I’ve been thinking about how to make Flying Geese. Just to be clear, a Flying Geese unit is a classic rectangular unit where the center triangle is the “goose”, and it is flanked by two smaller triangles, the “sky”. These units can be used in hundreds of different blocks and borders.
The dilemma for me is, “What’s the best way to write directions for Flying Geese in a pattern?” I’m not sure there is a right answer for that. I’ve been quizzing my quilting friends and perusing OPPs (other people’s patterns). I get that it’s not as deep a question as “What is the meaning of life?”, but it is certainly keeping my mind busy.
Over the years (and there have been a lot of years), I’ve made Flying Geese in just about every way possible. The one basic rule stands: A Flying Geese unit is always twice as wide as it is tall. The rest is a toss-up, and every method requires slightly different cutting and yardage requirements. Hence the pattern writer’s dilemma!
In my early quilting days, I started with the worst Flying Geese method (in my opinion), which is to cut one large square into quarter square triangles, (make an X) and smaller squares in half diagonally, then sew those parts together. I honestly never had one unit come out to the perfect size! If you’re a beginner, and someone tells you to make them that way, run! It’s all those bias edges that stretch when you sew. It truly is the no-waste method, unless you need to trash the unit, cut new pieces and try again. Been there, done that!
I soon learned the flip-over method, a much easier and accurate way to go. Simply cut a rectangle that is ½” larger (both width and height) than the finished unit size. Cut two squares that are a ½” larger than the height. For example, a 4″ x 2″ finished Flying Geese unit would need a 4 ½” x 2 ½” rectangle, and two 2 ½” squares. Mark diagonal lines on the backs of both squares, align a square on one side of the rectangle with right sides together, and sew on the line. Trim and press to the corner. Repeat with the other square to complete the unit. Pretty simple, right?
So why not make them this way every time? Well, it does use a bit more fabric than other methods, since you are “wasting” the cut away corner, and you’re only making one Flying Geese unit at a time. In a pattern with lots of Flying Geese, it can really be time consuming. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Bloc-Loc rulers along with this method, which you can use to trim your unit to an absolute perfect size if you’re still struggling. But…you need to cut your rectangle and squares a slightly different size to allow for trimming. What’s a pattern writer to do?
Next, I was introduced to Quilt in a Day’s Flying Geese ruler, a tool and method that quickly became my favorite, and still is. One large square and one smaller square make four units at a time. Viola! What’s the problem here? You do need to have the right size ruler, since each ruler only makes two sizes, i.e., the Small Flying Geese ruler makes a 3″ x 1 ½” or 6″ x 3″. You need a different ruler for different sizes, something you may not have (or have but can’t find!) in the middle of the night when inspiration strikes. And, as was pointed out to me by a disgruntled pattern customer, “I didn’t know I’d have to do that much trimming!”
Then there is the (really) No-Waste Flying Geese method. The quilt math on this one is pretty simple: Add 1 ¼” to the finished width of your Flying Geese unit, and cut a square that size for the “Goose”. Cut four squares that are ⅞” larger than the height of the finished unit for the “Sky”. For example, to make a 4″ x 2″ Flying Geese unit, cut one 5 ¼” square, and four 2 ⅞” squares.
Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the smaller squares. With right sides together, place two smaller squares on opposite corners of the larger square. The small squares will overlap in the center. Pin in place and sew a ¼” seam on both sides of the drawn line. Cut apart on the line to make two units and press seams open.
With right sides together, place a smaller square on each unit, and sew ¼” seam on both sides of the drawn line. Cut apart on the line and press seams open.
I’ve written this method into several of my patterns, and I’ve seen it a lot in OPP. But then my favorite fabric rep told me how much quilters hate it. (Really?) I’ve done it, and I’ll admit that if you’re seams aren’t really scant, it gets a bit tight for your units to come out to the correct size. But for those who sew perfectly, and hate trimming, this is the method for you.
Last but not least, two half-square triangles can make a Flying Geese look-alike unit, but they will have a seam in the middle. While it’s not really a Flying Geese unit, I won’t tell if you won’t.
Do you have a preferred method that I missed? Let me know!
Until next time,
Karen
