Four Flying Geese from Two Squares
Starting note: This method is my favorite method for making four identical Flying Geese at once. There is some waste in this method, though, as you will be trimming the Flying Geese out of the units after you finish sewing. This method of making Flying Geese is one of the few patterns I write as oversized to be trimmed down.Math:
- A finished Flying Geese unit is not a square, it is a rectangle that is twice as wide as it is tall.
- Add 1½" to the longest measurement of the desired finished size of your Flying Geese. For example, if you want a 3" × 6" Flying Geese, the number you want is 7½". Cut a square of the fabric that you want to be the center large triangle of the Flying Geese unit to this size.
- Add another 1½" to the first measurement. In our example of a 3" × 6" Flying Geese, add to the 7½" you first calculated, for a 9" measurement. Cut a square of the fabric that you want to be the small outer triangles of the Flying Geese unit to this size.
Sewing Instructions:
- Draw a single diagonal line on the back of the small square.
- Center the small square on top of the large square, right sides together. Hint: It’s easier to center the smaller square on the larger square if you draw both diagonal lines on the right side of the larger square, then make sure each corner of the smaller square is on a line.
- Sew ¼" on each side of the single diagonal line on the small square
- Cut on the line. Open the pieces, press the seam allowances towards the large triangle.
- Draw a diagonal line on the back of one piece that crosses the seam.
- Stack this piece on the other, right sides together, with the colors opposite. You are lining up the outside edges, NOT the seams. It will look a bit odd.
- Once again, sew ¼" on each side of the drawn line.
- Cut on the line.
- Open the pieces, press the seam allowances towards the larger triangles. The seam allowances will twist between the two smaller triangles.
- Trim your Flying Geese with your favorite Trim Tool (i.e. The Creative Grids Ultimate Flying Geese Tool, etc)
- Or trim with a regular ruler as below:
- Lay the 45° line of your ruler on one seam line, with the edge of the ruler ¼" past the point of the Flying Geese. Cut along this edge of the ruler.
- Use this cut to trim the other three sides of the Flying Geese to your desired unfinished size.
- Remember that the unfinished size will be ½" larger in each direction than the finished size.
- When cutting the width (longest measurement), there is a bit more math. Find the first edge by dividing the finished width by 2, then add ¼". Place this mark on your ruler on the center point of the Flying Geese and cut along the 0" edge of your ruler. In our 3" × 6" example, place the 3¼" mark of the ruler on the center point of the Flying Geese.
- Lay the 45° line of your ruler on one seam line, with the edge of the ruler ¼" past the point of the Flying Geese. Cut along this edge of the ruler.
- Repeat the trimming steps with the other three Flying Geese.