VAANI Flying Geese Block for April

The VAANI block of the month for April is the Flying Geese (FG) block. While browsing through the internet, I came across a very interesting technique for making these units which requires sewing just 1 seam per FG unit.  This technique produces a dimensional unit that is so easy to create.

I decided to make this 12-1/2" block.  To tie this block to last month's block, I used the same fabrics in the center of the block.

Flying Geese Block

The first thing I had to do was pick out fabrics from my stash.

For this block I need to make 8 FG units.  Each of the 8 units requires 2 background squares that are 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" and 1 rectangle that is 3-1/2" x 6-1/2", for a total of 16 squares and 8 rectangles.

16 squares and 8 rectangles

Form a sandwich as follows:

1. Place 1 square, facing up, on the work surface.
2. Fold 1 rectangle in half, wrong sides together, and align the raw edges with the top of the square.
3. Place a 2nd square, face down, on top of the rectangle.

Assemble the sandwich

Begin sewing from the raw edges all the way down the right side only.  Notice that the  folded edge of the rectangle is closest to you and is 1/4" shorter than the two squares.

Sew the sandwich along the right side only

Chain sew all 8 sandwiches in this way.  Clip sewn units apart.

Chain sew all 8 sandwiches

Place sewn sandwich on the pressing table with the folded edge on top and open the top square along the sewn seam.

Open top flap

Press flat.

Press 

Open up the center rectangle, aligning the raw edges with the bottom edge of the unit, making sure the points on the base meet the left and right edges of the unit.  Also make sure that the tip of the FG is 1/4" from the top edge.

Open the center flap to form the Flying Geese unit

Press flat.

Completed Flying Geese unit

Do this to all 8 FG units and arrange as required.

Arrange units to form block

Sew units together and the block is complete!

Completed block

A nifty characteristic of this particular technique is that it is dimensional along the two sides of the triangle of the Flying Geese which can be folded down cathedral-window style during the quilting phase.  The other option is to sew down the two sides or just leave them as is!