Old 02-23-2012, 05:40 PM
  #1  
cwessel47
Super Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Windham, Maine
Posts: 1,251
Default Fast, easy, and accurate Flying Geese from squares

Crazy person that I am, I took the day on Tuesday to make 336 Flying Geese rectangles. This is how....

So many of you have asked for this. I will share the method I use again. I have copied and edited my very first post on this board - so I didn't have to write it all out again. This time I will include some pictures as most of us are visual people. It can't just be me who knows how to make these simple and accurate flying geese. I read instructions for cutting off corners, or working with triangles, or expensive rulers and I just don't get it. Instead....
Add 7/8" to the finished height of the small triangle. Cut 4 squares this size.
Add 1 1/4" to the finished base of the large triangle. Cut 1 square this size.
On wrong side of small squares: Draw diagonal, then draw sewing line 1/4" from both sides. There are awesome 1/2" rulers that make this a snap.
Place 2 small squares on top of one large square across one diagonal- right sides together. Sew on marked sewing lines (both sides), chain piecing all the way. Cut on diagonal, press. (I usually press to the darker fabric.) Place the remaining squares in the blank spot of the resulting pieces. Sew on the sewing lines. Cut again on the diagonal. Press over that last triangle and - voila! - Flying Geese!
You now have 4 completed geese, no waste, and accuracy beyond belief.
A few examples:
For a 2" x 4" goose - cut 4 @2 7/8, cut 1@ 5 1/4. Makes 4.
For a 2 1/2 x 5 goose - cut 4 squares @ 3 3/8" and cut 1 square @ 6 1/4". Makes 4
This is really simple math. Anyone can do it. No waste is a fabulous thing.
Try it. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Attached Thumbnails 1.jpg   thats-lot-geese-012-2.jpg   thats-lot-geese-014-3.jpg   thats-lot-geese-013-chain-piecing.jpg   thats-lot-geese-016-4.jpg  

thats-lot-geese-017-finished.jpg  

Last edited by patricej; 02-27-2012 at 12:28 AM. Reason: member requested correction.
cwessel47 is offline