WHW RS Sampler Quilt Class: Block 7: Flying Geese

Next up for our Quilt Class is the Flying Geese block!  This is what a single "flying goose" looks like in fabric:

Piecemeal Quilts

We'll actually be making 8 flying geese, which can then be arranged in several different ways, including some of these:

The Crafty Mummy

The Crafty Mummy

The Crafty Mummy

The Crafty Mummy

And here are a few flying geese quilts that caught my eye:

Quilt With Us

Fancy Tiger Crafts

Beech Tree Lane Handmade

Simply Pieced

Bind Quilts

Robert Kaufman

Fresh Lemons

ME!

Flying Geese can be made using one of 4 different methods (Methods 1-3 are shown HERE - Craftsy Blog)
Method 1: Traditional Method: Cut three triangles and sew them back together
Method 2:  Corner Triangles (Starts with one rectangle and 2 squares)
Method 3:  No Waste Method (Makes 4 flying geese at a time)
Method 4:  Paper piecing (Pieces are sewn directly onto paper - this method is more commonly used when the flying geese are going to be arranged in an unusual formation).


Our alternate block is going to be the sawtooth star block, which is made using squares and flying geese units:

Honeybear Lane

Suzy Quilts

Okay.  Here are the things you need to know about actually MAKING flying geese units in ANY SIZE:
First of all - if you are doing your own math (which is super easy) just remember that the FINISHED WIDTH of your flying goose needs to be twice the FINISHED HEIGHT of your flying goose.
Here is a great tutorial for making any size flying geese using method #2 (one goose at a time):  Pat Sloan
There are TONS of tutorials out there for making flying geese using method #3 ("no waste" four-at-a-time), but this one is my personal favorite (and she gives you the formula for making any size flying geese):  Happy Quilting
And finally, a great demonstration of how to sew those geese together without losing your points:  Pat Sloan

Here's the low down on the different methods we covered in class:
ONE AT A TIME METHOD:
-Makes it easier to have lots of variety in your block
-Uses smaller pieces to start with
-Will have wasted fabric (you'll be cutting off corners and throwing the fabric away)
-No trimming required (usually)

FOUR AT A TIME METHOD:
-Makes four geese with the same fabric, so you are more limited in your fabric choices
-Uses bigger pieces to start with - in the long run uses LESS fabric
-No fabric is wasted
-Trimming is required (if you cut your pieces oversized - in my handout, the measurements have ALREADY been oversized)

So there you have it.  Here are the instructions.  Let me know if you need help!  Flying geese can really be so fun. :)
WHW RS Sampler Quilt Class: Block 7: Flying Geese