Flying Geese for Block One

This mystery quilt is designed to show you two different ways to make perfect flying geese blocks. The clue links are listed at the bottom of this tutorial. To print just this clue, use the green Print Friendly button at the bottom of this page.

The Flying Geese for this Quilt Block will be made two at a time, cut apart and squared up using the small QIAD ruler if you have one. Make a practice block before chain stitching the rest.  Here is a basic tutorial, but there is a more detailed tutorial here.

Lay an 9″ square of the dark fabric face up on your cutting table and roughly center a 7-1/2″ square of the background fabric face down.  Draw a line on the diagonal through both fabrics.  Pin through this line and sew 1/4″ on either side of this line.

Cut on the line and press to the dark.  You will have two oddly shaped half square triangles (below.)  Put them right sides together, matching the edges NOT the seams.  The seams will not nestle, but that’s okay!  Draw a line on the diagonal of one these blocks going through the seam.  Once again, pin the two blocks together and sew 1/4″ on either side of the line.

Cut your block apart and you will have two blocks each with two Flying Geese units (below.)  Cut these blocks through the center of the dark as shown.  You have just made four flying geese blocks.

These units will need to be cleaned up a bit.  They are probably perfect (or close to it) on two or three sides, but the fourth side will need to be trimmed.   If you have a Small Flying Geese ruler, which measures 3-1/2″ ×  6-1/2″, you will sing its praises now!  Place the point of the triangle on the ruler on the point of the flying geese.  You will notice that this ruler has the 1/4″ seam allowance built in. Trim completely around the ruler.  A rotating mat will be extremely helpful in this step or any other step in which you have to square up blocks.

If you don’t have a Small Flying Geese ruler, a Point Trimmer ruler or any other ruler with triangular lines will work.  Be sure to leave that seam allowance!  Press to the dark.

Assemble:

• (10) 9″ Dark Squares
• (10) 7-1/2″ Background Squares

Following the above directions, make (10) blocks like this to make a total of (40) flying geese units. To make your sewing more efficient, mark your diagonal lines and chain stitch all your squares at once.  Cut them apart, mark your diagonal lines again and chain stitch the second set.  Cut them apart and trim to 3-1/2″ ×  6-1/2″.   Press to the dark.

IF YOU ARE MAKING THE LARGER SIZE
You will need more blocks. You will need to make a total of (60) Flying Geese Units in this colorway.

Mystery Clues

Don’t forget that anyone who sends me a picture of any step in this mystery before 1/3/23 will receive a copy of the final pattern. Send your pictures to phoebemoondesigns@gmail.com

Fabric Requirements
Cutting Instructions (clue available 12/31 at 9AM Eastern)
The Flying Geese for Block One (clue available 1/1/23 at 9AM Eastern)
The Flying Geese for Block Two (clue available 1/1/23 at 10AM Eastern)
More Blocks (clue available 1/1/23 at 11AM Eastern)
Even More Blocks (clue available 1/1/23 at noon Eastern
The Last Quilt Block (clue available 1/1/23 at 1PM Eastern
Borders (clue available 1/1/23 at 2PM Eastern)
The Final Frontier (clue available 1/1/23 at 3PM Eastern
Picture Page

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