Octobers Studio 180 Design Block Reveal

This month the talented Studio 180 Design Certified Instructors Block Exploration Challenge focused on different Flying Geese. It was fun to design blocks that just use those units. 

I usually use either EQ8 (Electric Quilt 8) or Adobe Illustrator when I design my patterns.  For most of my blocks, I love to use EQ8.  You will see my mockup for this block that I develop in EQ8.  This block was so much fun; due to how coloring was done, you get a 3D look in the block center.  

Sometimes after I color my designs in EQ, I dig into my stash and look for something similar to my mockup.  I pretty much keep with the same colors in this block but added a grey instead of the tan color. My choice of fabrics where a random set of fat quarters and white background fabrics. The Darkest Green is BENARTEX Cotton Shot, and the light green and gray are from the P&B Fabrics New Suede 7.

This block uses three different colorations of flying geese, one color and partial color geese, along with small squares. If you would like a tutorial on how to make these units, check out last week's blog post, Non-Waste Flying Geese. Once I had all my flying geese made, I laid out the geese and squares a block to figure out the construction.  

I started the construction of the center of the block first, pressing all my seams open to make certain points laid flat. 

Then I added the outer borders to the side and top to get my block to look like this fantastic quilt.  I think I will name "Deep Dive."

I hope you enjoyed this block in the Studio 180 Design Certified Block Exploration Challenge. 

Non Waste Method Flying Geese - Wing Clipper Tool

Last week, I showed you how to make the Quickets in my Block Party Block #18, "Pointed Square."  This week, I want to continue with the Wing Clipper tool showing you how to make Flying Geese. 

The Wing Clipper tool is one of the Studio 180 Design fundamental tools that I talked about in my blog post, "What Studio 180 Design Tools Should I start with?."  This tool was created to make traditional Flying Geese units.  

The construction method of these units uses the Non-Waste Method, which uses one large and four small squares to make four flying geese at one time.  With the Studio 180 Design method, we will make these units slightly oversized and trim them down with the Wing Clipper tool. As a result, your units will be made quickly and accurately every time, no matter if you are making a 1/2" x 1" to 5"x 10" finished flying geese unit.

So let's walk through the steps to making these fast units. 

Step 1.  You will need to determine the finished size of your units.  Then you will refer to the cutting chart in your tool instructions, find your finished size in the chart, and follow the chart over to find the Large Square and Small Square sizes you need to cut.  Remember you will need one large and 4 small squares per 4 flying geese units.

Step 2. Position two small squares diagonally on opposite corners on top of the larger squares with right sides down. Nudge them toward the center 3-4 threads.  Mark two diagonal lines, each 1/4" away from the center diagonal. If you have the Quilter's Magic Wand, it makes it really easy to mark your lines.

Step 3. Stitch on both of the drawn lines. I like to stitch on a thread inside the drawn line to give me a little more fabric to work within the trimming process. 

Step 4. Trim between the stitched lines on the center diagonal. I like to use my Wing Clipper for this process, using the 1/4" line on the tool. 

Step 5. Press your seams toward the small triangles.  I like to use a sewing clapper to help continue the pressing process to make sure the small triangles lay as flat as possible.

Step 6.  Position the remaining small squares right sides down on the previously pieced units. Remember to nudge squares like you did before. 

Step 7. Mark two stitching lines 1/4" away from the center diagonal line.

Step 8. Stitch on both drawn lines, trim between the stitched lines, and Press to the small triangle.

Step 9.  Position your oversized units horizontally on your cutting mat with the center point facing you. Align the diagonal lines down the seam lines of the size you are making. Trim up the first two sides.

Step 10.  Rotate the flying geese unit 180°, and reposition the Wing Clipper to align the unit cut size clean-up guidelines with the previously trimmed raw edges and the "X" at the top with the intersection of the seams. Trim up the final two sides.

See how easy these units are to make. These particular units are being used in my latest Studion 180 Design Block Exploration Challenge Block.  If you want to see the final block, please come back next week for my block reveal. Also, don't forget to sign up for my blog post to go to your email box each week; Click here to sign up and if you would like to learn more about the Studio 180 Design tools, check out my Precision Block Academy, "Learning to make Precision Quilts the Studio 180 Design Way."