How to make Flying Geese (let’s learn from my mistake).
Posted by Wendy Breakstone Ladd | Filed under Blocks & Patterns, Quilting for Beginners, Tips & Techniques
Photo courtesy: Start Quilting with Alex Anderson
I’ve started a new quilt that is a little more challenging than my last basic “squares and sashing” design. This quilt pattern includes Flying Geese triangles ( Start Quilting with Alex Anderson, pg. 35). Generally I’m not a fan of Flying Geese patterns but I like the large boarders around this inner design. I’m using Asian-inspired fabrics so I think the design scheme will look contemporary.
1/4" seam allowance will chop off the Geese beak!
I followed the cutting directions in the book and cut all the triangles first. I’ve started sewing the Geese together, and I’m I realizing that this is not be the best way to go about making Geese. (Wish I had written this post BEFORE I started my project.)
I can see that as I sew the smaller triangles to the larger “geese” I’m going to lose the point of my triangles. YIKES!
If I’m having this problem, I’m sure that other beginners are too, so here are a few tutorials that you might want to carefully review and test BEFORE you start cutting your squares into triangles and piecing them together:
1. Diagram and written instructions: This short written tutorial with diagrams shows a great way to piece the squares before you cut the triangles into tiny quarters and halves. With this technique, you can clearly see how much overlap you’ll have for a seam allowance and adjust accordingly before you stitch.
That's where the beak would be with a 1/4" allowance.
2. Video tutorial #1: This video shows a similar example as the diagram instructions in the link above. The video is straight-forward and very easy to follow.
3. Video tutorial #2: This is quick and easy to follow – Again, this shows the sewing of the Geese BEFORE you cut the triangles.
4. Video tutorial #3: Flying Geese with ONE SEAM. This is pretty nifty and these Geese will give you more depth to the quilt.
- Shorter, quick version by my MyQuilting.com
- Longer, more colorful version of the same technique by Ricky Tims ofTheQuiltShow.com
There are a dozen other videos on YouTube for Flying Geese, but these two will give you what you need and you don’t have to wade through the rest.
So now I’m faced with a dilemma: This is a small quilt that will only be 34″x34″, and I had no plans for it other than offering it to my local sewing machine shop as a sample. Should I just alter my stitches going forward and piece the entire top to learn from my mistakes? Should I redo the 12 geese I’ve already made and start over, or should I bag the project for now and start on another quilt that I might enjoy more?
Gotta go sew… something!
Tags: beginner sewing techniques, easy quilt patterns, flying geese instructions, quilt books, quilt designs, Quilting for Beginners, quilting videos
January 1st, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Ok, I wouldn’t even try flying geese so you’re far more adventurous than me!
Congrats on the blog. It looks great!
January 4th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
[...] And even though I have my workshop tomorrow, I’m starting a new, quick quilt with some Sandi Henderson Ginger Blossom fat quarters I just received. We’ll see how “quick” I can do it. (Hopefully I wont screw it up like my beakless Flying Geese project.) [...]