Hello all! I’m so glad you could join me for our June Island Batik Challenge – Fly Away! Our directive was to use one of the four Strip or Stack precut bundles that we received in our December box and play with the versatile Flying Geese blocks to create a fun quilt or table runner! “Your project must use Flying Geese blocks as the focus but you can combine other blocks to enhance the project.
What makes Flying Geese quilts so popular? First, blocks can be used in a variety of quilt designs, from traditional to modern, and arranged in rows, columns, diagonals, and more, making them a versatile choice for quilters. Second, flying geese blocks are relatively easy to make and require only basic sewing skills. Third, the flying geese design creates a sense of movement and visual interest in a quilt, making it eye-catching and dynamic.”
With this in mind I started searching for different types of Flying Geese blocks I could make and came up with a couple. There are improv Flying Geese which I decided against. Then I found an article on 3D Flying Geese. This got my attention. If you like this technique, you can check out how to make them here. I decided to make four sizes of 3D Flying Geese as well as regular Flying Geese blocks. And since I was going with dimensional blocks I used them in a folded fabric center and made stars with three blocks and square in a square with three blocks to add some interest.
For this project I used a stack of 10″ squares called Summer Twilight by Tammy Silvers (Tamarini’s) for Island Batik! This is gorgeous fabric with beautiful motifs and colors!
As I stated above, I used several sizes of 3D Flying Geese blocks as well as traditional Flying Geese blocks made with my AccuQuilt dies. I received a Flying Geese die when I purchased my GO! Big years ago and can you believe, I had never used it? It got a good workout with this project!! These all measure 3 x 6 inches, though the geese in the 3D blocks are varying sizes for the body. So without further ado, here is “Follow the Leader!” Click on the photos for a larger view to see some of the detail. The 3D Flying Geese are in the top and bottom rows.
QUILT STATS
Name: Follow the Leader
Size: 42 x 42″
Fabric: 10″ stack of Summer Twilight by Tammy Silvers for Island Batik (Available at Hancock’s of Paducah, Pine Needles in MN, Sew What Fabrics/Batiks, Etc. in VA, and Quilter’s Corner in SD.)
Background: Eggwhite for Flying Geese; Dot Sky for large blocks (these are always available at
your favorite LQS or online!)
Backing: Island Batik Pineneedle Large Netting (available this summer)
Binding: Wavy Dots-Cherry (I love this fabric that was in one of my half yard bundles!!)
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 (this batting is so easy to quilt with and one of my go-to batts by
Hobbs Bonded Fibers!
Piecing Thread: Aurifil (the only thread I use for piecing – it’s the best)
Needle: Schmetz 80/12 (these needles are wonderful for sewing batiks!)
All the products to make this quilt were provided to me by Island Batik and their industry partners, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread, Schmetz Needles. I also used my wonderful Prairie Spirit Alpacas Wool Pressing mat which makes my blocks wonderfully flat! Thank you so much!
Here is a list of all the ambassadors. I hope you will check out their winged beauties as they post throughout the month!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you will try making some 3D Flying Geese. They are really fun. If you do, please let me know how you like them! Until next time…
Hi Brenda, what a gorgeous quilt! I really love the variation of the sizes of the flying geese. Of course the fabric is scrumptious! Thanks so much for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks.
You knocked this challenge out of the ballpark, Brenda. I love this quilt. The quilting is amazing. Well done! Hugs
Such pretty colors in your stack! I love that you added 3-D!!!
You did not just make a Flying Geese quilt, Brenda. You made a Flying Geese Sampler with so many ideas all put together like a quilt block directory. Kudos to you! I did not give a flying fig about flying goose block and now I see them everywhere. Hope it stops in time for the paper-piecing challenge, although I have seen paper-pieced flying geese too. HELP!!!
I love those colors! Great use of the flying geese to guide our eyes through the quilt. :o)
Hi Brenda! Gosh, the Summer Twilight collection is just gorgeous. This is a fun layout to show off all those pretty colors. Great job! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
How fun to try out a new method, and it’s gorgeous – quilt plus quilting! I love those flying geese, and thank you for providing the names of the fabrics. They are just beautiful.
Beautiful quilt!!!
Oh those gorgeous fabrics! and then you show-cased them beautifully with your 3D geese! great job, Brenda
So much fun! Love the dimensional geese and squares! So fun that you used a die you never did…but were sure you were gonna when you got it…and now you have. The colors in this collections are right up my alley too. Great job!
What a great way to try out that Flying Geese die!
It’s fantastic!! Very beautiful!! Love that you used different techniques! 🙂
So pretty Brenda. Those are some great colors.