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.

thank you, thank you! makes flying geese so easy, except for the quantity needed. really like the idea of "no waste" too. :thumbup:

Wow.. I learned something new..

thanks for taking time away from quilting to show us.!!!! I sure appreciate it..

well...well...well..... that is just ingenius. Gonna have to give it a whirl.

Thank you for sharing!!

Now this idea is definately a winner!! :D Your tutorial is perfect & I am sure that everyone else likes just as much.
:D :D :D :D

OH OH OH...HOW marvellous is that! You are so clever! I will bookmark this for future reference as I can see a scrappy Flying Geese quilt coming soon! Thank you for all the pictures as it really helps to see the process too! :) :) :)

Thanks some day I hope to make a scrappy flying geese quilt !

Thanks!!!!

Thank you! I copied it to a word file so I don't loose it.

Ha! How smart is this idea? Thank you...and especially thanks for the pictures to help those of us who have to read things 3 times to "get it."

Thanks for sharing.....the pictures are GREAT!!!

It seems like it would be a good idea, and am glad for a way to be less wasteful on our beloved Flying Geese, but I am so confused about the 2nd example you gave - if you add 7/8" to 2 1/2", it would be 3 3/8," not 3 5/8'; and if you add 1 1/4 " to 5" it would be 6 1/4" not 6 3/4." Guess I'll have to try it a few to find out what works. Thanks for the tut.

Great!!! Thanks so much. I will certainly try this.:) :) :)

A gajillion dollars wouldn't be near enough to pay you for this tip! I can not wait to try it after learning to "hate" that ruler that makes "perfect" flying geese. Your sharing this is a really valuable gift to me as I am sure it will be for others on the board but I doubt there's a quilter here who appreciates it more than me(I?).
MANY THANKS!

Thanks! Bookmarked it so the idea wouldn't 'fly' away. :)

Great tutorial - just tried this and it's great..................... thanks so much

thanks for contributing a great tutorial. [this is the method i use, too :) ]

Thank you - thank you!!

I watched a video last night showing how this exact method was done with a "special" 21 dollar ruler. Thank you so much for explaining how to get the right measurement and for putting up the pictures, I've saved this to a doc file so I can have it handy.

Great thanks for sharing!!!

Thanks for sharing. Nice flying geese tutorial. Good pics.

That's how I make them too - fast & easy! :)

That is one of those "Why didn't I think of that" ideas. Thank you sew very much.

Thanks so much for this tute. I have been trying different methods
for this for the last three days and NONE were coming out right.
I really appreciate it.

It must have been too late when I typed up the examples. As JoyjoyMarie pointed out - the second set of measurements I gave was incorrect. Don't pay attention to the examples - just add 7/8" for the little squares and 1 1/4" to the big one. It really will work - as you gals are evidently finding out. Hurray!

geese
 

great tute! :thumbup: someone should hire you to write pattern instructions, suitable for the 21st century. please send them your resume'. i'll be happy to write a letter of recommendation.

when they have you make FG, they never say what the finish size will be, so you (i) really don't feel free to use a preferred method.
they assume you (i) can figure out that if you cut a square 7-7/8 and cut twice on the diagonal and attach to the corners of a rectangle, you can choose your own method and end up with the proper size. they clearly don't know me.

i have to make one out of paper first to work out the dimensions and then rework the fabric requirements. am i the only one? please don't say yes. :o

I have used this method ever since I found it on the net. What I like best about this method is there is No waste and the geese turn out perfect Every time.

Oh, I was having the hardest time trying to figure out the directions to the pictures and then the rest of the pictures came up, what a relief, now I understand it!lol:mad::o:p Thank you so much, I am giving this a try for sure!

Wow great tut. Will try.:):):)

thanks I dislike making flying geese this will help

WOW! that'll sure help, thank you.

Thank you for doing this. The pics. help to understand it.

Thank you :)

This was a great tutorial! Thanks ever so much! Pictures were wonderful.

Great tutorial. Thank you. This will eliminate lots of waste which is wonderful.

thank you for sharing this !!! i will try it

Thanks Now I might have the courage to do the flying geese even for a border.

Thank you so much going to try it but in larger size just have to figure out the math which I'm not good at doing anymore.

Now I might try and make some since you give excellent tutorials,THANKS A MILLION

Thank you for sharing!