Flying Geese Blocks Traditional Method

If specialty rulers aren’t your thing, here’s how to make a flying geese block via the traditional method.  All that is involved is a little extra math.  Even if you love your rulers, it’s always good to know another method to make the same thing.

First of all, we know that we want our finished goose block to be 4″ x 2″.  Typically, two flying geese make a square block for 4″ x 4″.  It’s advantageous to cut quarter-square triangles to keep the bias edges inside the block rather than on the outside edges.  To calculate what size square we need to cut, add 1 1/4″ to the widest finished size, which is 4″, for a measurement of 5 1/4″.

For our crazy Flying Geese Quilt, cut four 5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ squares from your fabric. Then cut each square diagonally in half twice to yield 16 geese triangles.  You will use 14 in your block and set aside 2 for the sashing.

Here’s how I cut my fat quarter. I got my four 6 1/2″ squares.  Then I started to cut the 5 1/4″ square.  I would have gotten 3 squares, but I messed up on the third one.  So I only got two.  If you don’t have any rulers to help utilize the remaining fabric, it’s much better to have quarter yard cuts rather than fat quarters.  I did use my Companion Ruler to make use of the extra fabric.  And surprisingly, I got 19 geese triangles. That’s one more than the last fat quarter I cut up.  Hmmm, it might be advantageous to use a combination of methods to maximize the use of a fat quarter.  I’ll have to think on that for a bit.

For the sky part of the Flying Geese block, we will cut a half-square triangles.  Again, we know that the finished size of one goose block is 2″ tall.  For half-square triangles, add an additional 7/8″ to the desired finished measurement.  That makes our square 2 7/8″.  Cut fourteen 2 7/8″ x 2 7/8″ squares. Then cut each square in half diagonally once to yield 28 half-square triangles.

Continue with the directions in the previous Flying Geese With Rulers post to sew together your flying geese block.

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Next, I think we should experiment with some of the time saver methods.  And eventually, I want to do a wrap up post comparing yardage requirements. I hope all this “research” isn’t going to be boring.  I think that the more you know,  the more tools you have to choose the method that works best for you.  And I love having options.