©Copyright Carol Miller 1999
One of the oldest of the traditional
quilt blocks is the Flying Geese pattern. Since it involves two small
triangles attached to the narrow ends of a larger triangle, it can be a
tricky unit to piece. The quilter is dealing with lots of bias edges.
It seems there are as many ways to piece
the Flying Geese unit as there are ways to use it. The traditional way
is to cut a square (goose), divide it into four triangles by making an
"X" cut through the center, then sew half square triangles
(sky) to the two short sides. This method locates the bias seams in the
middle.
One foolproof method is to cut a
rectangle the exact size of the finished unit (e.g., 2 1/2" x 4
1/2"). Then cut two squares equal to the short measurement (e.g., 2
1/2"). The rectangle will be the "goose" the small
squares will form the "sky". Putting the squares in the
opposite corners, sew a diagonal line from the middle to the outside
edge of the rectangle, through the center of the square. Press the
square out and trim away the waste.
If the waste offends you (as it does me),
sew a second diagonal seam ˝" from the first seam, in the outer
portion of the square. Cut between the two sewing lines. You will be
left with a completed half square triangle unit which you can use in the
border of your quilt.
There are many other ways to sew Flying
Geese units. Most of them involve sewing squares to squares, cutting
apart and re-sewing in a different direction. Check the list of books at
the bottom for a description of some of these methods. Another
quilter reminds me that paper foundation piecing is a good method for
this block. (This assumes you are not handicapped when it comes to that
method, as I am.) Here's a site with another method done by
Patti Anderson at http://www.patchpieces.com/Flyinggeese.html
Once you find your favorite method of
sewing geese, you will start noticing that there are many other blocks,
aside from Flying Geese, which use this same unit. The Variable Star is
just one. Using Barbara Brachman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Blocks,
I have pulled a number of blocks that use this rectangular unit. If you
are able to mass produce the unit, you will find yourself able to
explore many complex seeming blocks with ease.
| Often, Flying Geese units will
be assembled within the block on a diagonal. In other words,
you won't be sewing units in a neat row from side to side.
Be on the lookout for "fake out" blocks, like the one in
the lower right hand corner. It looks like it is filled with
FG units, but closer inspection shows that this block cannot be
assembled that way. |
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In row two, note how the first
block looks as though it is pushing into the second block. This
happens because they are drawn on the same grid, a basic
9-patch. The middle block in the bottom row looks, at first
glance, to be doing the same thing to the block on its
right. On closer inspection, you can see that the right hand
block is a 4-patch (with 8 divisions) and the match is not exact. |
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Notice that the top row right
hand block has a series of geese units. Only the interior one is
obviously a Flying Geese - but the others are easily constructed
that way. The same is true for the center block in the same
row.
The Friendship Block at the
start of row two is really just four giant geese around the edges
of the signature area.
Also notice in this grouping
that the bottom row contains two blocks where the light/dark
aspect of the geese is reversed, giving the entire block a
whole new appearance. This same trick can be used in lots of
blocks.
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The Variable Star makes four
appearances in this set, showing clearly how it got its
name. The right hand block on the top row is just a Variable
Star that knows somebody. The 4 large geese units are
repeated in the inside star. The center star could be
constructed as a square with four corners or you could make two
geese units face to face. The outside blocks in the center row
simply change the value of the geese units. |
Here's another
method for making geese
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Here, strong diagonal motion is
achieved with this block that has geese flying in an X across its
surface. Not only would the X shape give you this effect, but the
pointed shape of the geese accentuates it. This will
make a bold graphic statement. |
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Another diagonal set, but this
time, it could be downplayed by using a fabric with lesser value
in the diagonal units. This uses the 4-patch block cited
above and pairs it with another 4-patch (8 unit)
block. Now the match where the blocks meet is
compatible. |
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A simple Flying Geese block
repeated in an allover design. Done in bold solids, this
would make a graphic masculine quilt. Try varying the values, or
changing colors from one block to the next. With proper
coloration, this block resembles Ocean Waves. Notice how it
leaves large areas suitable for quilting motifs. |
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Look at this quilt and the
one that follows. Here the arrow points in adjacent blocks face
each other. Below, they move in the same direction. The
effect is totally different. |
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Using that same connector block
- this time with a more complex main block. Notice that it
is the corner units - and their interplay - that makes these two
block quilts interesting. |
For more great Flying Geese quilt
ideas, continue
Books with Flying Geese instructions
and design ideas:
Taking Off With Flying Geese by
Carolyn R. Johnson, Boyd Press, 1990
All The Blocks Are Geese by Mary
Sue Suit, That Patchwork Place, 1994
Rotary Magic by Nancy Johnson-Srebro,
Rodale Press, 1998
Flying Geese Quilt in a Day by
Eleanor Burns, QIAD Press, 1992.
Do you know other books that ought to be on this
list? E-mail me at webmistress@vcq.org
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