Flying Geese formula

[Sharon E.]

Does anyone know the formula for making flying geese out of two fabric squares. I can't for the life of me find my notes. For example one square is 4" and the other square is 6" - or something like that. I need 1 1/2 x 3" wide. I know you sew from corner to corner, cut it and then place it on again... but apparently the Alzheimer's is working overtime today. LOL

Any help appreciated.

Sharon

[Sharon E.]

I don't know about only using 2 squares of fabric for flying geese, but I have just been using this method http://www.patchpieces.com/files/flyinggeese.pdf Is it any good for you?

[Rita C.]

Sharon, I think you are referring to Eleanor Burns method. For example to make a 3x6" finished geese patch, cut the larger square 9" and the smaller square 7 1/2". The smaller square is always 1 1/2" smaller. You draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4" either side. Cut and repeat lining up outside edges. Then you square them up to whatever finished size you need them. That makes 4.

[Rita C.]

Sharon, I think you are referring to Eleanor Burns method. For example to make a 3x6" finished geese patch, cut the larger square 9" and the smaller square 7 1/2". The smaller square is always 1 1/2" smaller. You draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4" either side. Cut and repeat lining up outside edges. Then you square them up to whatever finished size you need them. That makes 4.

:? how do you place the fabric to start with?

[Sharon E.]

You girls across the pond are awesome. The lightbulb has come on. I have tried both and will do both. Rosemary. You center the small one on the big one and sew corner to corner and then re-position them and sew again corner to corner. They start looking kinda funny, but it's cool how you end up with 4 flying geese. Rita I will look for my Eleanor Burns book.

Thanks again, Sharon

[Sharon E.]

If you want to see how Eleanor does these flying geese, she has a video on it. Go to her website and look at the tutorials. http://www.eleanorburns.com

It's a nifty way to make 4 FG at once. There is a bit of waste, but they come out perfect once you trim them to size. She sells rulers to do this, but I just use my regular ruler for trimming.

[Jo H.]

My all-time favorite way of making flying geese is using this ruler. They come out perfect.

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/produ..._Ruler/269/c48

[Robin G.]

Sharon, How funny. I just got back from my quilt group and we were talking about making flying geese and using the Eleanor Burns method, but then we were trying to figure out the formula for starting square size equals what finished geese size, and talking about how everyone who had seen the method had only seen specific sizes, not a formula. So then we were talking about developing a chart ... I have a set of her small rulers, and she lists 4 sizes (plus I've added Rita's first):
9 + 7.5 inch squares = 3 x 6 inch geese
7 + 5.5 inch squares = 2 x 4 inch geese
6 + 4.5 inch squares = 1.5 x 3 inch geese
5 + 3.5 inch squares = 1 x 2 inch geese
4.5 + 3 inch squares = .75 x 1.5 inch geese

I can see Rita's 1.5-inch difference between large and small squares, but I don't see a relation from starting to finished sizes, except that they get smaller. Maybe someone else can see a formula.

[Sharon E.]

thanks ladies -- you are the best. Robin, I was just thinking about you.

Sharon

[Sharon E.]

My all-time favorite way of making flying geese is using this ruler. They come out perfect.

http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/produ..._Ruler/269/c48

This is a maths free version of the method I use, which I really like because mine come out perfect too especially when starched :wink: and no fabric waste.

[Nancy R.]

Sharon, How funny. I just got back from my quilt group and we were talking about making flying geese and using the Eleanor Burns method, but then we were trying to figure out the formula for starting square size equals what finished geese size, and talking about how everyone who had seen the method had only seen specific sizes, not a formula. So then we were talking about developing a chart ... I have a set of her small rulers, and she lists 4 sizes (plus I've added Rita's first):
9 + 7.5 inch squares = 3 x 6 inch geese
7 + 5.5 inch squares = 2 x 4 inch geese
6 + 4.5 inch squares = 1.5 x 3 inch geese
5 + 3.5 inch squares = 1 x 2 inch geese
4.5 + 3 inch squares = .75 x 1.5 inch geese

I can see Rita's 1.5-inch difference between large and small squares, but I don't see a relation from starting to finished sizes, except that they get smaller. Maybe someone else can see a formula.

It looks like finished long size + 3" for the big square, then big square - 1.5" for the small square.

Nancy

[Robin G.]

Nancy, you're right! I couldn't see it. Thank you!!

[Hannelore N.]

My favourite method for Flying Geese is the the one that Ricky demoed in one of the shows. He said he learned it when on a visit in England. I learned it from a Dutch quilter when visiting a quilt shop in Belgium........ Small world!

[Rita C.]

For anyone who is interested here is another method of making flying geese that looks interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue1mB...eature=related

[Margo C.]

Here is another technique: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18491566/FlyingGeese.pdf