thanks for the tips. When you say you oversize the units so you can trim them to the correct size, how do you deal with making sure you don’t cut off an important piece of the design, like a point (I hope the question makes sense)?
Thanks for the tips. When you say you oversize the units so you can trim them to the correct size, how do you deal with making sure you don’t cut off an important piece of the design, like a point (I hope the question makes sense)?
Thanks for the tips. When you say you oversize the units so you can trim them to the correct size, how do you deal with making sure you don’t cut off an important piece of the design, like a point (I hope the question makes sense)?
Absolutely stunning!
Absolutely stunning!
Absolutely stunning!
Love your quilt. I have so many in the works I can’t afford the time for more but this one sure looks like a lot of fun. Great job!
Love your quilt. I have so many in the works I can’t afford the time for more but this one sure looks like a lot of fun. Great job!
Love your quilt. I have so many in the works I can’t afford the time for more but this one sure looks like a lot of fun. Great job!
It looks fantastic!
It looks fantastic!
It looks fantastic!
The is so amazingly beautiful! I am so in love with this project!!! It is worth making all those geese! ;p
The is so amazingly beautiful! I am so in love with this project!!! It is worth making all those geese! ;p
The is so amazingly beautiful! I am so in love with this project!!! It is worth making all those geese! ;p
Nicole, The link for Carrie’s setting/finishing instructions seems to be non-functional or disabled. Can I ask you if your geese are 1 1/2 x 3 inch finished and what is the width of your sashing between the blocks? Thank you In advance for all your help.
Nicole, The link for Carrie’s setting/finishing instructions seems to be non-functional or disabled. Can I ask you if your geese are 1 1/2 x 3 inch finished and what is the width of your sashing between the blocks? Thank you In advance for all your help.
Nicole, The link for Carrie’s setting/finishing instructions seems to be non-functional or disabled. Can I ask you if your geese are 1 1/2 x 3 inch finished and what is the width of your sashing between the blocks? Thank you In advance for all your help.
Fabulous setting.
Fabulous setting.
Fabulous setting.