flying geese block - seam allowance?

[Susan B.]

I just completed many flying geese blocks for a border using the base rectangle (2 x 3 1/2) and corner squares (2 x 2) and sewed the squares diagonally. The blocks look great and piecing columns was fine BUT now I realize that there is no seam allowance and stitching the columns to the quilt center will result in cutting off the bottom points of the "geese". So, what technique for block construction would result in the necessary seam allowance? Help!

[Margo C.]

I just completed many flying geese blocks for a border using the base rectangle (2 x 3 1/2) and corner squares (2 x 2) and sewed the squares diagonally. The blocks look great and piecing columns was fine BUT now I realize that there is no seam allowance and stitching the columns to the quilt center will result in cutting off the bottom points of the "geese". So, what technique for block construction would result in the necessary seam allowance? Help!

Hmmmm....those measurements should result in a flying geese unit that looks like this:



The dashed line shows where the seam allowance will come right to the point of the goose.
Check your measurement on the final units. I have an idea they may measure 2" x 4".

[Margo C.]

The formula for the base rectangle of a FG is that the width is twice as wide as the height. So if you need finished 2 x 4 FG, you'd cut the base rectangle 2 1/2 x 4 1/2, so that you would have a 1/4" seam allowance on all sides and it would finish in the quilt at 2" x 4".

The two squares that you cut for this example would be 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".

HTH!

[Margo C.]

The measurements of 2" x 2" for the squares and 2" x 3-1/2" for the rectangle would combine to make a FG unit that finishes at 1-1/2" x 3".

[Margo C.]

The seam allowance at the tip of the triangle is fine; my concern is with the right and left sides. There is no seam allowance, therefore the points at the bottom of the triangle ends up in the seam.

[Margo C.]

The seam allowance at the tip of the triangle is fine; my concern is with the right and left sides. There is no seam allowance, therefore the points at the bottom of the triangle ends up in the seam.

The red lines would be your sewing lines. When you take the seam allowance off both sides and the bottom, the points are right in the corner!
Your units should be just fine!

[Margo C.]

Of course!! Sometimes the obvious answer eludes me! Thanks for your help.