Please help, I can't get my measurements right on my flying geese
 

I am trying to make flying geese using the "no waste" method (it is also helpful because I need 4 matching geese for each block).

I have seen various instructions that say the following:

Cut one square 1 1/4 inch wider than your finished geese unit
Cut four squares 7/8 inch taller than your finished geese unit

I am making geese that should trim up to 2.5 by 4.5 and when finished equal 2x4 inches.

I attempted the geese using a 5.5 inch square and four 3 inch squares. This resulted in geese that were about 1/8 inch too small. Then, I tried a 5.75 inch square and four 3.5 inch squares and these were so oversized that some of my "sky" fabric was folder over on itself up by the tip so that doesn't work either.

I want my geese about 1/8 to 1/4 inch too big so I can cut them down to perfect size (2.5 by 4.5). Please, what in the heck size should I be cutting my fabric to meet this goal??

I am not familiar with the method you mentioned but I prefer doing mine with the two squares that is Eleanor Burns method. With her method, you need to sliver trim them down to size. If your stitching if off just a hair, you can tell where you need to correct your stitching and when perfect, then you sliver off a the tiny bit of excess.

Another way of making them totally accurate is to paper piece them.

best to lose a bit of fabric and do the squares a bit larger,then put a seam 1/4" off the center on both sides of the center cut them across l and cut off extra on the back side.. makes perfect flying geese evertime.. I made a quilt by Pam Bono "flying Home" and it came out perfect.. good luck whatever way you go..

get a wing clipper ruler by deb tucker check out on utube comes out every time!
Gale

I just learned this method last week and my geese came out perfect! I don't know about adding and trimming, but you need to use 2 x 4 as your finished size (without seam allowances). So--for the geese: 4+1 1/4"= 5 1/4" and for the sky 4 squares that are 2+7/8= 2 7/8". Mark the center and the 1/4" on either side of the cutting line and sew a scant 1/4".

.....and this is why i paper piece my flying geese !!!

The length of the geese should be twice the width for your formula to work out. Otherwise you can paper piece them.