Summer Mini Quilt Blog Hop: Day 4

We can't wait for summer! To help put us all in a carefree, sunshine-y mindset, this week we're hosting the Summer Mini Quilt Blog Hop! Thanks to our talented designer friends, we'll be featuring tutorials to make four different summer-themed mini quilts.

Who doesn't love bright and bold colors in the summer? Today Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation is sharing a tutorial for a modern flying geese mini using a gorgeously textured and cheerful palette from the Patio Splash collection. Check out her tutorial and then head over to her blog to enter for a chance to win a bundle of Patio Splash. 

Here's Kelly!

Happy almost summer, friends!  I'm Kelly, and my blog home is My Quilt Infatuation.  I'm super excited to share the tutorial for this little mini, featuring a few fabrics from the Patio Splash collection.  I chose to use the Color Strokes prints from this collection, and I am in love with the fresh, summery palette.

This mini is a fun twist on the timeless flying geese block.  My making geese of several sizes, it creates the fun illusion of sliding right down the quilt.

Materials-
(6) assorted fat quarters, Patio Splash Color Strokes
1/4 yard solid white background fabric
1 fat quarter, Color Strokes fabric for backing
binding fabric (cut from leftovers)

This mini requires cutting your fabrics into several different sizes, and I've tried to make this part as organized as possible so it doesn't get too tedious.

From the pink and purple fabrics, cut-
(1) 2" x 3.5" rectangle
(1) 4.5" x 8.5" rectangle

From the red and turquoise fabrics, cut-
(1) 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle
(1) 4" x 7.5" rectangle

From the Yellow and orange fabrics, cut-
(1) 3" x 5.5"
(1) 3.5" x 6.5"

From the solid white fabric, cut-
(4) 4.5" squares
(4) 4" squares
(4) 3.5" squares
(4) 3" squares
(4) 2.5" squares
(4) 2" squares
(2) 1.5" x 4"rectangles
(2) 2.5" x 3.5"rectangles
(2) 3" x 3.5"rectangles
(2) 2.5" x 4.5"rectangles
(2) 2" x 5.5"rectangles

When working with so many different sizes, I find it easiest to lay everything out for your flying geese units before sewing anything at all.  Arrange them in increasing size order on the left, and decreasing size order on the right.  Then, to keep everything organized, go ahead and lay two white squares of the corresponding size on each rectangle.  These squares will be the corner units needed to create the flying geese units.

To sew the flying geese, we'll use the stitch and flip method.  When making several geese the same size, there are more efficient ways to make more geese at one time, but that doesn't really help when you only need a single unit of each size/color.  To make a single geese unit, align the white square with the edge of the print rectangle, and sew from corner to corner.

To help you sew a straight line, you can either draw a line on the wrong side of your square, or you can use painter's tape.  Keep the corners of your square aligned with the edges of the painter's tape, and you'll have no trouble keeping a straight seam.

Since there are only 12 total flying geese, it is pretty quick to sew the first square to each one, before heading to the ironing board.

Then, just take your scissors and trim each corner to 1/4" seam allowance. Don't worry!  This doesn't have to be perfect.  Just be sure you don't cut too close to the seam.  Then press each corner open!

Then, just repeat this process on the opposite side of each flying geese unit, using the second white square.

When they're all pressed open, lay them back out in order by size, and use your white rectangles to fill in the gaps, making each flying geese unit the length of the longest one.

Pay close attention to the direction of the flying geese.  I've chosen to have one row pointing upward, and the other down, but you can mix them up if you would rather.  Sew each unit to its corresponding strip, and then sew the flying geese strips together to make your mini.

Finish it up by quilting it however you like.  This finished mini measures 16" x 16 1/2" and the bright happy colors would be a cute addition to your favorite summer decor, either inside, or (dare I say it?) your patio!

I'm so excited that I have the opportunity to offer a fun giveaway!  Benartex is graciously offering a bundle of the Patio Splash fabrics I used to a a lucky reader.  Head HERE to my blog home to enter.

Happy summer and happy sewing, y'all!

Head over to Kelly's blog to enter the giveaway! 

Click here to see the entire Patio Splash collection. 

Don't miss the other days of our Summer Mini Quilt Blog Hop!

Summer Mini Quilt Blog Hop:
Day 1: Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts using Liberty Garden
Day 2: Benartex blog design team using Play Ball
Day 3: Alison from Little Bunny Quilts using Anything Goes
Day 4: Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation using Patio Splash

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Burlap Brights Block Hop: Day 9

Welcome to the ninth day of our Burlap Brights Block Hop! We hope you are enjoying the eleven block tutorials our designing friends are sharing here this week and last week. Be sure to stop by each day to see a new block and have a chance to win some Burlap Brights for yourself!

Today, Cynthia from Quilting is more fun than Housework is sharing a block made using Flying Geese using blue, red, orange, and yellow. Check out her tutorial (she also shows the block in green and purple!) and then head over to her blog to enter for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the six Burlap Brights prints featured in our hop.


Hello -  I'm Cynthia of Quilting is more fun than Housework.  I often realize how blessed I am to make a living doing what I am passionate about...and that is quilting.  I am a longarm quilter, pattern designer and quilt instructor.
  I have the Best. Job. Ever!

 

When I was recently approached by Benartex to design a block for their Burlap Brights, I was thrilled!  I love color and to have the opportunity to play with these bright fabrics made my "job" even better!

I mean take a look at this bundle!  
With such intense colors, I knew I wanted to make something that played with both the hot and cool colors that were provided.   And I am happy I get to share the tutorial for my block with you!

 So lets get started.

I will be using the cool colors for my background and the hot colors for some flying geese. 

For each block you will need to cut the following:

2 ea - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles (Red)

2 ea - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles (Orange)

2 ea - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles (Yellow)

12 ea - 2 1/2" squares (Blue)

1 ea - 8 1/2" x 12 1/2" rectangle (Blue)

Mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of all 12 background squares.

 Align one square as shown on each of the colored rectangles and sew on the marked line.  I always sew from the middle down to the point (so the point doesn't get sucked down into the machine or distorted with sewing)

  Trim the corners off 1/4" above the seam and press toward the background.

Add a second square to the other side of the rectangles using the same method. 

 Once again, trim and press toward the background.

You end up with a pretty geese component like this one!

 To make the finished block, you will be making 2 red, 2 orange and 2 yellow geese components.

Once your geese components are finished, they need to be laid out in this configuration.  

To sew the strip, you just join the components.

When I sew two geese together, I like to have the component with the point on top so I can see the point of that triangle so I know where to sew.  This will help to ensure you don't lose those points. 

Once you have the strip sewn, you just need to join it to the right side of the large rectangle.

Here is the finished block. It measures 12 1/2" and will finish up at a 12" block.  

It might look a bit plain...

 ...but the magic happens when you start playing with the layout!  

Here is one quick option but there are many more to discover.

Not a fan of blue, these block look great in the purple and green too!

I have enjoyed my day here on the Burlap Brights Block Hop. It was great fun playing with these wonderful fabrics.  

If you happen to use my block tutorial for a project of your own, I hope you share it with me.  

Thanks so much!  Cynthia


Thanks Cynthia! Head over to Quilting is more fun than Housework to enter to win a fat quarter bundle of the six Burlap Brights she used to make her blocks. 

Make sure you check out each day's tutorial!

Day 1: Chris from made by ChrissieD

Day 2: Mary from Mary on Lake Pulaski

Day 3: Alison from Little Bunny Quilts

Day 4: Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts

Day 5: Kristen from KD Quilts 

Day 6: Benartex design team

Day 7: Stephanie from Stitched Together Studios

Day 8: Julie from The Crafty Quilter

Day 10: Jessica from Quilty Habit 

To see the entire schedule, click here.

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Burlap Brights Block Hop: Day 8

Welcome to the eighth day of our Burlap Brights Block Hop! We hope you'll enjoy the eleven block tutorials our designing friends are sharing here this week and last week. Be sure to stop by each day to see a new block and have a chance to win some Burlap Brights for yourself!

Today, Julie Cefalu from The Crafty Quilter is sharing a block made using Flying Geese in all six of the rainbow colors. Check out her tutorial and then head over to her blog to enter for a chance to win a fat quarter bundle of the six Burlap Brights prints featured in our hop.

Hey everyone! My name is Julie Cefalu from The Crafty Quilter blog, and not only do I get to teach and work in a quilt shop, I also get to share my creativity online to a much larger audience. I have lots of tips and tutorials that I share on my blog, and I hope you'll visit me there! I am so glad to be participating in the Burlap Brights Block Hop! I'm a fan of burlap, but I'm even more of a fan of the texture and color of these fabrics from Benartex. There is just the right amount of texture and "feel" to these solids and their color is beautifully saturated. When I received my fat quarter bundle of fabric, I felt like I was opening up a box of crayons!

   

I named my block Rainbow Geese Rotation. I really wanted to use all six of the colors that were provided, and I'm so happy with the design I came up with. It's fairly simple, but the colors make is seem more complex. A little rainbow pizazz in your geese!

   

The construction of this block is pretty straight forward. You will be making two flying geese units of each color that measure 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" unfinished. There are many techniques to make flying geese units. Whenever I can, I like to make my pieced units OVER-SIZED so I can be trim them down to the perfect size later. 
NOTE: The cutting instructions, below, are for making over-sized flying geese units. For this tutorial, I have used a Bloc Loc ruler to trim down the flying geese units. You can also use a square ruler to trim them down. If you prefer, you can cut your pieces to the standard size as follows: for each flying geese unit you need (1) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" colored rectangle and (2) 2 1/2" squares of white. The piecing technique is exactly the same. 
Here's what you need to make one 12 1/2" (unfinished) block: 

Fabric and cutting instructions:

• White: (4) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles, (24) 2 3/4" squares
• Yellow: (1) 4 1/2" square, (2) 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles
• Orange: (2) 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles
• Red: (2) 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles
• Purple: (2) 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles
• Blue: (2) 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles
• Green: (2) 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangles

Construction: 
Make flying geese units.

• Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of each 2 3/4" white square.
• Place a white square, right sides together onto one side of each 2 3/4" x 4 3/4" rectangle.
• Stitch on the diagonal line.
• Trim. Press toward the corner.
• Repeat for the opposite side.

   

You can chain piece them through to save time and thread:    

Trim the flying geese units to 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles.

Let me show you how the Bloc Loc ruler works, and then I'll show you how to use a standard, square ruler to trim up your units. The Bloc Loc ruler has a groove on the back side that locks into place along the seam allowances. This allows for quick and easy placement of the ruler and accurate trimming of the first two sides (right and top).

   

Then, you rotate the unit around so that you can trim the remaining two sides as shown below:

   

You can use a square ruler with a diagonal line to trim your flying geese units as well. You need to locate the 2 1/4" lines on the ruler. (This is the center of a 4 1/2" side). The 2 1/4" intersection on the ruler gets placed on the center point of the flying geese unit. The diagonal line of the ruler gets placed on the seam. Then you can trim the right edge.    

Next, trim the top edge by keeping the right edge of the ruler along the previously trimmed side and placing the 1/4" line of the ruler at the center seam of the unit. Trim along the top edge.    

Now you rotate the flying geese unit around so that you can trim the remaining two sides. This time, line up the 2 1/2" and 4 1/2" lines of the ruler on the previously trimmed edges. Trim along the right side and upper edge.    

Make two flying geese units of each color: yellow, orange, red, purple, blue and green.

   

Assemble the block: 

Place the 12 flying geese units, the 4 1/2" yellow square, and the (4) 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" white rectangles as shown below:    

Stitch each unit into pairs; they should measure 4 1/2" square. Then stitch the pairs into three rows as shown below:    

When you sew flying geese units together, make sure you stitch right through the center "X" or point. You'll make nice, sharp points that way!    

Sew your rows together, matching seams. Press. Your block should measure 12 1/2" square.

   

This is such a happy-looking block. I think it would make a great center for a mini medallion quilt or you could make a bunch of them and you've got a perfect kid's quilt. There are lots of possibilities; I hope you are inspired to make one, too! 

 

Thanks Julie! Head over to The Crafty Quilter to enter to win a fat quarter bundle of the six Burlap Brights she used to make her block. 

Make sure you check out each day's tutorial!

Day 1: Chris from made by ChrissieD

Day 2: Mary from Mary on Lake Pulaski

Day 3: Alison from Little Bunny Quilts

Day 4: Debby from Debby Kratovil Quilts

Day 5: Kristen from KD Quilts 

Day 6: Benartex design team

Day 7: Stephanie from Stitched Together Studios
Day 9: Cynthia from Quilting is more fun than Housework
Day 10: Jessica from Quilty Habit 

To see the entire schedule, click here.

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Tutorial: Flying Geese Shortcut by Jackie Robinson

Today designer Jackie Robinson of Animas Quilts is here, sharing a step-by-step tutorial for her Dizzy Geese pattern using her "He Still Loves Me" fabrics. 
Don't miss Jackie's special offer at the end of this post!

"Dizzy Geese" designed by Jackie Robinson, 64" x 77"

What's so neat about this pattern? For starters, you won't be cutting and sewing any triangles! If you dread making square-in-a-square blocks literally be square, you'll have no problems here--the block builds out, layer by layer, with easy piecing. 

Second--"block," not "blocks." Despite the illusion you might see below, this cool design is made with just one pieced block and carefully placed colors. Simple. 

Here's Jackie!

Hello! Happy to be here today sharing my method for making the Flying Geese for this "Dizzy Geese" design!

Let's get started:

First, download the cutting info from the pattern sheet. (The pattern sheet will give you the whole pattern as well, but I'll walk you through the steps here.)  

Next, pre-cut all the pieces. You’ll notice the cuts are in descending order according to size.  The reason I cut this way is because IF we mess up a cut, we can always cut it down to a smaller size.  But, if I was cutting the small pieces first, that wouldn’t be an option - I'd just need more fabric. Be thrifty--cut larger pieces first!

1.  Stitch (3) strip sets of 2-1/2” Blue Forget Me Not Small Floral and 2-1/2” Yellow Multi Scroll.  Press toward the Navy.  It should measure 4-1/2” from edge to edge.  From these, subcut (40) 2-1/2” segments. 

2.  Stitch the Step 1 units together into (20) 4-patch units.  They should measure 4-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge.   

3.  Sew a 2” x 4-1/2” Blue Mini Medallion to two opposite sides of the Step 2 4-patch units.  The seam goes toward the outer edge.  Make 20.  

4.  Stitch a 2” x 7-1/2” Blue Mini Medallion to the remaining two sides of the Step 3 units, totally enclosing the 4-patch.  Press toward the outer edge.  Make 20.  They should measure 7-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge.   

5.  Now the FUN really begins! Perfect triangle corners are a piece of cake. Diagonally stitch a 3-1/2” square of Blue Mini Scroll across the two opposite corners near the Blue corners of the framed 4-patch.  Trim the excess fabric from the seam and gently press these seams toward the outer edge.  Make 2 corners on each of the 20 blocks.   

6.  Diagonally stitch a 3-1/2” square of Yellow Mini Scroll across the two remaining opposite corners near the Yellow corner of the 4-patch.  Trim the excess fabric from the seam and gently press these seams toward the outer edge.  Make 2 corners on each of the 20 blocks.  These blocks measure 7-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge, and they have a triangle on each corner.   

7. We’re back to adding straight strips around the outer edges.  Sew a 2” x 7-1/2” Blue Mini Medallion to two opposite sides of the Step 6 units.  The seam goes toward the outer edge.    

8.  Stitch a 2” x 10-1/2” Blue Mini Medallion to the remaining two sides of the Step 7 units.  Press toward the outer edge.  Make 20.  They should measure 10-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge.    

9.  It’s time to put triangles on the corners again!  Diagonally stitch a 3-1/2” square of Blue Daisy Butterfly All Over across the two opposite corners near the Blue corner of the 4-patch.  Trim the excess fabric from the seam and gently press these seams toward the outer edge.  Make 2 corners on each of the 20 blocks.     

10.  Diagonally stitch a 3-1/2” square of Yellow Forget-Me-Not Small Floral across the two remaining opposite corners near the Yellow corner of the 4-patch.  Trim the excess fabric from the seam and gently press these seams toward the outer edge.  Make 2 corners on each of the 20 blocks.  These blocks measure 10-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge.     

11. One more go-around--almost done! Let’s surround them again with straight strips.  Sew a 2” x 10-1/2” Blue Mini Medallion to two opposite sides of the Step 10 units.  The seam goes toward the outer edge.   

12.  Stitch a 2” x 13-1/2” Blue Mini Medallion to the remaining two sides of the Step 10 units.  Press toward the outer edge.  Make 20.  They should measure 13-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge.     

13.  And . . . more corner triangles.  Diagonally stitch a 3-1/2” square of Light Blue Forget-Me-Not Small Floral across the two opposite corners near the Blue corner of the 4-patch.  Trim the excess fabric from the seam and gently press these seams toward the outer edge.  Make 2 corners on each of the 20 blocks.   

14.  Diagonally stitch a 3-1/2” square of Yellow Daisy Butterfly All Over across the two remaining opposite corners near the Yellow corner of the 4-patch.  Trim the excess fabric from the seam and gently press these seams toward the outer edge.  Make 2 corners on each of the 20 blocks.  These blocks measure 13-1/2” square from raw edge to raw edge.     

15.  Lay out the blocks and carefully stitch the quilt together in 5 rows of 4 blocks each.  Press.     

16.  Attach the borders, beginning and ending at the 1/4” seam allowance at each corner, and leaving the miter ‘tail’ extending.   

17.  Place a corner to miter on your ironing board, with the border that is lying horizontal extending to the right, and the one that is vertical on top of it and extending up.  Fold the top extending border diagonally under and position so it is exactly on top of the one extending to the right.  Once you are satisfied that the miter is correct, smash it with the iron.    

18.  Use a pin or two to hold the mitered corner in place.  From the underside, stitch in the pressed crease.  Check to see that it’s correct and if it is, trim the excess from the seam to 1/4”.  Press these seams open.  Miter the remaining corners in the same way.

19.  Layer your quilt and prepare to quilt your masterpiece.  I like to accentuate the diagonals by stitching diagonally through the corners.  You may want to also quilt in all the seams (in the ditch).  Outline the daisies in the border.

20.  Bind with the strips specified, following the instructions with the Binding Miter Tool.  If you're not familiar with this terrific tool, watch a video demo here.


Thanks Jackie! Stop by Jackie's Facebook page and "like" it to receive quilting tips, special offers, and sneak peeks at what's coming up. 

And make sure that you're following our blog (through a blog reader like Bloglovin' or via email; you can find sign-up options for both in the right-hand sidebar) to find more fantastic tutorials, interviews with designers, and news about Benartex's upcoming fabric lines!

As a thank you for stopping by this tutorial and Jackie's Facebook page, she's got a special deal for you! For the next 5 days only, you can purchase a kit for this Dizzy Geese pattern featuring Jackie's He Still Loves Me fabric for 15% off! Find the link for this offer here.

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