We’re delighted to introduce this great tutorial from guest blogger Laura Strutt on how to make perfect flying geese using foundation piecing.

“The Flying Geese motif is a simple and highly dramatic quilting block. There are so many different variations and designs that can be created from these stunning blocks. Due to the nature of the blocks, precision is key to ensuring that the elements come together accurately to give the crisp sharp points of the corners and points of the placed triangles.

Many quilters will turn to paper piecing to achieve this super neat finish to their blocks. Here’s where things get a bit clever folks! Switching out the paper for Vliesline Quickscreen Square, offers a neat and precise grid to follow when you are stitching – you can mark out your lines or simply follow the guides for the placement of the stitches. Because Vlieseline Quickscreen Square doesn’t warp, shrink or fray, you don’t have to remove it from the finished project – one less thing to worry about!

So, without further ado, here’s how to create perfectly neat Flying Geese Blocks!

Grab your supplies…

Selection of fabrics – I have worked with a background fabric, and a selection of prints and plain cottons for the geese

Vlieseline Quickscreen square

Fabric marker & Ruler

Trim the Vlieseline Quickscreen Square to create the blocks for the foundation piecing. Here I have cut the Quickscreen Square into a 12cm x 12cm template (following the 1cm grid).

Using the grid lines as a guide, mark out the stitching lines as shown here, for the flying geese. These are created by first marking out the border one grid box in from the cut edge of the Quickscreen Square the entire way around the edge. Next mark out the centre line that intersects that marked out box. From this line, mark out the upper and lower triangles, using the grid to place them centrally and evenly with in the upper and lower marked sections. To help with the placement of the fabrics the letter A  indicated the placement of the Geese fabrics (plain and prints) and the Letter B indicated the placement of the background colour.

The Flying Geese motif when pieced in this fashion can be worked with scraps of fabrics, here however, in order to get the most from the fabrics I have cut the background fabrics to half square triangles measure 5in (approx. 13cm) along the longer side (Triangle B) and fabrics for the geese to half square triangles that measure 6 3/4in (approx. 17cm) along the longer side (Triangle A). Each pre-cut block of Vlieseline Quickscreen Square will require two x Triangle A and four x Triangle B.

Once the pieces are cut you can begin to sew them together to create the Flying Geese design. Place the first Triangle A, right side up, onto the Quickscreen Square following the marked out guide.

The second piece to be added is Triangle B – aligning the raw edges with the right sides facing.

Turn the block over and using the guides on the back of the Quickscreen Square, sew the first two pieces into place with a straight machine stitch. When pressed open on the right side the first of side of the lower geese section is complete.

Working in the same manner, align the second Triangle B onto the second side of Triangle A and using the guides on the back of the square stitch in place with a straight machine stitch.

Pressing open on the right side will reveal the completed, neat lower section of the block!

The upper section is worked in much the same way, the first part that needs to be secured is the second Triangle A which will form the second part of the geese motif. Place the second Triangle A on to the lower section with the right sides facing, the long straight edge will align with the centre line marked out on the back of the block.

Once secured in place the piece can be pressed out on the right side and the remaining sections can be aligned and stitched. Working in the same order, position one of the remaining Triangle B pieces onto the upper section and using the guide on the back of the block secure in place with a straight machine stitch.

Press open on the right side before securing and stitching the final remaining piece to the block.

Press the block neatly and using the rotary cutter, ruler and mat neatly trim up to neaten – then you can create more in the exact same way and stitch together to create your own designs!

There are so many incredible ways to use these blocks – work them in vertical or horizontal lines, create your own designs using them.”

If you’d like to find the material Laura used follow the links below

Vlieseline Quickscreen Square, (you’ll find more tutorials here too)

The full range of interfacings and batting can be found on the Vlieseline website

The fabrics featured in this tutorial are a range of prints from the Art Gallery Fabrics Collection and a wonderful bundle of solids from http://www.simplysolids.co.uk

This tutorial was created by Designer, Author & Creative Consultant for Vlieseline, Laura Strutt of Made Peachy