3D Flying Geese Tutorial

The next three posts will be showing you how to make three dimensional blocks with the first one being the flying geese.  Any size will work but we will use the following dimensions for this tutorial.

Fabrics needed;

Two 3 1/2" squares of the background fabric
One 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" rectangle that will become the triangle portion of the block. 

Fold the rectangle in half short sides together and wrong sides together.  Lay the folded rectangle on a background square with raw edges to the top, folded side down.  Lay the other background square on top right sides together and stitch down the right side.

When you open the sewn unit it should look like this.  Turn the block so that the folded side of the rectangle is to the top.

Place your finger into the opening of the rectangle and spread it open.  This will give you the flying geese unit.

Press flat and there you have it.

The next post will be the three dimensional pinwheel.

A Little bit of Starch

When we moved to Michigan my camera went AWOL and my phone is not wanting to send pictures I take to my email or anywhere else for that matter.  Therefore, no pictures until I either buy a new camera or a new phone.

Last month I taught the quilt group how to make a lone star block.  What beautiful projects came out of that class.  There were also questions that I hope I can answer if you decide you want to tackle this issue.  To get the block to come together without the distortion and lump in the middle there are a few things you can do that will help the process.

When you make the strip sets and iron them use spray starch or Best Press to give them stability with all of the bias edges.  I also use it again after I have sewn the strip sets together to make the diamond shape.  For me this makes all the difference in how the block turns out.

This is one of those patterns where cutting, piecing 1/4 inch seams carefully and pressing with starch creates a more successful outcome.   In fact, any block where you have bias edges and need to be extra careful in handling it, starch or Best Press helps tremendously.  Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Happy Memorial Day!

To all who serve or have served in the military, Thank you!  Today my husband and I remember and are thankful for his father and six of my brothers who served in the military.

Recently I have joined a newly formed group of artists and quilters.  I am really looking forward to learning from each of them and forming new friendships.  This is something I have wanted to do for a  while now.  I think it is important to learn from others and be stretched in new ways.  I have found that I've been in a rut lately and this is providing new energy for me.  Organizing myself to work on different aspects of art and textile work throughout the week has also been so helpful in getting things done.  Each day starts with Bible Art Journaling and then I am either teaching, working on some form of art work or piecing the next quilt.

Steve has completed another year of teaching and administrating at the University level.  Yay!  He is enjoying a little more relaxed schedule.

LeAnna and Brett are both winding down another year of teaching.  I am so proud of both of them.  LeAnna had an opportunity to teach in Phoenix but decided to stay in San Diego and remain at the school she has been teaching in.  Brett was named Coach of the Year in the League he coaches in.  What a great accomplishment.  He and his new wife are moving into an apartment this week in Livermore as he sold his house in Stockton.  Lots of things going on and all good.

May your days be blessed!

Dee