Has anyone used a flying geese ruler and it is worth it? or just another thing to throw in the drawer...also thoughts on using sidewinder bobbin rewinder would be appreciated. Thanks so much all!

Are you talking about Deb Tucker's Wing Clipper to make them? Lots of love for them!

the bobbin winder doesn't work for all the bobbins for different machines, I wouldn't buy it

not sure on the other ruler

What is this????

I bought a bobbin winder. I thought it was an impractical thing, but I bought it anyway. It turns out, that I love it. I have an older machine, that doesn't do a great job on winding bobbins, and it's great for that. I bought the better bobbin winder from Joanne's with a 50% coupon. I like it because it has a telescopic arm that you can wind bobbins from a large cone of bobbin thread. I don't think the simplicity one has this. I wish my BBW had a variable speed control. It winds very fast. I prefer a bit slower wind.

I would not buy a flying geese ruler. I use the no waste method that makes 4 geese at a time.

http://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf

That's pretty much the same as Joan Hawley ruler/method. I have hers and it's easy to use. I like it.

I bought a Sidewinder on sale. Just thought I would try it. I love it. I wind my Juki bobbins while I am sewing so there is always a bobbin available.

I like Eleanor Burns's flying geese rulers.

What I learned from this:

The flying geese need to be trimmed - almost like my HST units need to be trimmed - in order to be "good enough"

I love my side winder! I would be lost without it.

Suzanne

I wind bobbins while I am watching tv...on my nifty little sidewinder. saves a lot of time and don't have to stop sewing to do it...If i am starting a project with a new color and don't think I have enough thread in my bobbin, it can be winding another while I keep working...got it on sale at Joanne's and worth it.

did you see the one seam method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Mu0C_QL8Y&NR=1

If you have a young helper in your sewing room the Sidewinder is worth it's weight in gold. LOL. My DGD would run to the packages of empty bobbins to buy just to wind them on the Sidewinder. The summer she stayed with me most of the time, I had lots of filled bobbins. I took them to guild so everyone could have different color appliqué thread. I bought the round bobbin donuts and filled them different color filled bobbins and we sold everyone of them at our fundraiser.

Side winder bobbin works wonderfully - I never use it
I have 4 or 5 different flying geese rulers - never used any of them either.

As for flying geese, if I don't use the Go die then I use the one seam method. I'll take easy and accurate over fussy steps anytime.

I have both. Yes both are very worthwhile. The ruler makes perfect flying geese without the hassle. And the bobbin winder gets used on my Lizzie bobbins and I am glad to have it and have a spindle for it so it can wind the big spools of thread as my bobbins are big too for the Lizzie.

The one step method has the fold out? I would not be happy with that when doing quilting. The foot gets caught in the fold.

the "sides" of the geese are a fold, rather than a stitched seam, correct. However, if you look at the youtube video all the way to the end, Ricky does have the quilt stipple quilted, and i am pretty sure he uses a longarm. Maybe the trick is to give them a good pressing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Mu0C_QL8Y&NR=1

It's just a nice technique if you don't want to go to all the trouble of squaring up and cutting off lots of dog ears....and sometimes that "dimensional" result can have it's plus side. Totally depends on what you are making and if it is applicable, IMO.

Just a thought. I love his quilt.

I've never had that problem. I usually do a 1/4" from the edge on the geese part.

I love the sidewinder. Bought it at full price on the waiting list and never regretted buying it. Love it!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! I hate making flying geese because off all the hassle yet I'm doing the brights and black and white racing quilt for my gs for Christmas. I've been putting it off because of all the flying geese. YEA!!! Taking it to retreat to work on now.

Oh wow! lucky you! :D
have a great time and show us your finished geese when you get back! :thumbup:

I'm taking a bunch of stuff to work on so if I get to them I will.

Thanks all for the great information on the geese rulers and bobbin winder. Lazy Girl Designs has a ruler to help with making the geese that turns out 4 at a time that I may look into...but it won't help on the jelly roll quilt I'm working on. I purchased the sidewinder at Hancock's and I like it so far since the bobbin rewinder on my machine is the only thing that doesn't work good. My machine is 17 years old but a great Bernina that keeps on going....Thanks again for the great feedback.....i love this board!