Hello friends! Happy Wednesday! We’ve had a bit of a cold spell here, but it’s actually been kind of a nice change–we are having the coolest high and low temperatures since December of 2016! Perfect weather for staying in to sew!
Someone asked about flying geese blocks on Instagram the other day…and so I
thought I’d share some of my favorite methods and tips for making perfect flying geese. Flying geese really are one of my favorite quilt blocks, and I love quilts that use lots of them!
This month’s block for my Mystery Block of the month uses 12 in fact! When I’m making a small number like this, I generally just make them the traditional way…cutting a rectangle and two squares as directed and using this method to make my blocks. (Using starch is also helpful when making these blocks–starch before sewing to help make sure your fabrics don’t stretch and move as you sew).
But if I’m making a lot of flying geese, or if I really want them absolutely perfect, or if I’m making tiny flying geese, I bring in my favorite flying geese rulers!
I love the Fit to be Geese and Mini Fit to be Geese rulers by Monique Dillard of Open Gate quilts. They both work for several sizes (the smallest size on the larger ruler and the largest size on the mini are the same). Basically, you cut pieces larger than needed and use the rulers to trim down, leaving you a perfect ¼″ seam allowance so that no points are ever cut off. One note about using these rulers is that you cut squares rather than rectangles to begin with, so sometimes you may not have enough fabric if you’re using a kit or are low on yardage.
The other rulers I love for making flying geese are the Bloc Loc Flying Geese rulers. They come in a variety of sizes, and I absolutely love them! Since you have to buy each size separately, I purchased one of my most commonly used sizes, a 2″ x 4″ finished, but then I also purchased the smallest sizes…because they are so accurate! (I posted about these rulers last summer and have a demonstration here). They really work wonderfully. Fat Quarter Shop has both small and larger sizes of these rulers.
Lee Brinkley says
I love your blog and read it religiously!! I have learned so much! I do have one suggestion. Is it possible that you had a "printer friendly version" key similar to the one that Moda uses at the bottom of their blog. I copy and paste many of your blog pages and then have to go back and adjust size of pics. Just a suggestion! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us!!
Little Quiltsong says
Beautiful quilt with these fabrics! Your flying Geese blocks look so perfect. Great ruler info. Thank you!
Tracie says
Your Shangri La quilt is wonderful! I just bought my second Bloc Loc ruler for small flying geese and agree that they’re the best!
Linda in Calif. says
Beautiful quilt – I'm with you, I love flying geese in quilts. I have Eleanor Burns flying geese rulers. They do make it more fun (easier) when doing many blocks.
Hildy says
I love flying geese and I love to make them they are just so cute!
Quilting Tangent says
I'm trying to work with flying geese at the moment. My pattern calls for 3 geese to be sown side by side then attached to a block. The geese laid flat and came to the measurement required. But when sewn onto the block. It looked like they flew through a hurricane, they were all wavy, didn't match points that were pinned. Just want them to be flat and match points. Any tips. 24Tangent@gmail.com
Kigwit says
Fit to Be Geese are my favorite rulers. I have found them to be the only way I can make decent geese.
Rosemary B❤️ says
excellent templates. I need these.
Your quilt is incredible, just so beautiful