Using a Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler streamlines the process of creating precise and consistent flying geese units for your quilting projects. This specialized ruler simplifies trimming and ensures accurate sizing, saving time and reducing fabric waste.
Understanding the Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler
The Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler, often featured by reputable sources like Fat Quarter Shop, is a quilting tool designed to efficiently cut and trim fabric to create the classic flying geese block. This block consists of a "goose" (a larger triangle) flanked by two "sky" triangles (smaller triangles), forming a rectangular unit.
Why Use a Specialty Ruler for Flying Geese?
While flying geese can be made using traditional methods, a dedicated ruler offers several benefits:
- Precision: Ensures all your flying geese units are the exact same size, crucial for seamless quilt assembly.
- Efficiency: Speeds up the cutting and trimming process, especially when making many units.
- Accuracy: Helps achieve sharp points on your "geese" by providing precise cutting lines.
- Reduced Waste: Guides you to cut just what's needed, minimizing fabric scraps.
Step-by-Step Guide: Using the Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler
The process involves initial fabric preparation, sewing, and then precise trimming with the ruler to achieve perfect units.
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Initial Fabric Preparation:
- Typically, you start with one larger fabric rectangle (for the "goose") and two smaller fabric squares (for the "sky"). The ruler's instructions will specify the exact dimensions for these starting pieces, which vary depending on the desired finished size of your flying geese unit.
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Sewing the Sky Triangles:
- Place one small "sky" square right sides together on one end of the larger "goose" rectangle.
- Draw a diagonal line from one corner to the opposite on the back of the small square.
- Sew along this drawn line.
- Trim the excess fabric, leaving a 1/4-inch seam allowance, and press the seam open or to the side.
- Repeat this process with the second small "sky" square on the opposite end of the rectangle to form the basic flying geese shape.
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The Crucial Trimming and Squaring Up with the Ruler:
- Once your initial sewing is complete, you'll have a raw flying geese unit that needs to be squared up. This is where the Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler excels.
- Position the ruler: Place the ruler over your sewn flying geese unit. The ruler features specific lines and markings (often including a "red line" as mentioned in the reference) designed to guide your cut.
- First Trim: Align one edge of your unit with the ruler's guide, ensuring your sewn lines are within the appropriate boundaries. Use a rotary cutter to trim the excess fabric along the ruler's edge.
- Rotate and Align (as per reference):
- After the first trim, you will "trim and now you just turn your ruler around."
- "Line up the very back of the ruler with the red line." This precise alignment ensures that the unit is squared perfectly and the "goose" point will be accurate.
- Trim the remaining sides using the ruler's guides.
- Result: By following these trimming steps, you've created a "perfect flying geese" unit. The ruler is designed for efficiency, and as the reference implies, this method can help you produce units where "each of these is going to make a total of four" – potentially referring to the speed or batching capability when cutting initial fabrics to yield multiple units rapidly.
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Final Pressing:
- Press your newly trimmed flying geese units to set the seams and ensure they lie flat.
Tips for Success
- Read the Ruler's Instructions: Always refer to the specific instructions that come with your Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler, as dimensions and exact markings can vary slightly by model.
- Sharp Blade: Use a sharp rotary cutter blade for clean, precise cuts.
- Accurate Seams: Maintain a consistent 1/4-inch seam allowance during the sewing steps for the best results.
- Chain Piecing: If making many flying geese, use chain piecing techniques to speed up the sewing process before trimming.
By following these steps and utilizing the unique features of the Quilt in a Day Flying Geese Ruler, you can consistently create beautiful and perfectly sized flying geese units for any quilting project.
