I'm another Deb Tucker fan. Her "Wing Clipper" tool is great, and very versatile. I used to waste far more fabric making mistakes than I "waste" using the Wing Clipper.
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
I'm another Deb Tucker fan. Her "Wing Clipper" tool is great, and very versatile. I used to waste far more fabric making mistakes than I "waste" using the Wing Clipper.
Jan, the Taos pattern is lovely and I am sure it will work out. I had trouble with flying geese also and I recommend either the Deb Tucker Wing Clipper ruler - for pieced geese of certain sizes only - or doing it by paper piecing. You can make your own pattern for the size you need, then do a strip of 6 or 8 geese - or they have them free on the internet.
Good luck!
SueSew
"If it's messy, eat it over the sink!" Mom
Usually best to cut a bit bigger and trim down. You can decide how much waste by how much bigger you cut the squares.
Another Phyllis
This life is the only one you get - enjoy it before you lose it.
Eleano Burns method is good, and also a good one on Missouri Star Quilt Co., and also on You Tube. All show about the same thing; sometimes one is easier than the others. Don't know the reason for that, but it seems that way to me.
Good luck with them!! Mariah
Have a wonderful Quilting Day, make it your way!
Marta
Martha Tompkins
I agree with Tartan, I sew a square on either side of a rectangle, which is the size of that portion of the block, and I get good results 99% of the time. That's not to say I don't get a klunker now and then, however, I have had very good results. There is also a tutorial, I think by MSQC, or Quilt in a Day, where you use a slightly different variation and get 4 flying geese out of one square of fabric with squares. I can't explain it, but it looks much easier to me.
I love the "no waste" method but be aware that if the "wings" are different colors, you do not end up with it being on the same side--we found out in a beginner's class!
Tri Recs-not flying geese and important to not get "lazy" and make sure you cut the corners just like on the rule--otherwise they don't fit when you sew-ask me how I know! Ended up "unsewing" about 3 doz!
You know there are easy ways to do quilt steps. I never follow pattern directions because it seems they always give you the most difficult methods. First I dissect the quilt or the block. If there are flying geese I count them and figure out the size. From there I make them 4 at a time the Elleanor Burns way by sewing two larger squares together and cutting on the diagonal. You can google the instructions. Then I trim them down to perfect size using the Deb Tucker wing clipper ruler. They are perfect every time because they are trimmed after they are sewn. Then I count the half square triangles. Again, using the burn method I can make 8 at a time, and they are perfect once trimmed with the E Burns triangle square up ruler. Hour glasses? Same thing. Trimming your components after sewing either gives you perfection or shows you that you need to try again. I teach this method and my students are always successful. First and foremost, make sure your 1/4" is absolutely accurate. You can do this!
Michelle Guadarrama
Do paper pieced ones. Perfect every time. A lot less frustrating for me. I struggled like you do and I have tried various methods. Paper piecing was the answer for me.
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