Once again, a multicolored border fabric guided the fabric choices for my quilt. In this case, the border fabric is a one-way print. Keep your eye out for these sometimes-subtle fabrics: you may need to purchase extra to accommodate their directional nature. Piece the leftovers with other fabrics to use on the back.
This quilt measures 34½” × 34½” and contains sixteen 6” finished Flying Geese blocks. Pieced and machine quilted by Pam Vieira-McGinnis.
Fabric Requirements
Fabric requirements are based on 42” fabric width.
Focus fabric: 1 yard for outer border
Green: ¼ yard each of 2 different fabrics for geese
Blue: ¼ yard each of 2 different fabrics for geese
White: ½ yard for geese background
Print: ¼ yard for inner border
Binding: 3/8 yard
Backing: 1¼ yards
Please read The Basics (pages 11–21) before starting.
Each Flying Geese block is made up of two Flying Geese units, using quarter-square triangles and half-square triangles. Although the triangles both have 45°, 45°, and 90° angle corners, they are very different. The half-square triangle has two edges that are on the straight of grain, while the quarter-square triangle has only one edge that is on the straight of grain. This difference is very important—when sewn, the outside edge of the block should always be on the straight of grain to avoid unnecessary stretching.
Grain for Flying Geese units
Half-square triangles
Quarter-square triangles
The difference between a half-square and a quarter-square triangle is the location of the bias edges.
Remember, when working with triangles:
Never press the fabric shape once it has been cut and before it has been sewn. You stand a big chance of stretching the exposed cut bias edge.
Never pull the units through the sewing machine as you stitch them together; this can stretch the shapes. Let your machine do the work for you, not your hands.
Flying Geese
Flying Geese block
Cutting
Green:
Cut 2 squares 7¼” × 7¼” from each green fabric, then cut in half diagonally twice for geese. Yields 16 quarter-square triangles.
Blue:
Cut 2 squares 7¼” × 7¼” from each blue fabric, then cut in half diagonally twice for geese. Yields 16 quarter-square triangles.
White background:
Cut 32 squares 37/8” × 37/8”, then cut in half diagonally for geese background. Yields 64 half-square triangles.
1. Piece a half-square triangle to a quarter-square triangle, lining up the outer corners. Press as the arrows indicate.
Line up outside corners.
2. Repeat Step 1 for the other side. Press.
Repeat for other side.
3. Trim off the bunny ears.
Trim bunny ears.
4. Lay out 8 Flying Geese units as shown.
5. Sew the Flying Geese blocks together to form a large block. Piece and press as the arrows indicate. Repeat to form 4 large blocks.
6. Sew the blocks into rows and press. Sew the rows together (page 15). Refer to page 15 for pressing.
Your quilt top should measure 24½” × 24½”. If it does, use the instructions that follow to cut and attach the inner and outer border strips. If it doesn’t, see pages 15–16 to measure and cut the correct border lengths for your quilt top.
INNER BORDER
7. Cut 2 strips 1½” × 24½” for the top and bottom and 2 strips 1½” × 26½” for the sides.
8. Sew on the top and bottom inner border, then the sides. Refer to page 15 for pressing.
OUTER BORDER
9. Cut 2 strips 4½” × 26½” for the top and bottom and 2 strips 4½” × 34½” for the sides.
10. Sew on the top and bottom outer border, then the sides. Press.
Now it’s time to consider the backing, quilting, and binding. See pages 16–21 for guidance. You will use this classic quilt block in many future quilts.
Flying Geese quilt