What Am I Doing Wrong?
08-24-2019, 06:59 AM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,066
It takes awhile to get used to piecing flying geese units. I find that if I line it up on the bottom/side, the top will work itself out. If I try for that top seam I get more problems.
Do you have all the pieces cut yet? There are a couple alternatives to basic practice practice practice -- and by the time you get this done you will be an expert! So take a deep breath and maybe practice on a few blocks out of fabric scraps.
The easiest method is also a bit fabric intensive/wasteful. You would start with a rectangle, so say your subunit there should be 3 x 1.5". You start with a rectangle that size, then you take a two squares, each 3", draw a diagonal line on the back and place it on one side of the rectangle. Sew on the line, cut off the excess, repeat on the other side.
I would probably use that technique if I had the fabric, otherwise I'd keep the large triangle as is and slightly overcut the side triangles and then trim everything down.
Second suggestion is to try paper piecing them. Helps if you can cut those star fabrics slightly larger than needed.
There are many other methods to making flying geese, some use specialty rulers, others grids.
Do you have all the pieces cut yet? There are a couple alternatives to basic practice practice practice -- and by the time you get this done you will be an expert! So take a deep breath and maybe practice on a few blocks out of fabric scraps.
The easiest method is also a bit fabric intensive/wasteful. You would start with a rectangle, so say your subunit there should be 3 x 1.5". You start with a rectangle that size, then you take a two squares, each 3", draw a diagonal line on the back and place it on one side of the rectangle. Sew on the line, cut off the excess, repeat on the other side.
I would probably use that technique if I had the fabric, otherwise I'd keep the large triangle as is and slightly overcut the side triangles and then trim everything down.
Second suggestion is to try paper piecing them. Helps if you can cut those star fabrics slightly larger than needed.
There are many other methods to making flying geese, some use specialty rulers, others grids.
08-24-2019, 07:17 AM
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 110
Originally Posted by Iceblossom
It takes awhile to get used to piecing flying geese units. I find that if I line it up on the bottom/side, the top will work itself out. If I try for that top seam I get more problems.
Do you have all the pieces cut yet? There are a couple alternatives to basic practice practice practice -- and by the time you get this done you will be an expert! So take a deep breath and maybe practice on a few blocks out of fabric scraps.
The easiest method is also a bit fabric intensive/wasteful. You would start with a rectangle, so say your subunit there should be 3 x 1.5". You start with a rectangle that size, then you take a two squares, each 3", draw a diagonal line on the back and place it on one side of the rectangle. Sew on the line, cut off the excess, repeat on the other side.
I would probably use that technique if I had the fabric, otherwise I'd keep the large triangle as is and slightly overcut the side triangles and then trim everything down.
Second suggestion is to try paper piecing them. Helps if you can cut those star fabrics slightly larger than needed.
There are many other methods to making flying geese, some use specialty rulers, others grids.
Do you have all the pieces cut yet? There are a couple alternatives to basic practice practice practice -- and by the time you get this done you will be an expert! So take a deep breath and maybe practice on a few blocks out of fabric scraps.
The easiest method is also a bit fabric intensive/wasteful. You would start with a rectangle, so say your subunit there should be 3 x 1.5". You start with a rectangle that size, then you take a two squares, each 3", draw a diagonal line on the back and place it on one side of the rectangle. Sew on the line, cut off the excess, repeat on the other side.
I would probably use that technique if I had the fabric, otherwise I'd keep the large triangle as is and slightly overcut the side triangles and then trim everything down.
Second suggestion is to try paper piecing them. Helps if you can cut those star fabrics slightly larger than needed.
There are many other methods to making flying geese, some use specialty rulers, others grids.
Icie, you’re a gem!! It turns out I was sewing from the wrong end. Once I started at the other end, it all lined up perfectly. You’re a genius!!
08-24-2019, 08:05 AM
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 15,949
I do the fast way and make flying geese from two hsts. But the line up perfect way for me is paper piecing them especially if they are small. There are so many specialty rulers to for Flying Geese. My favorite ones are Quilt In a Day and one from Deb Tucker.
08-24-2019, 08:49 AM
#5
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ridgefield WA
Posts: 7,765
https://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf
This is the easy way to make 4 at a time. Where it says to cut pieces B, make sure you do cut by adding 7/8" and not one inch.
This is the easy way to make 4 at a time. Where it says to cut pieces B, make sure you do cut by adding 7/8" and not one inch.
08-24-2019, 08:53 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Waterford Michigan
Posts: 7,241
This one can be challenging. One of the things I do to be sure they come out perfect is to make my pieces a bit larger. I can always trim down but can't make them larger than called for. This way as you learn you will still get perfect pieces.
08-24-2019, 09:04 AM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,713
Originally Posted by juliasb
This one can be challenging. One of the things I do to be sure they come out perfect is to make my pieces a bit larger. I can always trim down but can't make them larger than called for. This way as you learn you will still get perfect pieces.
Or PP them, for more perfect sizing!
08-24-2019, 09:05 AM
#9
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: New England, USA
Posts: 2,956
I had to make 250 flying geese awhile back and I used the No Waste Method. It works great. The only thing I did was make the smaller squares about 1/4" larger. Because of that, I did have to trim up the tops a little but I had perfect geese every time.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/no-w...quilts-2821760
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/no-w...quilts-2821760
08-24-2019, 12:20 PM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 1,231
I don't see anything wrong with the second pic..you need to trim the dog ears, then you will have your 1/4" seam allowance. First pic looks like you may have cut the triangle on the right too small? You have to measure and cut very carefully when you're working with a block with points.
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