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. 

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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.