One of the first things I notice, when looking at a quilt, is the ends/points of the triangles (if there are triangles in the quilt).  I am my own worse critic and have been known to rip out stitches a time or six before I am satisfied with the points on my flying geese.

My 1/4″ seam allowance is checked three and four times before, during and after I am working on a quilt project.  I make sure to measure twice, cut once.  Even with all of that, I still find that I occasionally cut off points of triangles.

Then I had a revelation.  What can be done to keep from cutting off my triangle points?

RESIZE THE FLYING GEESE!

This concept isn’t that difficult to understand although it will change the finished size of your blocks and quilt just a tad.

ADD 1/4″ to the strip you are sewing your top square to.  For example, with the tutorial below, the original size of my strip called for a 4 1/4″ x 8″ strip.  Instead, I cut the strip 4 1/2″ x 8″.  Follow the tutorial below to see how perfect your triangle points can be.

Fabric Requirements:

• ONE (1) 8″ square focus fabric
• FOUR (4) 4 1/4″ squares triangle/points fabric
• FOUR (4) 4 1/2″ x 8″ strips flying geese strips
• FOUR (4) 4 1/2″ squares block cornerstones

Tutorial:

ONE (1) 8″ square

FOUR (4) 4 1/4″ squares

Draw a diagonal like, corner-to-corner, on the BACK side of the 4 1/4″ squares

Line up the 4 1/4″ squares to the top corner of the 4 1/2″ x 8″ strips and sew ON the line you drew.

Cut off the corner of the flying geese block, 1/4″ inch FROM the sewing line.

Press your seam toward the 4 1/4″ square.

Repeat the process to sew the second 4 1/4″ square to the opposite side of the 4 1/2″ x 8″ square.

Trim off the corner fabric 1/4″ FROM the sewing line.

Press toward the second corner.

Using TWO (2) of the flying geese blocks, sew the 4 1/2″ cornerstones to the ends of both of your flying geese.

With the remaining flying geese, sew them to the right and left sides of the 8″ square.  Press toward the center fabric.

Pin and sew the top and bottom (the strips with the cornerstones) flying geese strips to the center section of the blocks.

That’s all there is to it!  Now go forth and create Picture Perfect Flying Geese!