Flying Geese leftovers
 

I learned to make flying geese with two different rulers when I was learning to piece. It was really difficult for me....nothing was square!

Fast forward to now. I am making a quilt that uses flying geese. I am doing the rectangle and two square method which I like very much.

So the question is??

How do you make your geese?

And, if you use the rectangle two square method, what do you do with all the leftover triangles?

I use them to make another quilt.

I have avoided flying geese like the plague. lol The day is coming soon that I will have to learn to deal with them. I'll probably be posting my annoyance with them then.

I like the four at a time method, but the rectangle and two squares is my second favorite, and is much better if you are using scraps. I use the leftovers for half square triangles.

I keep a tote full of little triangles from years of making HSTs by snowballing the corners. (I only cut out the MIDDLE LAYER because this allows the original correct shape rectangle to remain for matching to the next block segment.)

Every once in a while I'll sit down and match and piece HSTs and Quarter Square Triangles from those saved triangles. And then I use them as cornerstones in sashings; on the corners of borders; as the hearth block in log cabin quilts; in the middle of eight-pointed stars; double-sided as tree ornaments; mug rugs; fill-ins around odd sized blocks; oh, just hundreds of ways! :D

Jan in VA

This is probably heresy in this group - but I just toss 'em. They are typically too small for me to do anything with and I'm not a 'scrappy' person. I'd be happy to pass them on but you'd be waiting forever as I'm not an overly prolific quilter either.

I use the Go die to make Flying Geese. If the size of the flying geese is much bigger or smaller then the dies I have I just adapt the other pattern pieces to fit the Go size. I rarely save small pieces of fabric. I have several scraps bin full and rarely use out of it as it is.

I have snowballed before but for geese, I much prefer EB QIAD method. You don't need her specialty rulers (sold at JAF) but I did a quilt that required over 100 geese and found her method gave me the perfect points I wanted to have. The thing that works is that when you are about to do the final trim, you can check the accuracy of the block or if it is off a bit, you can make the correct. If you have PBS on your TV, see if you can watch her quilting show. She just might also have a U-tube video.

I sew them together to make half square triangles. I have made some cute doll quilts with them.

I too prefer the rectangle and two squares method. I sew the trimmings together and often use them in the border of the quilt.

My favorite method is also the rectangle with two squares. When I trim, I keep the two scrap triangles together in a zip loc baggy (quart size) and then use them as leaders and enders making HST. Typically, from a FG unit that finishes at 2" x 4" (the size I seem to use more than any other) the scrap HST after squaring up I can get an unfinished 1 3/4" HST. Many times I further trim down to 1 1/2" size as I use that size a lot more. I then store the squared up HST in zip loc bags according to size. I am saving them up to make a tree of life scrap quilt but there are thousands of block patterns that use HST.

I agree with Krisb. I make HST IF they are big enough! (I can get kind of obsessive about using EVERY little piece!) If they are too little they go into my dog bed scraps. I also like to sew two together to get a scrappy flying goose. I have a project in mind for those-SOMEDAY!

Yes! I do the very same thing.....sure makes a difference in joining those blocks!

I use QIAD's Flying Geese rulers.

We learned how to use the ruler in a BOM class: as the years have gone by I've bought every set from the tiny geese to the giant flying honkers.

I'll add that buying that first ruler wasn't a requirement for that month's block: she also showed us how to make them using the rectangle and two squares. But once I tried EB's ruler, there was no going back!

BTW, if you ever have a chance to see Eleanor's show at a quilt show, go! She's an absolute scream. :D

Me too, I toss them!

I do the same. And I don't save the triangles. Of course, I've only made small flying geese so there isn't much waste. [I know, some of you are freaking out!:D]

There is a method called "no waste flying geese" and once I found that method, that's the only way I make them. Do a Google search for this method to get the sewing instructions.

I found this to be a good tute on "no waste". I like this method as they seem to come out so crisp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhTYlIFgpXQ

I made a quilt that had over 200 flying geese units so I experimented with several ways to make flying geese. The best way I found is the Eleanor Burns method. After hours of frustration and uneven patches I love making the geese blocks with this method. Come out perfect every time.

I love making flying geese but I use one rectangle and 2 squares they are 3 "D" but so fun in any size even miniature and absolutely no waste

I use the ez angle and companion rulers. Perfect geese every time.

Paper piecing because they are so accurate and come out perfect!

I recently got a book "Cutting Corners" by Joan Hanson which I highly recommend. She has many nice quilt projects in it using Flying Geese which are easy and fast to do with her method. Basically you place a square on top of one edge of a rectangle, sew diagonally from corner to corner, then trim the excess to 1/4 inch seam, then do the same on the opposite side of the rectangle. The secret is sewing on the diagonal before cutting. This method works with HST (Half Square Triangle), too. The bias is more stable when sewn before cutting, which results in very accurate triangles.

Snowball is the same idea -- place a small square of fabric in each corner of a large square of fabric, sew diagonally, etc.

Her book also has several neat projects for using the trimmed-off "waste" triangle pieces from 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 inch squares used for flying geese, HST, and snowball.

I use the rectangle with 2 squares, but want to try the method where you use squares and get two flying geese at a time, as it seems very easy, just have to sit down and try it.

I use the 5 square method to make flying geese, no waste! http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...lt-blocks.html

Geri B,
Are you an old Mary Ellen Hopkins student, by chance? She started this method decades ago, even her book her book way back when threatens to seek us out and thrash us if she finds us cutting off the back layer, too, LOL! Gee, I miss her.:rolleyes:

Jan in VA

I use Eleanor Burn's method and use her rulers. Normally I don't buy specialty rulers, but one quilt had directions for flying geese that didn't work no matter what, so in desperation, I found Eleanor's directions, bought the rulers. and the rest is just all good.

Bonnie Hunter makes a double seam, and cuts between, the leftover is already an HST.

I prefer the no-waste method so there are no fabric scraps left over. If you do a Google search for "flying geese no waste method quilting" you will find several good videos and explanations on how to do this method with different size geese and sky fabric.

I always had trouble with the points being off until I used E. Burns rulers. Best purchase I made. Because I was working at a LQS at the time, I had a disc. Now I have points instead of flat tops.