The Chevron top I’m making is going so quickly. It would be completely finished if I didn’t have quite so many distractions. No doubt, there are patterns everywhere for this quilt so I’ll give a quick rundown in two parts on how I’m making this one.
Chevron Design
Mine will have the “stripes” going vertically on the bed, though the quilt is square. Yours could be made any size you wish. This one will finish at about 100″ x 100″. The original plan was to have no borders but then I realized that when adding binding, I use about a 1/2″ seam allowance and that would cut off the points. The seam allowance on the binding could be adjusted but since there are so many bias edges, when quilting this on the longarm, I’d prefer to have a non-pieced edge for pinning to the leaders.
My blocks are 8″ x 16″ finished and that explains why this quilt is so quick to make!
It’s simply giant flying geese. The thought of giant flying geese brings to mind giant grasshoppers which I’m praying do not come back here this summer!
For most flying geese, I would paper piece them using Triangulations™ but since these are so big, they’ve outgrown my 8-1/2″ x 11″ paper so I’m piecing them in the traditional manner.
Flying Geese
Start by laying the smaller corner triangle, which I never remember if it’s the goose or the sky but it’s the brown one, on top of the larger turquoise triangle. If the cutting has been done very accurately, the two pieces will align perfectly on the two sides.
Flying Geese
Notice that the seam allowance on this seam is pressed towards the turquoise fabric.
Flying Geese
The same thing happens for the remaining side.
Flying Geese
On this second side, the seam allowance is pressed towards the brown fabric. Do this on all the pieces. Press the first seam allowance towards the center and the second seam allowance towards the outside. What do you think the quilt police would have to say about that? 🙂
Flying Geese
This is what the back side of each block will look like.
Flying Geese
When two flying geese are joined, those seam allowances will butt up against each other instead of stacking on top of each other.
Seams
This way, it will be quite easy to get a perfectly matching point.
Perfect Point!
Those seams joining the flying geese are pressed open.
Seam Allowance Pressed Open
I know! The Quilt Police are asking the Judge for a warrant right now . . quilt seams pressed open is a serious infraction of the laws of quilting some of us have been sworn to live by but I do whatever works best. Not all of my seams are pressed open but the ones that need to be . . they are!
Here’s my progress so far:
Chevron Top
Tomorrow a second post will include a drawing that can be colored to help choose your fabrics. The hardest part of this quilt is deciding which colors/fabrics to use. Also included will be some dimensions and fabric requirements but this is one of those quilts that you can make using your own sizes — whatever size blocks you want to use to make the top whatever size you want it to be.
Simple! Simple! Simple! That’s how I like it!
Glenda in Florida says
Thanks for posting this–when I looked at it the other day, I figured it would be all half square triangles, and a design board would be required to keep everything in order. I never would have thought of flying geese. Thank you for showing me the way, and elminating that extra seam!
Debbie Rhodes says
I think this is one my more modern than me girls will enjoy..maybe I can start one soon..
Michelle says
I love the colors. I might have to make this one down the road after a break from the geese. Working on a store sample right now that takes 168 and I am doing them the same way..or the old school way if you will.
Susan says
And simple is what it is! For another project, I made a few 5 x 10 finished geese last week. I used the Eleanor Burns method, which is my favorite, and it was amazing how fast they were to make! This will go in my scrappy AmHero file, too!
Sue Thorson Hecker says
I like it too! There are so many colorways that would be fun, and I think it will really show off some quilting.
Megan says
Thanks so much! Nice ,easy project and pressing help too! I hate it when I get done sewing and have to re-press! I just saw your new quilt in Quiltmaker! It’s a keeper!
carole says
The goose is the center triangle and the ones on the corners are the sky.
Dar in MO says
I like this!! And I’m not that crazy about flying geese, but maybe this big size is easer. Your pressing tips make sense too. Thanks for the info. I’ll wait for the fabric estimates to see if this might be a candidate for a controlled scrappy quilt.
Patty says
I like the idea of using the flying geese, I make mine with 1/2 square triangles and found it to be s little bit tedious fighting the points. This will still have points but starting with the larger rectangle will make for quite a few less seams. I think ironing the seam open will also make a big difference. I may actually do another one on the future. Thanks for sharing your pointers.