Flying Geese Quilt Pattern & Easy Method Tutorial

In today’s blog post, I’m sharing my new patchwork flying geese quilt pattern called “Flight”. The quilt is made up of geese blocks, containing 4 flying geese units made with half-square triangles. Four rows with 7 geese blocks per row make the a finished size measures 58″ x 65″ with no border.

I’ll share my favorite method for making the flying geese units and geese blocks. Made with half-square triangles and a special ruler to speed up the trimming process. We’ll quickly review how to make a half-square triangle, how to make the units and the geese blocks, then the free quilt pattern.

Are you ready for the cutest flying geese quilt pattern made with fat quarters and half-square triangles? Flight is my new free pattern using geese blocks that have 4 flying geese units per block. So many ways to make flying geese units but today’s geese method is using two at a time half-square triangles.

Made with the easy method of two at a time and a specialty ruler for trimming faster and removing dogears. It’s a scrappy quilt but modern looking, this is done by using slightly different neutral background fabrics to give it some charm. Beginner friendly pattern made with fat quarters and assorted background fabrics. Finished quilt measures 58″ x 65″. She’s a beauty, let’s get into the tutorial below.

Scrap quilts are my all time favorite and they don’t always need to contain every print in  your stash to keep it colorful. This quilt is simple, clean and modern but with a scrappy feel to it.  You can change the look of the quilt by how many different fabrics you use and the placement of the geese blocks. My favorite quilt blocks are made using half-square triangles, this is just another HST design layout. 

Here are more free half-square triangle (HST) quilt patterns and tutorial with handy formula chart: Nonsense Table Topper, Pinwheel Table Topper, Pinwheel Quilt, Chevron Quilt, Chevron Placemats and How to Make HST Plus Formula Chart.

I’ll share this easy method with you, no fuss way to make this classic quilt block. There are lots of methods for making flying geese units but I’ll share my favorite method with you and why I it’s my preferred method.

If you are brand new to quilting and don’t know how to make half square triangles or HSTs, check out my tutorial How to Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs) – Easy Formula Chart.

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THESE OUT!

After you read this post, make sure you also check out Learn How to Quilt for Absolute Beginners. It’s jam packed with information to make your first quilt. It also has links and resources that are so helpful when you’re first learning. There’s lots of free quilt patterns that are great for beginners and all skill levels too. So make sure you check this out, seriously don’t forget!

Make sure you grab a copy of my free Quilt Planning Journal. It’s filled with graph paper and note pages to help you design at least 4 quilt or sewing projects! Use it to jot down ideas, fabrics, patterns and inspiration all in one place. Or create your own patterns and share with others. Pin in fabric swatches, photos of your finished quilts and enjoy your creative process!

Flying Geese Quilt Pattern – Different Methods

There are several different ways you can make this a flying geese unit. You can start with a rectangle piece of fabric and add squares to the corners, trim away excess to have a flying geese. Or try the two at a time or no waste method, one seam flying geese or half-square triangle flying geese. There may be more, all will get you a traditional flying geese block. The only difference is where the seam lines are located so chose based on your preference for that project. It’s always a good idea to try each method and see what works best for you. Sometimes the shortcut methods don’t really save that much time if you aren’t comfortable doing it that way.  

Easy Method

Here’s the easy way to make a flying geese unit when you have left over half square triangles. Make two at a time half-square triangle units, then sew two together to form a flying geese. Diagonal seam tape and specialty rulers for trimming HSTs should cut down on time but speed may come after you have practiced using each for a while.

I was using a 4.5″ square quilting ruler but it’s hard on my wrist because you need to apply a lot of pressure when cutting.

Here’s the special ruler that was purchased off Amazon, only requires trimming two sides not four, plus dog ears. It was easy to use and gentle on my wrist. Clearly Perfect Slotted ruler, the only part that I didn’t like were the slots to trim the dog ears. However, dog ears are easy to cut off without a ruler so I still really recommend this ruler for squaring up half-square triangles. 

“Flight” Flying Geese Quilt Pattern

This free pattern, “Flight,” is a delightful composition of 28 geese blocks, each containing four flying geese units made with half-square triangles. With four rows, each boasting seven geese blocks, “Flight” is a scrappy quilt crafted from fat quarters and neutral background fabrics. The absence of a border ensures that the beauty of the geese takes center stage, captivating the eye with its simplicity and charm.

CUTTING CHART

background fabric: 112 – 5″ x 5″ squares (cotton muslin fabric unbleached, Lori Holt Bee Background Pewter Stitched Circles, Bee Background Honeycomb and Garden Gatherings Shirtings Rose

print fabric: 112 – 5″ x 5″ squares (Lori Holt Bee Plaids Fat Quarter Bundle)

Using a rotary cutter, cutting mat, and quilting ruler, cut the fabrics into 5″ squares strips, then sub cut into 5″ squares. Use prints for main fabric and a neutral for background fabric to make it more modern.

ASSEMBLE HALF-SQUARE TRIANGLES

First thing to do is take a single block from your background fabric and a single block from your print fabric. Lay right sides facing each other. Draw a diagonal line from corner to corner. 

Sew 1/4″ seam allowance down both sides of the drawn line.

Once you have sewed on both sides of the drawn line, cut on the diagonal line using a rotary cutter, quilt ruler and cutting matt. 

Before you press each half-square triangle, square up with a quilting ruler and rotary cutter. For more efficient results, try this specialty ruler to speed things along. You only trim two sides and remove dog ears. This is achieved by squaring unit up while it is still folded in half. Press when done with hot iron.

ASSEMBLE FLYING GEESE UNITS

Next, grab eight matching half-square triangles. Sew two together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance (as shown below). Repeat until you have 4 completed flying geese units.

To make the geese blocks, you will sew 4 flying geese units together by stacking them and attaching together using 1/4 inch seam allowance. Press when done. 

ASSEMBLE QUILT TOP

No need to square up each quilt block. Each geese block size should be 8.5″ x 16.5″. Layout your geese blocks following the quilt top below. If you want to make this look more modern, remove two geese blocks and insert a background block cut to 8.5″ x 16.5″. This will insert negative space and make it more modern.

Make your rows by sewing the blocks together, then sew the rows together. Always use a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Make sure you nest the seam where the blocks meet so that everything aligns correctly. Press with iron when done.

LAYERING AND BACKING

Create a quilt sandwich by layering the quilt top, batting, and backing fabric. Pin the layers together and quilt as desired. This could be simple straight-line quilting, free-motion quilting, or any other design of your choice. For more info on basting, check out How to Baste a Quilt: Beginner Spray Basting Tutorial or How to Sandwich a Quilt Step-By-Step Tutorial. Want an interesting backing for your quilt, check out my post on simple pieced quilt backings here.

QUILTING

You can opt for straight line quilting, free motion quilting, or any other quilting design that inspires you.  For more info, check out How to Machine Quilt With Walking Foot for Beginners or How to Sew a Quilt Together – Quilting for Beginners.

BINDING

Trim the excess batting and backing fabric. Attach the binding to the edges of the free scrappy quilt pattern using a sewing machine. Fold the binding over to the back and hand stitch in place. Make double fold binding using 2.5″ x WOF strips until it’s long enough to fit around entire quilt. Sew strips together to form one long continuous strip. For more info, check out How Wide to Cut Quilt Binding and Make Easy Strips and How to Join Quilt Binding Ends, Beginner Series

FINISHING TOUCHES

Give your quilt a final press and inspect for any loose threads. Your Flight flying geese quilt pattern is done. Wash it in cold water, gentle cycle with a Shout Color Catcher Sheet to catch any colors that bleed in the wash and dry on low heat. 

SAVE THIS PIN FOR LATER!

Digital Patterns

You can find ad-free digital downloads of all my quilt patterns in my shop. Everything is easy to print and follow, no popups or distractions.

Need help with what quilting supplies to buy? Go to the Resource page for a list of all my favorite quilting products.

If You’re New Here

I’m really glad you found your way here.

If you’re new to quilting, then welcome. The learning curve is fast, and yes, you will face challenges. But I’ve got you. If I can do it, so can you!

Here’s where to go next:

• Learn to Quilt Page – every step of making and finishing a quilt
• Free Pattern Index – all my free patterns in one place
• Digital, ad-free patterns – clean, printable, and beginner-friendly

My blog is built for the home sewist and quilter who wants to make a quilt from start to finish all by themselves. Take a full tour of this blog so you know your way around. Subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss out on new patterns or tutorials. And follow me on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT SEW NIKKI

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! Your place for free crochet, sewing and quilt patterns for beginner to intermediate skill levels. Want a digital pattern? We have those too! Plus tutorials to walk you through how to make each item from start to finish.

Follow me on social media (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) so you get notifications when I post new patterns and tutorials. 

Looking for your next quilt project? Then head on over to my free “Pattern Index”. It’s a page dedicated to all of my free patterns separated by categories for crochet, sewing and quilting.

If you prefer an ad-free printable version, head over to my shop and browse the Digital Patterns. These are instant digital downloads you print yourself.

This post contains ads and affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.