4-at-a-time Flying Geese Tutorial (with video!)

4-at-a-time flying geese are a great tool to have in your quilting arsenal. They’re versatile, no waste, and are the perfect way to make flying geese with a directional print. So, let’s make some geese!

If you’re working off a pattern, the pattern will stipulate the cuts of fabric you need. If you’re making up your own, here’s the formula you need to know. Please note that FINISHED width and height refers to the size of your flying geese unit once it has been sewn into your quilt top.

Update! Let me do the math for you! Check out this handy Flying Geese Calculator that will calculate what size pieces to cut for you, for any size Flying Geese!

In the photo above, I provide you with two formulas. The first is the “traditional” formula you’ll find if you search the internet. However, I highly recommend the second formula, which is my formula for perfect geese! There’s two reasons for this:

No need to cut a unit down to the 1/8th inch
Extra room for trimming to get those perfect geese!

Formula for perfect geese:

Finished width + 1.5″ = center of your geese (cut 1)
Finished height + 1″ = background (cut 4)

First, determine what you want the finished height and width of your flying geese to be. A flying geese is always twice as wide as it is tall. So, if you want a unit that is 2″ tall, it will be 4″ wide. We’ll use these measurements as our example.

To the finished width (4″), we’ll add 1.5″ = 5.5″. Cut one of these.

To the finished height (2″) we’ll add 1″ = 3″. Cut four of these.

1. Draw a line diagonally from corner to corner on the wrong side of all the 3” squares.

2. Position (2) 3” squares on (1) 5.5” square, right sides together.

3. Sew 1/4” away on both sides of the line. Cut on drawn line and press seams open.

4. Using one of the resulting units from step 3, position (1) 3” square in the center of the unit and sew 1/4” away on both sides of the line. Cut on drawn line and press seams open. Repeat with the second unit.