Flying geese are a staple in many quilting designs, adding a dynamic and versatile element to your projects. If you’ve been looking for an efficient way to create them, Elinor Burns’ method of making four flying geese at a time is a game-changer. This step-by-step guide, along with a detailed video tutorial, will walk you through the process, ensuring your flying geese are perfect every time.

Step-by-Step Guide to Elinor Burns’ 4-at-a-Time Flying Geese Method

Materials Needed:

• Fabric: Two contrasting fabrics (one for the geese and one for the sky)
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Ruler
• Sewing machine
• Iron and ironing board

Step 1: Cutting the Fabric

1. Cut one large square from your geese fabric. This square should be 1.5 inches larger than the desired width of your finished flying geese unit.
2. Cut four smaller squares from your sky fabric. These squares should be 1 inch larger than the desired height of your finished flying geese unit.

Step 2: Marking and Placing

1. On the wrong side of each of the four smaller squares, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.
2. Place two of the smaller squares on opposite corners of the large square, right sides together, aligning the drawn lines to form an “X” across the large square.

Step 3: Sewing

1. Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam on each side of the drawn lines.
2. Cut along the drawn lines to separate the pieces. You will now have two heart-shaped units.

Step 4: Pressing and Repeating

1. Press the seams toward the smaller triangles.
2. Take one of the heart-shaped units and place another small square on the remaining corner of the large triangle, right sides together, with the drawn line going from the corner to the center of the heart.
3. Sew a scant 1/4 inch seam on each side of the drawn line.
4. Cut along the drawn line and press the seams toward the smaller triangle.

Step 5: Final Press and Trim

1. Repeat the process with the second heart-shaped unit.
2. You should now have four flying geese units. Trim them to the desired size, ensuring the points are accurate.

Video Tutorial

For those who prefer a visual guide, I’ve created a detailed video tutorial to walk you through each step of Elinor Burns’ 4-at-a-Time Flying Geese method. Follow along and pause as needed to ensure your flying geese come out perfect every time.

Watch the Video Tutorial

Tips for Success

• Accurate Cutting: Ensure your fabric squares are cut accurately to maintain consistent sizes.
• Scant 1/4 Inch Seam: Sewing a scant 1/4 inch seam is crucial for maintaining the correct proportions.
• Pressing: Pressing the seams in the right direction helps in achieving flat and precise units.
• Trimming: Trim the units carefully to the desired size to ensure uniformity in your quilt blocks.

By following these steps and watching the accompanying video tutorial, you’ll master the 4-at-a-Time Flying Geese method and be well on your way to creating stunning quilt designs with efficiency and precision. Happy quilting!

Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting Pickin Stitches when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. 🙂

Other tools I use

Seam Ripper https://amzn.to/3zi7VTy

Rotary Cutter https://amzn.to/3VMeBSS

Creative Grids Ruler https://amzn.to/3KOWKnQ

Juki Sewing Machine https://amzn.to/3VNjMC6

Aurifil Treadh 2021 https://amzn.to/3Rw0Fdd

Oliso Iron https://amzn.to/3XwG1NR