Quilting Tutorial: No Waste Flying Geese with Directional Fabrics

Oh flying geese! It's funny how much I've fallen in love with all things geese-related this year! :) I've really come to prefer flying geese to HSTs for a sawtooth star (hello Felix!) but also all the cute little geese I can find in fabrics/prints/figurines! I'm not sure what's happened, but here we are. 

One tricky thing about flying geese with the method I prefer (no waste) is keeping those directional fabrics straight. Now, if you've been here for a while you might know that I really like to buck the system when it comes to directional fabric. I guess it's my own little quilty rebellion. I want a quilt that can flop any which way and doesn't feel too fussy. Because that's *my* style. But that's not the "right" way nor should be your style! 

So as I was writing up Edward, I realized this pattern really is better suited for working to keep those directional fabrics straight. (If that's your jam) So here's a quick little tutorial for how to keep those star points going all the same direction!

Using the no-waste flying geese method, you have one large square and four small squares to start with. The large square, the gingham, becomes the background and the small squares, the stripes, become the wings. You will need to draw diagonal lines on two of the small squares going one direction and then the opposite direction for the remaining two small squares.

1. Begin by positioning the striped squares in opposite corners of the large gingham block with the stripes all going the same direction (as shown above). 

2. Sew 1/4" away from both sides of the drawn lines on the smaller squares and then cut along the drawn line. 

3. Before I press the "wings"/small squares out, I lay the next square on top of the unit (shown above). If you notice at this point, the stripes all are going in the same direction. This just helps me know I'm putting it in the correct direction.

4. Press your "wings" out and then check again to make sure the orientation on the new square is going to match the unit you've already sewn. Pin and sew on both sides of the drawn line. 

5. Cut along the drawn line and press those wings out. You'll now have 2 geese with stripes on the wings going the same direction. I failed to get a picture of this step (I'm so sorry!!!), but this is going to give you one flying goose with the stripes running vertically and another with them running horizonatlly, exactly what you need for a sawtooth star! 

Repeat with the remaining units and you'll have four flying geese to use as star points in a Sawtooth Star block like Edward! :) 

I hope this helps visualize the process a little! I'm hoping to add a video to my YouTube channel soon if that would help too! :)