Making Geese Fly

Making Geese Fly The first thing to remember when calculating what to cut is that traditional Flying Geese always have a ratio of 1 to 2. Therefore, if your finished unit is 3” tall, then it would be 6” wide. To calculate seam allowances you need to consider each triangle.

A B

The following measurements can be used for methods 1 and 2. A = desired height of finished unit + 7/8” B = desired width of unit + 1-1/4” The given measurements in each example will create FOUR Flying Goose units with a footprint of 1-1/2” tall x 3” wide.

Pressing is very important to successful quilting. Flying Geese units should (almost) always be pressed away from the background, toward the tips of the stars.

Making Geese Fly Method 1: Cutting Individual Pieces It is possible to cut and sew each individual piece of a “Flying Goose” unit. One of the difficulties in doing this is that it can be harder (but not impossible) to line up the pieces to start sewing so that you will have an accurate 1/4” seam allowance on all four sides of the finished unit. Piece

Pieces

Traditional Cutting

A

Four

2-3/8” square

1x =

B

One

4-1/4” square

2x =

Cross-cut

Method 2: Four-at-Time Method (“No Waste”) Use the same cutting measurements as in Method 1, but do not cross-cut any of the squares. This method is pretty straight-forward and involves no waste, but you do have to be very accurate in your cutting, sewing and pressing. Very straight lines with exact seam allowances are a must. Try this method with some scraps first to see if it’s going to work for you. 1

Lay the large square face up. Place two small squares in opposite corners, right sides together with the larger square. The inner corner of the small squares will slightly overlap. With a very sharp pencil draw a line exactly from corner to corner through the small squares.

2

Stitch a scant 1/4 inch on both sides of the drawn line cut apart on the drawn line.

3

Press very carefully towards the larger triangle. Be certain to use the straight edge of the iron and don’t stretch things.

Making Geese Fly 4

Draw a line exactly from corner to corner on the remaining small squares. Lay one each right sides together with each unit from step 3. Stitch a scant 1/4 inch on both sides of the drawn line then cut apart.

5

Press each unit very carefully. Voila! Four geese units ready for your block.

Method 3: Quick 45° Method This is sometimes considered the “wasteful” method of making 1/2-square triangles but it is one of the most accurate. You’ll have two leftover 1/2-square triangles from each goose that are fun to piece into a border, or save them from many projects and use them as smaller units in your quilt. Four “leftovers” will make a sweet pinwheel. 1

With a very sharp pencil draw a line exactly from corner to corner on the wrong side of each square.

2

Place the square rights sides together with the rectangle. Match edges very carefully. Stitch on the drawn line.

3

Press the square back towards the corner. Check that the corner formed by the top layer is truly square. If the corner is miss-shapen, remove the square and re-sew.

4

Open the square and trim, leaving a 1/4” seam allowance.

5

Press the corner back and repeat from step 2 on opposite corner Piece

Pieces

Traditional Cutting

A

Eight

2” square

B

Four

2” x 3-1/2”

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