Oh - flying geese....they are my least favorite quilting component. Until I finally tried the "no-waste" method that I've read about on several blogs. Melissa, our QAL hostess, has a great tute on the method and the math!
Instead of starting with either 3 triangles or a rectangle and two squares, this method uses all squares.
It requires marking of the smaller squares. So, here's my opportunity to plug another little tool that I really like. That blue "stick" in the pic above is called the Quick Quarter II. Now, when I first saw it I thought, "why do I need a special tool to help me draw lines?"
Well, there are two reasons really. First, after drawing lots of lines for the Fourth of July top, I found that my lines, despite using a ruler, do not always go from corner to corner precisely, oops! I usually do these types of things with my feet propped up while watching TV with DH.
Second, I love to piece with my featherweight and I discovered in a Bonnie Hunter workshop that the 1/4" foot gives me a teensy too-big 1/4" seam. It works better if I measure the 1/4" and then use the guide that screws into the machine bed. (Bonnie had us all test our 1/4" seam by sewing two block pieces together and then measuring the two pieces now joined into one.) So, now I actually do use those two sewing lines for stitching.
I now have the FGUs (flying geese units) ready for my two blocks. You can see some more FGUs here.
Have a wonderful Saturday!
I really enjoyed making the flying geese this week and normally I'm not a fan at all! Thanks for sharing about your Quick Quarter tool. I might have to get one of those!
ReplyDeleteAnd they look so pretty. Great job on getting them all done. And I am so glad you liked this method of making Flying Geese. I love it too :)
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