Flying Geese problems

I'm using this fast method for making Flying Geese units, 4 at a time -

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, but they are not behaving well. Perhaps they are busy thinking of migrating, but my units are coming out about 1/8" too small. This I consider "close enough" to fudge for my own personal use, but not good enough for a block exchange. I've tried to be careful in my cutting and measuring, and I'm not sure where to look for mistakes. Should I just start with slightly bigger squares?

Reply to
frood
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Reply to
Diana Curtis

"frood" wrote in news:24lTe.75723$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.southeast.rr.com:

Sorry... I used the Eleanor Burns method and ruler and had no problem with mine turning out... but it isn't very flexible as far as size. They do turn out a bit bigger so you can trim to perfection, so maybe increasing your square sizes would work for you.....

Jan

Reply to
Jan

I double checked the math, and the sizes given are right. Have you checked your 1/4 seams? How's your pressing? (I see lots of quilts come in where the sewing was accurate but the pressing didn't open up the seam all the way and caused the final block to be off).

If all else fails, I recommend two margaritas and call me in the morning. ;-)

Reply to
Kathy Applebaum

Maybe it's the pencil lines? You draw the center line and then the stitching lines (or not if you have a 1/4 inch foot) Before you cut them apart, slap a ruler down. The line it up so a line is on the drawn line. Does the next line 1/4 inch away fall exactly on top of the stitching line? If not, that could be your problem and times two on a block could really make a difference.

marcella

Reply to
Marcella Peek

">I suspect you are making the infamous *Canada* Flying Geese and we all

They are NOT! You just gotta know how to say "Eh?!" in the proper context when dealing with them......... or at least you gotta put up with their annoying laughter when you inadvertently hit a goose poop on the golf course instead of your ball..... I suspect you are making the infamous *Canada* Flying Geese and we all know

Reply to
~KK in BC~

Interesting! I just came up from my sewing room where I was making these same "geese". I found you really had to take a SCANT 1/4" seam and then they came out o.k.

Betty in WI

Reply to
Betty in Wi

I used that method several years ago since I needed at least 100 geese for my outer border, but every 4th one was always off a bit. if I had to do that many over again, I would do paper piece strips of 8-10 at a time.

Reply to
BarbQuilts

There was a post in the last week or two referring us to website with another fast method for making FG. Like a fool, I didn't save the URL and I'm sure I will want it. If anyone can provide the link, please do. I wanted to try the other method as I too have had difficulty getting my FG to the exact size. Yeah, using a very scant quarter inch does help. I recently did 48; only had to do about 54 to get 48 usable ones!

Susan aka Betsy Ross

Reply to
Betsy Ross

This site

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has a different method. Haven't tried it yet. If anyone does, let us know if it is easier.

Reply to
Betsy Ross

I saw that method in the current Fons&Porter magazine, and it looked so very different from how my brain works. I decided not to try it.

Reply to
frood

That one looks similar to the Eleanor Burns method, but I haven't tried either one, so I can't be sure. Thanks for posting it - I'm sure someone will want to give it a try!

Reply to
frood

It turns out this is the problem. I have one of those add-a-quarter, or quick-quarter what'sits that you put down on the fabric, corner to corner, then draw down the middle. I was using a dull pencil and drawing down either side to get my sewing lines. I just went and measured, and it was greater than 1/2" apart. Now I know what the problem is, I can fix it. I did do another set of FGs, using bigger squares, and then I could trim them down.

Now, the next problem. This will be used as part of a guild program, and I'll be handing out instructions to use this method (with permission from the author). Should I make a note that people need to make sure their sewing lines are exactly 1/2" apart, or should I have them make the squares bigger, to be trimmed to size?

Reply to
frood

I use the method described in Mary Sue Suit's book "All the Blocks Are Geese". It is basically the same as the Eleanor Burns method except you don't need a special ruler, and you can make any size geese. You trim each block to the exact size so never any problem with size. I recently pieced a wall hanging where the sashing and border had about 200 geese, some 1x2, others 1.5x3. Mary Sue's method worked just find.

Julia in MN

Reply to
Julia in MN

Wendy: In your instructions, give enough information so the piecers can solve their own problems. Just state: "the sewing lines need to be precise, *OR* the squares can be sewn a tad big and trimmed."

BTW: I have one of those same gadgets and find it can be inaccurate. So instead of marking the two sewing lines, I just mark one diagonal (cutting) line on the square and stitch 1/4" on either side. I do cut my squares at the full inch, rather that the 7/8" suggested.

PAT

frood wrote:

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

FWIW, I start with squares just a tad larger (like round up to the nearest .5") then can cut them down when trimming the ears off.

Works for me ;-)

)O( Anne in CA )O( "It's not having what you want; it's wanting what you've got." -- Sheryl Crow

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I'm using this fast method for making Flying Geese units, 4 at a time - >
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, but they are not behaving > well. Perhaps they are busy thinking of migrating, but my units are coming > out about 1/8" too small. This I consider "close enough" to fudge for my own > personal use, but not good enough for a block exchange. I've tried to be > careful in my cutting and measuring, and I'm not sure where to look for > mistakes. Should I just start with slightly bigger squares?>

Reply to
Anne in CA

Since my 1/4" foot is an edge-guide foot, I have a hard time getting accurate seams unless the guide runs along an edge of fabric. For sewing down the middle, I find it easier to draw lines. Of course, the lines have to be in the right spot!

Reply to
frood

:-) yeah..... I love Eleanor Burns techniques... but I have to admit a few of them I walk in blind faith and they work much to my amazement! lol... the flying geese falls into that category.... but it's simple and they work every time! with no pain!

Jan

"frood" wrote in news:mbnTe.62332$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.southeast.rr.com:

Reply to
Jan

Julia in MN wrote in news:ylnTe.16201$ snipped-for-privacy@fe07.lga:

Cool!! Good to know!! Just out of curiosity, and not to hi-jack Frood's question...but is there any other way that people traditionally quilt flying geese other than in the ditch around the triangles??

Jan

Reply to
Jan

All depends... on my "Dancing Lights..." art quilt (see webshots album

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I quilted offsettriangles on the FG. Some were handquilted using multi thread silkthread and some machined. I think the detail pix show a bit of it.Back on Wendy's topic, I used paper piecing and didn't have to measureanything. Quite taken with that method - rough cut fabric pieces, lineup on paper, sew on paper line, flip up, iron etc. I think if I wasdoing a more formal border I would do it that way too, perhaps instrips (blocks) of 12 in or so (or length of printer paper...).--Bronnie

Reply to
Bronnie

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