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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Magot
Date: 05-13-2006, 10:44 AM (1 of 18)
Here are my blocks for the quilt Joanne started us on some time agohttp://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e81/Janicehodge/IMG_2438.jpg
So far I have also sashed them with a small black and white flower print. I had to adjust the sashing to make the blocks fit but I am quite happy with this. I have a thin black border to put around that but I want to put another border to make it a touch bigger before finishing off with a plain border and edging.

I have decided that I will use flying geese ( the one with triangles) around the outside- probably in a WOW with graduated greys and black on the goose.

My query is this
What would people recommend as the best/easiest/most fabric efficient way to do these blocks? I have never attempted them before so this will be a good deal of practice for me!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: HeyJudee
Date: 05-13-2006, 03:19 PM (2 of 18)
Congratulations Jan....just love your blocks!!!! The method of doing the flying geese that I prefer is from Quilter's Cache. She gives different methods but the one I prefer is "Speed Piecing Method - B" Here is the link....

http://www.quilterscache.com/G_I/Howtomakegeese.html

But here are a few tips for this method.

1) The reason I prefer this method is that you hardly waste any fabric and when you complete the steps you have made 4 units all at once.

2) I draw the lines on the back of the small squares first... especially the centre line. Then when I place the two small squares on the large squares, I line up the centre lines on the two small squares. (The instructions read like you put it on top of the square and then draw the lines...not easy to do.)

3) As her calculations expect you to sew accurately...my experience when I have used these measurements, I have had some larger and some smaller, which is not good, than the required 2"x4" finished. So I cut my squares a bit bigger than she says then I can trim them to the correct size afterwards. To give you an example....she says

EXAMPLE: to get a 2" x 4" finished Flying Geese unit,
you would use a 5 1/4" geese square and
four 2 7/8" sky squares.

I would cut the large square either 5 3/8" or 5 1/2" instead and I would cut four 3" squares. After I have finished I would trim it to be the 2" x 4".

Hope this helps....Good luck! Let us know if you need any further help.
TTFN from
Judy
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005
Total posts: 1366
From: Magot
Date: 05-13-2006, 04:19 PM (3 of 18)
Thanks Judy - whilst reading that I had one of those ''ohhhhhh'' penny drop moments - it always seemed to me that using the squares method wasted a lot of fabric (as in method 2 that she quotes) but 'B' really seems to be what I was looking for - thanks a bunch!

Any other comments folks?
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: HeyJudee
Date: 05-14-2006, 11:34 AM (4 of 18)
Ooops...Jan....I just realized that I may have misled you when I mentioned trimming to 2"x4" in my previous post. I would trim to 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" as you need to have the seam allowance before sewing so that the "finished" unit is 2"x4".
TTFN from
Judy
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005
Total posts: 1366
From: Magot
Date: 05-14-2006, 01:08 PM (5 of 18)
aha! thanks Judee!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: Sancin
Date: 05-14-2006, 05:40 PM (6 of 18)
Wonderful Jan - I love your colours! And your border sounds great.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005
Total posts: 895
From: joannequilts
Date: 05-14-2006, 07:34 PM (7 of 18)
Nice job Jan :up:
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000
Total posts: 3070
From: Magot
Date: 05-15-2006, 01:09 AM (8 of 18)
O Great Leader!
How is the recovery going?
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: joannequilts
Date: 05-15-2006, 06:52 AM (9 of 18)
Oh seems to be going very slowly which sucks lol
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000
Total posts: 3070
From: HeyJudee
Date: 05-15-2006, 10:36 AM (10 of 18)
Hang in there Joanne. We're all here cheering for you. Hope to see you around more and more. :up:
TTFN from
Judy
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005
Total posts: 1366
From: Magot
Date: 06-03-2006, 07:11 AM (11 of 18)
I don't think I'll do flying geese again - they are driving me insane. I lose my points! I'm glad you advised me to make a bit big and cut down Judee. I spent 4 hours yesterday massacring the darn things. Hopefully I'll get the border on soon and I can repost with a piccy.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: HeyJudee
Date: 06-03-2006, 07:54 AM (12 of 18)
Jan...another tip I should have given is to sew the geese together with the point of the geese on top. That way you can see the point and sew on the edge of it...thus not losing the points.

I know what you mean about not doing flying geese again....I had to make 320 of those for the blocks that I did for the Christmas Swap! That was my opinion then...but I over time you kinda change your mind. :smile:

Looking forward to seeing your pic!
TTFN from
Judy
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005
Total posts: 1366
From: Magot
Date: 06-04-2006, 12:27 PM (13 of 18)
Wel I only did about 130 Judy but that was enough!
I am now trying to decide whether to put another thinish border of white around it before binding with the small flowery fabric. I like working with a restricted palette or one tonal range - it makes you think about how it is all going to go together.
So here we are to date.....
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e81/Janicehodge/IMG_2583.jpg
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: HeyJudee
Date: 06-04-2006, 07:48 PM (14 of 18)
Jan...commented on your quilt in the Beginner's forum before I saw this pic. Just love your quilt! I like the border the way it is. Don't know if another white border would detract from the geese. Good luck with what you decide. Again...great quilt!
TTFN from
Judy
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005
Total posts: 1366
From: Magot
Date: 06-05-2006, 12:34 PM (15 of 18)
I think you may be right about the white - I'll see if I have enough of the flowery fabic to bind it - that would tie it all together. Thanks for your help/comments - the geese look great - from afar!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
From: joannequilts
Date: 06-05-2006, 05:30 PM (16 of 18)
Jan I will leave it up to you if you wish to send a pic now or when done :wink:
User: joannequilts
Member since: 12-22-2000
Total posts: 3070
From: Bama
Date: 06-11-2006, 01:30 PM (17 of 18)
Great job Jan! :up: Very pretty.

Speaking of flying geese, have you seen the way Eleanor Burns does them? I saw her on Simply Quilts the other day and want to try it.

http://images.scrippsweb.com/HGTV/2006/01/03/qlt1138_Peony.pdf
User: Bama
Member since: 03-21-2000
Total posts: 2116
From: Magot
Date: 06-11-2006, 01:45 PM (18 of 18)
Interesting Bama, I think I need one of those flying geese rulers if I do them again. For the moment I am sworn off them.
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us
Cells a Speciality
DNA to order.
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002
Total posts: 3626
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