I need help with flying geese!

[Casi]

My quilt club is making a friendship quilt that has a huge amount of flying geese (not my favorite thing!). It was suggested to do the no waste method which I've been doing some research on. Two flying geese blocks are sewn together to match up with 4 patch squares which are 4 1/2" square, so I assume that my "desired height" of the geese unit is half of the 4 1/2" square, plus 1/4 inch seam allowance?? I made 2 trial blocks yesterday and neither one of them was right. It must be my math! I found the Connecting Threads tut and I thought that their used math was what I needed. I think my problem is I don't know what size to trim them down to and I don't have a fancy easy ruler. I made my large block 5 3/4" and my smaller blocks 3 1/4". Is that right?

[vchale]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

I haven't done this way but if you look at the mccalls Dutchman puzzle no waste flying geese you tube video I think that is what you are trying to do. She says you need finished size and add 1-1/4 to the length for the large square and 7/8 to the width. I assume the 4 patches are 4-1/2 unfinished which would be 4" finished so you would need geese that finish at 2x4 so large square would be 5-1/4 and 4 small squares 2-7/8. I am making geese right now but I'm using Kimberly Einmo's ruler that does not have to be trimmed. For trimming you would want your rectangles 2-1/2 x 4-1/2 and make sure you leave 1/4" at the point for seam allowance.

[Casi]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

Thanks for the reply. The dimensions you are saying is what our quilt club pattern said but I thought it was wrong. I did try making one using those dimensions but it didn't come out right! I've been working on this now for 2 days....just trying to make a trial. I discovered I have a Fons and Porter flying geese ruler, but guess what....it doesn't make that size! I wish I knew how to make blocks bigger and then cut them down so they would be perfect!

[Slokarma]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

Jenny has a tutorial. Wrong size, but she shows you the technique. Just hit quilt tutorials at the top and type in flying geese.

[brenmar]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

Jenny has a tutorial. Wrong size, but she shows you the technique. Just hit quilt tutorials at the top and type in flying geese.

I've never been able to click into the search button on the tutorials page - must be doing something wrong??

[Vonnie]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

Is this the tutorial? Flying Geese Quilting Made Easy - YouTube

Looks like she uses the Quilt in a Day template.

[JCY]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

You can make flying geese from HSTs, too, but you'll have the seam down the middle. I've never figured out that "easy" way to make them. I still make them the old way I was taught in class. The pcs. are very easy to square up using a 6.5" Creative Grids square ruler. The size I usually make measure 3.5 x 6.5" for a block that is 12.5" unfinished. Good luck with your project. JCY

[Casi]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

Thanks JCY but I have a specific size I need to make...2 1/2 x 4 1/2.

[Claire Hallman]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

While cruising around last night I came across a you tube video of flying geese done in a row that might help you. It was Pam Bono and had to do with using the AnglerII. Pam Bono Designs. The Angler 2. Making Flying Geese. - YouTube

[easyquilts]

Re: I need help with flying geese!

The best thing I ever did in re. Buying geese, was to buy the F&P flying geese ruler.... No musth, no guess work, perfect every time.