Mardi-Gras Magic Mystery Clue Two and Three

Mardi Gras Magic Quilt Mystery Making Flying Geese

This clue uses the traditional method of making Flying Geese Blocks. If you prefer another method, cut for that one, not the one shown below. Here is a detailed tutorial on using the Traditional Method to Make Flying Geese Blocks.

Read over the clue below before you start cutting. I do suggest some alternative ideas.

The Traditional Method of Making 40 Flying Goose Blocks

Assemble:

• (40) 3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ Feather rectangles
• (80) 3-1/2″ Background squares

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of a 3-1/2″ Background square and place it on one corner of a
3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ flying goose rectangle, right sides together.  I’m using the Quilt-in-a-Day Flying Geese ruler in the picture below because I like the way the 1/4″ seam shows and I will eventually be using this ruler to square up the block. I will NOT be using this method of making flying geese in this mystery because not everyone has this ruler.

Sew on the line and finger press the square up to the corner of the rectangle. It should line up perfectly. Cut off the excess underneath before pressing the square to the corner.

Create all the left side corners before adding the right side. This is called chain piecing and saves a lot of time.

FYI: that’s my bottle of Best Press in the picture, as well as the Creative Grid stripology ruler. Neither is required for this mystery, they just make things a bit easier.

Repeat this process with the other side, overlapping the first square. Press and square up your block to
3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″.

Here is an idea: When you are drawing your sewing line for the corners, draw another one 1/2″ away. Sew on that line as well.

Then cut between the lines. Can you guess what will happen? Yes, indeed, you will get a bonus HST. It’s probably going to be 2-3/4″ square, but I square mine up to 2-1/2″. Don’t do that now – they aren’t used in this mystery. That ruler is from the Quilt-in-a-Day Square-Up set.

Making 40 More Flying Goose Blocks

Assemble:

• (40) 3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ Mask rectangles
• (80) 3-1/2″ Background squares

Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of a 3-1/2″ Background square and place it on one corner of a
3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″ flying goose rectangle, right sides together. 

Sew on the line and finger press the square up to the corner of the rectangle. It should line up perfectly. Cut off the excess underneath before pressing the square to the corner. Create all the left side
corners before adding the right side.

Repeat this process with the other side, overlapping the first square. Press and square up your block to
3-1/2″ × 6-1/2″.