My least favorite unit/block to make may be flying geese. No matter what method/ruler I use -- and I've tried them all -- they still come out wonky.
Another least favorite activity is reading long instructions. I've been quilting for at least 25 years and in that time I've just about done it all. So when I see a familiar unit/block in Bonnie Hunter's mystery, I just forge ahead and do it the way I've always done it. Clue One is a bunch of flying geese. I've always pressed the "goose" up to the "wings."
After making almost half of the required geese, I happened to notice that Bonnie recommends pressing the first wing down, and the second one up.
I tried it! And it does reduce the bulk at the intersection, just as she says. But mine are still wonky ...
I've never thought to do that either, but sounds like a good idea. I like the "4 at one time" method, but they do always need trimming and squaring up. That would get old with as many as you need to make, though!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure how I do them - and I'm still not sure if I will do the quilt or not!
ReplyDeleteWow I don't even know how I press mine, but I'll give it a try. Mine are usually wonky too.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip from Bonnie! Not my favorite block either although about 20 years ago, I did make a whole quilt of them for my best friend. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteFlying Geese are one of my favorite quilt blocks, but mine always come out slightly wonky, too. I use the 4-at-a-time method. I just trim off the ears and use them as is. I DO NOT square up - learned the hard way that doing so just results in cut off points. Fabric is flexible and forgiving, so when I sew my wonky FG units into a block they end up coming out just fine. I bet I've made thousands of FGs over the years!
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Studio 180's Wing Clipper ruler to make four-at-a-time. But some people have been posting (Quiltville on FB) a method by Gudrun Erla which uses strips, and other people have said that's what Eleanor Burns uses. I haven't figured that out yet and I do not want to have to invest in another specialty ruler. I do know that I want to avoid the folded-corner method because that will result in cut-away HSTs. I feel a compulsion to keep those and I have enough in the parts box already.
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