Friday 9 March 2012

Catching Up...

Today I have been trying to catch up with some of the blocks I am making in my Thursday patchwork class. I managed to accomplish two fairly easily. They both went together fairly quickly.

Evening Star

Sister's Choice
This afternoon I have been wasting time trying to figure out how to make a flying geese block by using two squares and one rectangle. I cannot bear trying to piece rows of flying geese using tiny triangles. I just cannot work it out though. I have tried by doing a sample block and checking the size but it just isn't working. Can anyone help me? I know that I am expected to do the block by sewing by hand, but my life is too busy to spend the time doing it. My shoulders are all stiff and I am going to throw the towel in for the afternoon!!!

Di xo

8 comments:

  1. I love your new blocks! Have a look at this link and see if it helps with your flying geese problem. http://www.quilterscache.com/H/Howtomakegeese.html If not give me a shout and I'll see if I can help!

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  2. I think (no promises here) that the sum of the two squares together is supposed to be half an inch wider than the rectangle. So if you had two 2.5" squares you would have a 2.5 x 4.5" rectangle. Then where the two squares overlap when you sew them onto the triangle you get your 1/4" seam allowance. But try it in something you don't care about fabric wise or wait until someone who knows more than me replies.

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  3. Wow Di these are seriously impressive blocks! Beeyootiful!

    Re geese - Susan's suggestion sounds about right from memory, but I don't have lots of experience with geese. If you can find one of the sampler QALs that have been around lately - try Fresh Lemons blog Summer Sampler series or Sew Happy Geeks Sew Happy QAL - I'm sure there'll be a block tute with geese in.

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  5. I had to make loads of geese for the quilt I'm working on now. I pictured them in progress - http://outsideinspiration.blogspot.com/2011/12/some-weekend-sewing.html. Each one was from a 4"x2.5" rectangle and two 2.5" squares. The pattern said not to trim away the excess from the rectangle, just from the squares after they are stitched on and flipped. In some ways this seemed a bit strange, as it left me with double thickness for piecing, but it meant it kept the shape very well and I knew if I hadn't got it right with the squares by comparing them to the edges of the rectangle.

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  6. I've used this tute before which was helpful:
    http://piecefulkwilter.blogspot.com/2010/02/no-waste-flying-geese-tutorial.html
    Jxo

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  7. I don't think I have done any flying geese yet! ooh must give it a go!

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