Block 8: Flying Geese

These blocks have been around since the 1860’s and folklore suggests they were used in the quilt code to help escaping slaves.

They are made using rectangles and overlapping the squares to create the ‘inner’ triangle and very versatile in making many quilt pattern variations, and, of course, to build your skills. I’m going to show you the traditional way of making the Flying Geese (FG) units, but as you get more confident you can try other methods. 

I only made my first Flying Geese blocks last year, four years into my quilt making, and have used them more and more since then.

Click HERE for the pdf block pattern.

Any problems downloading the pattern please email me at [email protected] adding Block 8 in the subject line.

UNFINISHED SIZE: 12.5” x 12.5”

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

To make the Flying Geese (FG) Units:

Each FG unit will have an unfinished size of 3.5” x 6.5”

I like to make the most of my fabric by making some Bonus Half Square Triangles (HSTs) out of the ‘left-over corners’ of the FG units. When trimmed, these finish at 2.5” square and will give me 16 (four in each colour) for another project. If you would like to do the same, scroll down to the end of this blog and you will the instructions there.

STEP 1:

Draw a diagonal line, corner to corner, on all the Black 3.5” x 3.5” squares. A sharpened 4b or 6b pencil works just as well as a chalk/fabric marker.

STEP 2: 

Place one black 3.5” x 3.5” square on the top left corner of a blue 3.5” x 6.5” rectangular strip.

Sew along the diagonal stitch line (Red dash).

Trim 0.25” (¼”} away from the stitch line (Yellow dash).

PRESS toward the darker fabric

STEP 3:

Repeat STEP 2 with the remaining seven rectangular strips to give you 2 Blue, 2 Yellow, 2 Green and 2 Red in all. PRESS.

STEP 4:

Place one black 3.5” square on the top right corner of the same blue 3.5” x 6.5” rectangular strip.

Sew along the diagonal line (Red dash).

Trim 0.25” away from the stitch line (Yellow dash).

PRESS toward the darker fabric.

STEP 5:

Repeat STEP 4 with the remaining seven rectangular strips to give you finished FG units: 2 Blue, 2 Yellow, 2 Green and 2 Red in all.

PRESS.

STEP 6:

Lay out your FG units as shown.

Firstly, sew the same colour FG units together (see below).

Place a Blue FG unit Right Side facing up with the triangular point at the bottom.

Take the other Blue FG unit and flip it so the wrong side has the triangular point at the top making sure the ‘points’ are aligned as best as you can. Sew a seam 0.25” (¼”) away from the edge. PRESS open.

STEP 7

Repeat STEP 6 to sew all the remaining ‘pairs’ in the same way.

STEP 8:

Place the Red FG unit with points facing to the Right and RS facing up.

Next, flip the Blue FG unit so the points are facing down. Align and PIN as shown and sew a 0.25” seam away from the right edge. PRESS open.

STEP 9:

Place the Yellow FG unit with points facing upwards and the fabric RS up.

Next flip the Green FG unit so the points are facing to the Right. Align and PIN as shown and sew a 0.25” seam away from the right edge. PRESS open.

STEP 10:

Place the Yellow/Green FG row with RS facing up.

Flip the Red/Blue FG Row with the wrong side uppermost aligning the points of the FG as shown by the yellow and purple dots. Sew a 0.25” seam away from the right edge. PRESS open.

Voila, you’ve made your eighth block!

Over halfway there now!

So, ready for the next one? Block 9 Shoofly

Coming soon Block 10: Poppy, Block 11: Churn Dash

Carol Lightburn

Twitter: @quiltsewgo Instagram: quiltsewgo

Twitter: @ukquilters Instagram: uk_quilters_united

BONUS HALF SQUARE TRIANGLEs (HSTs) from FLYING GEESE units – Block 8

Ever wondered how to utilise the ‘corner pieces’ that are trimmed off making Flying Geese (FG) units? Well, you can make them into HSTs. Block 8 Flying Geese can provide 16 HSTs, four in each colour.

Fabric for each FG Unit is:

Red: Cut one 3.5” x 6.5” square. Black: Cut two 3.5” squares

The link below will take you to the blog for further information:

https://ukqu.co.uk/blog/2022/10/20/squaring-up-half-square-triangles-hst/

Repeat STEPS 1 & 2 with the remaining pieces.

This makes 16 HSTs @2.5” square. They can be used for borders or for making smaller pinwheel blocks.

 

Carol Lightburn

QuiltSewGo