BOM pattern for sawtooth 1/2 square triangles too small?

[Susan B.]

Thank you Kathy. I thought her way looked interesting, but of course, she was giving the dimensions for the project of the day, and using her special square up template. Were you working from a formula or just trying to logic your way through? (the latter, not something for a newbie like me!) I'll give it a try!

[karen f.]

I recently wrote myself a cheat sheet for this formula to make Eleanor Burns' flying geese.
For the geese part you multiply the finished size by2 and add 1 1/2 inches. For the sky parts you take the finished size and add 3".

For example if you want 4"x8 " finished flying geese the geese squares are cut size 9 1/2 sq. and the sky is an 11 inch sq.

2x4 finished uses a 5 1/2" sq for the geese and a 7" sq for the sky.
I hope this is helpful. Karen

[Susan B.]

Thank you Karen, that was the information I was after!

[Diana U.]

I have used Eleanor Burns method for several quilts and like it too. For the Sawtooth Stars I took an extra Omnigrid 2.5" x 2.5" rulers and had my DH cut it down on one side making it 2.5" x 1.5". I marked the top with some clear tape for the goose portion and added my post-it notes to the back where the goose is. This lets me slide the modified ruler right up into the goose for a positive fit.

[Kathryn S.]

Thank you Kathy. I thought her way looked interesting, but of course, she was giving the dimensions for the project of the day, and using her special square up template. Were you working from a formula or just trying to logic your way through? (the latter, not something for a newbie like me!) I'll give it a try!

Hi Sue, I see that Karen wrote you an answer. I sort of went about it roundabout.

If you make the geese the hard way by sewing 2 triangles to the outside of the sky triangle (Voice of experience, not the method for me!), you would cut a square into quarter square triangles for the center sky triangle. That one would be the finished size of the long side, plus 1-1/4 inches. I wasn't going to cut it up before sewing, but it gave me a size to start with.

My long finished side would measure 2 inches- I added the 1-1/4 inch. The Eleanor Burns method has you trim the goose down to size at the end, so I added 1/4 inch to that for a fudge factor, and got 3-1/2 inches square for the center sky fabric.

Then I noticed that her star points square is always 1-1/2 inches bigger than the sky triangle square. So that is a 5 inch square.

When I made the geese, there was stuff to trim off on all 4 sides but it worked out just fine.

Anything smaller would be hard to work with!

Hope this is of any help, Kathy

[Margo C.]

If anyone else is interested in trying this technique, this blog shows how. You will need to use Kathy's measurements, and either get one of Eleanor's rulers, or figure something out with another ruler. Anyway....the technique works great!

http://stitchesandditches.blogspot.c...ing-geese.html

[Susan B.]

Ya'll rock! This is good information. I'm going to try to get that EB mini-ruler set. Actually, I'm having ok luck getting my sawtooth stars to come out pretty well, but I feel like they could be better, mostly with this goose section.

Now, not to change the subject, because maybe we should have a section called "Pressing Matters", but when ironing open the seams, there is one tiny section that gives me fits...where the base of the flying geese folds back on itself. Any suggestions?

[Margo C.]

Sue, you might try one of Ricky's techniques. He says to spritz it with water and "iron (pronounced arrrrrn) the snot out of it!!" LOL!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually, you'll have better luck getting the water only where you need it if you use a child's AQUADOODLE. I got mine at WalMart and just use plain water. Works like a charm!

http://www.amazon.com/Aquadoodle-BRU...302&sr=8-1

[Kathryn S.]

If anyone else is interested in trying this technique, this blog shows how. You will need to use Kathy's measurements, and either get one of Eleanor's rulers, or figure something out with another ruler. Anyway....the technique works great!

http://stitchesandditches.blogspot.c...ing-geese.html

Margo, I use a square-in-a-square ruler that I bought a long time ago. It has very very thin lines, with a 90 degree angle on one side of the ruler. I just put the angled lines of the goose under the ruler, and it lines up right where the first cut has to be made, at the point of the angle plus the quarter inch. The other cuts i just make with a regular ruler.

I haven't used the Square in a square ruler for its intended use according to their directions, 'cause it leaves bias edge. But it's been great to make the first trim on those flying geese.

(The EB ruler doesn't go down to this teeny size of geese)

Kathy

[Margo C.]

Thanks for clarifying that about the ruler, Kathy!

[Sandy M.]

Kathy,

I have the EB "mini ruler set" that goes down to this teeny size (1" x 2").

Sandy

[Sandy M.]

Okay, Margo, there must be a story behind how you figured out that the AquaDoodle could be used as a quilting tool!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

[Margo C.]

Shhhhhhh......I've been hanging out a another quilt site (Machine Quilter's Resource) that is geared to domestic and long-arm quilters. I took an on-line class and that is one of the tools Deb recommended for removing lines of water soluable markers when quilting on the machine! Works great!!!!
I've also used it to remove areas of water soluable thread that I used to baste the quilt top!

[Susan B.]

OMG another thank you Margo. I went to this website & had the pleasure of viewing Deb Levy's work. I have been spending recuperation time viewing hundreds of quilts online, but she has the BesT photos of machine quilting.

So, what does this Aquadoodle do that is so special?

[Susan B.]

Sometimes I amaze myself with putting my foot in my mouth, however, I am amazed at the way the photography on the links of Machine Quilter's Resource site shows off intricate quilting, not just of the person I mentioned in the last post but of lots of the members. Granted, lots of people there are professionals, but I'm already thinking about how I'm going to get this beautiful BOM quilted. Everything I've done so far in my limited experience has had much bigger areas to work on. As a not very experienced quilter, I anticipate needing guidance on how to quilt, for example, the sawtooth stars & our sampler blocks. How would a quilter go about deciding? I'd hate to have my poor quilting design choice detract from the piecing.