This year our Guild BOM was Black and White and Red. The January block was flying geese. I don’t know how others do them, but frankly, I don’t like the quick-corner method at all. They don’t ever come out accurate, and then we are all tempted to do ‘something’ with that little corner we just cut off.
This ruler, by Joan Hawley, was mentioned as a good tool, so I had to try it out and ... I like it! It IS very accurate, and best of all there is no waste. It is a bit pricey ($20.00) but then ... it works well.
I also purchased her book, with myriads of pattern diagrams, and I’ll have to study it more. There are no quilts inside, but a huge supply of new ideas for using flying geese and HST.
Some new quilters have not learned to ‘twirl’ that center seam where they all come together. We try not to have a bump there, so... on the back, along that last horizontal seam that you sewed, release the last 3-4 stitches of the center vertical center seam that you just crossed with the horizontal seam. Release stitches also from the back of the block of that same vertical seam. Then open the block, and open that little center point, fanning it out in one direction, and – smoosh that center flat with your finger. Then press from the back, pressing all the large seams in one direction, clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on how it is constructed. From the front, that center will no longer be a bump, but will lie flat.
I'm with you - I hate that method where you sew two squares to a rectangle going through the diagonal. I can never get them to come out even. I've used the large square and 4 small squares method too but mine always turn out a little too small. I've found by doing them the old fashioned way - from two smaller triangles and one larger triangles - I can get them the most accurate. They still are a pain in my mind - and my current project contains dozens and dozens!
ReplyDeleteOh no! Another quilting "gotta have". It's a good thing I have started doing wonky houses where accuracy is frowned upon. I am no fan of making flying geese but maybe with this ruler...Your block looks perfect.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this method! And I love that book. I"ve made my flying geese this way for years now!
ReplyDeleteOK -- this is how we manage to collect so many of these toys - hearing someones else's good luck with them! I'm off to go shopping now........
ReplyDeleteI haven't really made that many flying geese, I have made a quilt with flying geese but cheated and used stamped muslin. I will get it quilted this NEw Year and post a picture. Happy New Year to you. I will look into the new ruler.
ReplyDeleteI don't make a huge number of flying geese but when I do I use the Eleanor Burns flying geese rulers - you do trim off a little bit but they're perfect everytime.
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