Flying Geese Calculator and Cutting Chart

Flying geese sizes explained

A flying geese unit is named for its finished size, written as height by width. A 2 x 4 in goose finishes at 2 in tall and 4 in wide. Before it is sewn into the quilt it measures 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in, since it has a 1/4 in seam allowance on all sides. Because the width is always double the height, you only need to enter the height in this tool.

Patterns are not always clear about which size they mean. If yours says to make geese measuring 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in, that is the unfinished size, so enter 2 as the finished height. Geese must fit the block or border they are going into, so a good check is to add up the finished sizes along a row. Eight geese at 2 in tall, stacked on top of each other, make a 16 in column.

The no-waste flying geese method

The no-waste method makes four identical geese at once, with no triangle offcuts. Place four small squares on one large square, with two opposite corners first, overlapping in the center. Draw a diagonal line, sew 1/4 in on each side of it, and cut on the line. Press, add the other two small squares, sew, cut and press again. You end up with four finished units, all from five squares.

The large square is the finished width plus 1 1/4 in, and the small squares are the finished height plus 7/8 in. For a 2 x 4 in goose, that is one square of 5 1/4 in and four of 2 7/8 in. This method suits a project with many matching geese, since it is fast and saves fabric. The sky fabric in each set of four is the same, so it is less suitable if you want every goose to have a different background.

The stitch-and-flip method

Stitch and flip is the simplest way to make geese, and it is the easiest for beginners. Cut a rectangle for the goose at the unfinished size, and two squares for the sky at the unfinished height. Draw a diagonal line on the back of each square. Place one on a corner of the rectangle, sew on the line, trim 1/4 in beyond the seam, and press it open. Repeat on the other side, so that the two seams meet in the center of the top edge.

For a 2 x 4 in goose, cut one rectangle of 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 in and two squares of 2 1/2 in. It is simple and accurate, and every goose can have different fabrics. The downside is the waste, because the corners you trim off are thrown away. You can save them by sewing a second line 1/2 in from the first, which gives you a small bonus half square triangle to use in another project.

Which method should you choose?

Choose stitch and flip for scrappy quilts, for a small number of geese, or if you are just starting out. Choose the no-waste method when you need many geese from the same fabrics. To compare them, try both in the tool for your own project. For 24 geese at 2 x 4 in, the no-waste method uses 6 large squares and 24 small ones. Stitch and flip uses 24 rectangles and 48 small squares, which is much more sky fabric.

Some quilters use specialty rulers for geese, and these work well too. They are particularly helpful for larger batches and for trimming. If you use one, follow its directions rather than this chart, since a ruler is usually based on its own cut sizes. Whichever method you use, make one test unit, then measure it against the expected unfinished size before you cut all of your fabric.

Getting sharp points on your geese

The tip of the goose should sit exactly 1/4 in below the top edge, so that when the next seam is sewn, the point is crisp. If the tip gets cut off, your seam allowance is too wide, or the unit is too small. If the tip floats well away from the seam, your unit may be too large. Press your seams with care, as hard pressing with steam can pull a diagonal out of shape.

Sew with the point facing up so you can see it, and stitch right through the X that the seams make on the wrong side. This puts the seam at the top of the point. To trim oversized geese accurately, use a ruler with a 45-degree line through its center. Line it up along the two diagonal seams of the goose, and make sure the tip is 1/4 in from the top before you cut. Starch helps too, particularly when fabric is cut on the bias.

Common flying geese mistakes to avoid

The biggest mistake is cutting all of your fabric before you test one set. Flying geese depend on accurate seams, and your own 1/4 in may be slightly different from the one used in a chart. Make a set of four, measure them against the unfinished size, and adjust if you need to. Another common problem comes from sewing too close to, or too far from, the drawn line. Use a line of painter’s tape on your machine as a guide, or use a foot with a center marking, so that your seams stay parallel.

Direction is another easy slip. When you sew geese into a row, they all point the same way, and it is surprisingly easy to turn one around, particularly when you sew late in the day. Lay the row out beside your machine, and pick up one piece at a time. Stretched edges are a problem too, as the sides of each sky triangle are cut on the bias with some methods. Handle them gently, press rather than iron, and square up each unit before you join it to the next. A row of accurate geese is well worth the extra minutes.