so many different way.wondering what you think is best..

A bit wasteful but accurate for me - cut rectangle and squares to required sizes, draw diagonal lines on squares. Place squares on each end of the rectangle, sew on drawn lines and trim 1/4 in. from drawn line.

thats eleanor burns method, using her ruler?

Exactly how I do it. I don't think you can get away without being wasteful with flying geese.

I use the no waste way with 1 large square and 4 small squares.

sowwyyy jumpy finger :oops:

I use the quick method on Quilter's Cache http://www.quilterscache.com/H/Howtomakegeese.html which works for multiple units of the same kind of geese. I have been meaning to try the Ricky Tims one seam method as well but haven't got round to it yet. :mrgreen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Mu0C_QL8Y

This is something he learned in England... :mrgreen:

PS I also love that he 'breaks rules' ie, measures with the mat and cuts towards him! So I'm in good company. :mrgreen: :lol:

PPS - What I also LOVE about Ricky Tims is in his words 'he is all about creativity' - ie he gives techniques and ideas, not patterns. I find him very inspiring. Sorry, Ricky Tims fan club here. :mrgreen: :lol:

Ricky Timms' way is very easy but makes 3D geese or as Mary EllenHopkins called her "Loose Goose".

I like the Ricky Tims' method. It is pretty cool. I'm not sure how to change the sizes to make larger or smaller.

The strips for the geese would be the same width as the squares for the sky and double the length MINUS 1/2" so if you made the sky squares 2", the geese rectangles would be cut at 2" x 3 1/2". The unit will finish at twice the size of a sky square LESS 1/2" seams. So in the ones he makes, they'll finish at 2 1/2" x 5", in my example above, they'd be 1 1/2" x 3".

Hope that's clear. :-D

Big square, little squares

You don't have to have waste. When I make geese I sew a sew a seam on the the cut off part and it goes into the bowl of all ready to go bits for mini's and such.

I too have been trying out the best way to sew geese and I really like Pam Bono's method. It lays flat which is something I didn't think would make that much difference but it does.

I recently purchased Eleanor Burns' Quilt in a Day template and think this is the best tool for making flying geese if you are making multiples of the same fabric combination. You start with two squares of different sizes and make four geese without much waste. Each template will make two different sizes. I don't have many shortcut tools and rulers but think this one was worth the investment.

ricky timms method

what if i wanted them to be 3 or 3.5 by 6 or 6.5?

what sizes would i cut the fabric?

If you wanted the finished units 3" x 6", you would cut your two squares for the 'sky' at 3 1/2" and your rectangle for the geese at 6 1/2" x 3 1/2".

thanks.!

I prefer the Eleanor Burns way best. I really like her rulers to square them up.

Love those methods.

I bought Deb Tucker's Flying Geese Ruler at the Road to California and love it, no waste to speak of and accurate geese :)

I use different methods depending on use. I like my Eleanor Burns rulers but also use rectangle and square method for odd sizes and when background colors are different, like when they are star points.

I have all of El Burns rulers and love her methods.
Flying geese are always perfect. Some of the sizes waste a little fabric but who cares.

I really like EQ's templates for this. I can cut my pieces, no waste, perfect seams and points. :D:D:D

I love Eleanor Burns way also, used to do the cutting triangles but hated dealing with bias and possibility of stretching out of shape with Eleanor no bias to deal with. As she says always get perky points.

i just used my joann coupon and got EB flying geese rulers!
thanks everyone for the info!

I cut the rectangle and two squares.

If they are large enough, I actually sew another line in the corner piece and trim that off for an extra HST. Got a whole boatload of HSTs that way.

If they are not large enough, I only trim one layer of the square fabric and press it over the rectangle.

I also use Eleanor Burns Method with her rulers - have made a couple quilts and come out nice.

Thanks for the info.....the utubes, directions were helpful for me.

This works very well, indeed.

I love the one big square and 4 small squares method...found out about it in a magazine many years ago...as long as you cut accurately and sew a true 1/4" it works great...and I like that there is no waste.

deb tucker's video is great

http://youtu.be/F7WQpzknLGg

fast flying geese. she is very clear and easy to understand.

Quiltinaday had a tutorial on TV the other night. I think it is on again Saturday. Perhaps it's on their website. They were also using a flying geese ruler.

wow, that is way to cool!!! I have a cousin that it just starting to quilt and she is stuck on 4 patches, maybe I can get her to do this method and get her to expand on her quilting.

I have a pattern for folded flying geese.I think i got it from here.

Go to search,it's in the Tutorials.Folded flying geese.

I totally agree, I purchased the same template and love it.

I agree with quilter rkc:
The 'Eleanor Burne' Quilt in a Day' template is the best tool and worth the small price. You cut 2 differend size squares and end up with 4 flying geese. This method is fast and easy with little waste.

I tried Ricky Timms method and it didn't work for me. Maybe I'll try Eleanor Burns method to see if it will work. Been wanting to make flying geese units for a long time.

No waste flying geese method as already explained in this thread...heres a handy guide for your binder or in my case I keep it on my tack board.

http://www.patchpieces.com/sharingpatch.html

I have tried several ways to make flying geese. I think Eleanor Burns method is the very best. Not much waste at all and the geese are all perfect. You couldn't get me to change my mind.

I recently purchased Eleanor Burns' Quilt in a Day template and think this is the best tool for making flying geese if you are making multiples of the same fabric combination. You start with two squares of different sizes and make four geese without much waste. Each template will make two different sizes. I don't have many shortcut tools and rulers but think this one was worth the investment.[/quote]

I love the Eleanor Burns method for making flying geese. I pretty much think she is a genius anyway. Sometimes I just make up a whole flock of geese for future use. There are so many ways to use them. However the only down side is you need largish squares and I have a whole gaggle of charm squares to use up....so here is a link to a tute I did on this board for another way to make geese using 5" squares only. I have made lots of variable star blocks with them and it makes for a real nice nickle quilt.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-125755-1.htm
It is a pdf so it can be easily saved or printed out.