“Flying Geese” is the name of a small quilt block used in a lot of larger quilt blocks. Follow thee directions to make 4 flying geese that are exactly 3.5″ by 6.5.” These dimensions include 1/4″ seam allowances, so the finished block size will be 3″ by 6.”
Note: These directions make the blocks a little big and have you trim them down. This method works for any level of quilter but is especially foolproof for beginning quilters.
Save time, make 4 flying geese at a time
These directions will make four flying geese blocks. It is a little faster than making 4 separate blocks, and a lot less fussy. The only fussiness in these directions are when you trim the blocks at the end. But trust me when I say it’s a lot easier to trim a slightly-too-big block than to make a block bigger after you’ve made it too small!
Set up your sewing machine
It’s all in the preparation. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, they say!
- Set your sewing machine up for a 1/4″ seam allowance.
- Clean it out if it needs it.
- Put on your walking foot, if you have one.
- Put in a new needle, especially if you don’t remember the last time you changed your needle.
Prepare your fabric
I prefer to use pre-washed quilt fabric. Measure at least twice before cutting! You will need:
- One 7.5″ square (in the background color)
- Four 4″ squares (in the triangle color)
Make the Flying Geese
Take each 4″ squares, turn it over, and with a ruler, draw a diagonal line across the back with a #2 pencil.
Lay out the big background square and pin two smaller squares to it, pretty side down, with the diagonal lines lining up.
Sew a seam 1/4″ away from the pencil line, all the way across the block.
Turn the block around and sew on the other side, 1/4″ away from the pencil line.
Using a rotary cutter, carefully cut down the diagonal pencil line.
Press the seams open.
Repeat the following twice, once for each triangle heart.
Take one triangle/heart you just made, and add a small square to it, over raw edges on the background fabric, with the diagonal line going into the space between the already sewn triangles.
Pin.
Sew a seam 1/4″ away from the pencil line, all the way across the block.
Turn the block around and sew on the other side, 1/4″ away from the pencil line.
Using a rotary cutter, carefully cut down the diagonal pencil line.
Press the seams open on each block.
Trim each flying geese block to 3.5″ by 6.5″. Be careful to cut exactly 1/4″ away from the sewn point.
Repeat the last 6 steps with the second triangle/heart.
You now have 4 flying geese blocks! These can be combined in many ways to make fancier blocks, so you’ll find you use this method over and over.
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