Tutorial - Flying Geese Units

There are so many uses for the Flying Geese rectangles that it warrants a separate post on the various ways you can make them, including my tutorial on how to make a single unit.

Flying Geese Unit

Most everyone is familiar with the Flying Geese border that has been a standard on quilts for a long time.  If you are looking to make many Flying Geese units that are all the same color scheme, this tutorial explains how to make four identical units at a time, plus it has the benefit of being a "no waste" method.

If you are looking to make fewer than four Flying Geese units or want to use up your scraps, read on for my tutorial...



To start, I will warn you that this method does have some fabric waste, but it guarantees that your Flying Geese unit will be perfect and the fabric grain is correct.  Plus, you can always use those little leftover triangles for something!

First, take note of the finished size you want to make.  Keep in mind that the Flying Geese rectangle will always be twice as wide as it is tall, 2 inches by 1 inch, 4 inches by 2 inches, etc. 

I'm choosing to show you a 3 inch by 1 1/2 inch finished size. Remember to always add the 1/4 inch seam allowances, so for this size I want to end up with a 3 1/2 inch by 2 inch rectangle.

1. Cut one 3 1/2 inch by 2 inch rectangle in the first fabric.
2. Cut two 2 inch squares in the second fabric.
   
3. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on the reverse side of the two squares.
4. Position one of the squares at one end of the rectangle, right sides together.
   
5. Sew along the drawn line.
   
6. Trim away the extra fabric, leaving a 1/4 inch seam allowance, and iron open.
   
   
7. Repeat with the other square, making sure to position it so the line goes perpendicular to the already sewn line.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

To adjust your sizes, remember that you will start with a rectangle that is the size you want your finished Flying Geese Unit to be (plus 1/4 inch seam allowances), then your squares should always be the same size as the short side of your rectangle.

Here are a few examples:

• 1 inch by 2 inch finished unit
• cut one 1 1/2 inch by 2 1/2 inch rectangle
• cut two 1 1/2 inch squares
• 2 inch by 4 inch finished unit
• cut one 2 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch rectangle
• cut two 2 1/2 inch squares

I hope this method works as well for you as it has for me!

Hint: if you are following my Farmer's Wife Quilt-Along, we'll be making Flying Geese units for some of our up-coming blocks.