Hand Pieced QAL: Flying Geese Unit (Block 3)

Welcome to week 3 of the Hand Pieced Quilt Along! Today we will be stitching Flying Geese units. The Dutchman’s Puzzle block is a great way to master this simple unit.

Here is a short video on how I hand pieced the flying geese unit.

For information on basic hand piecing techniques, refer to this post on cutting and marking, this one on the running stitch, or check out this hand piecing video playlist.

Block size: 6″ finished (6 1/2’’ unfinished)

Notes:

• All seam allowances are 1/4″
• Stitching lines are drawn on the wrong side of fabric and always start and end 1/4″ from the edge of the fabric
• RST=Right sides together

Materials

• Print fabric: (4) 3″ squares, carefully cut each square in half on the diagonal (yielding 8 triangles total)

Note: Each 3″ square will yield 2 flying geese triangles. If you want to have four flying geese out of the same fabric, cut your square 4 1/4″ and carefully cut the square on the diagonal in both directions (yielding 4 triangles)

• Background fabric: (8) 2 3/8″ squares, carefully cut each square in half on the diagonal (yielding 16 triangles total)

Instructions:

Creating Flying Geese Units

1. Mark a 1/4″ seam allowance on the wrong side of each triangle patch. (watch video)
2. Place a background triangle on the print triangle, RST, along the right edge (see below). Pin at the beginning and end of the stitching lines.
3. Stitch along one side, starting 1/4″ from the edge and stopping 1/4″ from the end and knot. (watch video) Finger press open, pressing seam allowance towards the corner.
4. Repeat with second background triangle on the opposite side.
5. Repeat, creating 8 flying geese units total.

Sewing Units Together

1. Place two flying geese blocks together, both pointing the same direction, RST, as shown above. Pin at the center point, as well as the beginning and ending of the stitching line.
2. Sew along the stitching line, back stitching once at the center intersection.
3. Push your needle through the seam allowance, to the other side and back stitch once on this side of the seam. (watch video)
4. Continue stitching to end of the stitching line and knot. Finger press open.
5. Repeat with the other 3 pairs of flying geese units. You should have 4 “double flying geese” units.

Finishing the Block

1. Sew together two double flying geese units, as shown above. Pin at the center point, as well as the beginning and ending of the stitching line.
2. Repeat with the remaining two double flying geese units.
3. Sew together these two units as shown to form the Dutchman’s Puzzle block.

Be sure to click on over to Patty’s blog to see her block as well!

Thanks to Fat Quarter Shop and Famore for sponsoring the block tutorials!

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