Flying Geese Tutorial

I have been making flying geese for a while now.  I have tried several different ways:  flip and fold, paper piecing, and templates.  This is the way I have found the fastest and best way for me. The best part is I get four great geese, and no little triangles.  No waste.  With the price of fabric, that is great for me. I wanted to try my hand at a tutorial, and decided this would be a good place to start.

First, I cut my squares.  When you are making geese this way, you add 1 1/4" to the desired finished width, and make a square instead of a rectangle.  The small squares (the sky or wings) are cut 7/8" larger than the desired height.  For a finished 6" x 3" goose, I cut my 1 large square 7 1/4" and the 4 small squares 3 7/8".  I have also used this method for 2" by 4" geese with much success, cutting the squares 5 1/4" and 2 7/8".

 I always draw lines when I am doing diagonal sewing.  I use a #2 mechanical pencil because it gives me a finer line.  I use a light touch so I don't stretch the fabric, and a deep angle to get as close to the ruler as possible.  Draw a diagonal from corner to corner on each small square, then parallel lines 1/4" to each side. 

Pin two squares in opposite corners of the larger square, right sides together.  Make sure the marks line up.  The squares will overlap.  I always pin the squares so they don't wander when I sew.  Sew on the lines on each side of the center diagonal.

 Make one cut on the center diagonal line.

After you have made the cut, you need to press the sky/wings up.  This is a very important step.  If you forget, you will have one wing that folds out nicely, and one that does not.  See the bottom unit to the left.  I call this the wolf face stage. It just reminds me of a cartoon wolf.

Place the remaining two squares, right sides facing, so the lines go from the corner to the space between the two points.  Sew along the outside lines.

Cut each unit along the center diagonal line.

Press each piece.  You will have four beautiful flying geese.

This is the block I made with these flying geese.  It is 12" x 12" finished.










I hope you found this tutorial useful.  It was interesting to make.  I may have to make more some day.  Joyful quilting, everyone.

Patriotic Log Cabin block

I have finally decided on a pattern for the American Hero quilt I want to make this year. I am going to alternate log cabin blocks and Ohio star blocks.  I made my first log cabin block today.  I haven't made one before and didn't have a pattern, so I played around until I got the colors cut the right lengths and in the right order.  I never seem to be able to take photos to show the straight even lines that are really in the blocks.  I am pleased with how this turned out.  I still need to get more red, blue, and cream fabrics to build the whole quilt, but I have enough now for a good start.
I have been reading bits and pieces about the history of the log cabin block.  Most of the pieces I read say it is a truly American block that originally symbolized home and hearth during the pioneer days.  I found an article today that takes the pattern back to Egyptian times.  This article talks about the popularity of the pattern on the Isle of Man where they didn't have scissors or rulers, so they tore the strips and used finger lengths to measure.  The article also says the Log Cabin quilt is always tied instead of quilted.  I am not going to tie my quilt because I don't really like that look.
The rest of my studio time was filled with cutting the rest of the squares and rectangles of food fabric, and creating half-square triangles for the market basket quilt.  As I got to counting blocks, I realized I need three more food fabrics.  I will try and pick them up tomorrow.  I don't need much, but I really don't want to duplicate any blocks. 
Happy quilting, everyone.

A Quilt for a Hero

Before I got my quilt frame and new sewing machine, I made a list of all the things I would like to do this year with them. One of the charitable quilts I want to make is an American Hero Quilt. This project is a big one that was started by a Washington resident. Today, I decided to make the first block for this quilt. The quilts need to be blue, red, white (or off white), with some gold. The completed quilt will have five of these stars altogether. This pattern is mostly paper pieced, which I really enjoy. It took me a long time to do this one, but I am pleased that I took my time. I am happy with the results. The pattern is #121 in Quiltmaker's 101 blocks vol. 2, and is by Chloe Anderson and Colleen Reale. Toadusew is the name of their blog.

One of these days, I will get out of the studio with enough energy to add a list of all the quilting blogs I check regularly. Each day, I find one or two more that I add to the list. There are so many great quilters out there who are willing to share tips and patterns. It is fun to take a look at what others are doing.