What a cute block! In this tutorial you're going to get brave and sew with triangles, instead of cheater squares. Don't worry-- if you don't press too hard and pull too much, they'll turn out just fine. But, you're going to wish you had eight hands when it comes time to make this.
This tutorial lists measurements for a 12" finished (12.5" unfinished) block. Measurements for an 8" block will be in parenthesis. Follow all steps for either size.
Requirements:
3 fabrics (light, medium, dark)
Cutting tools
Step 1 - Cut light fabric as follows:
- Cut 1 7 1/4" square. Divide into four quarter-square triangles. (8" block -- 5 1/4")
- Cut 1 4 1/4" square. Divide into four quarter-square triangles. (8" block -- 3 1/4")
- Cut 2 3 7/8" squares. Divide each into half-square triangles. (8" block -- 2 7/8")
- Cut 1 3 1/2" square. (8" block -- 2 1/2")
- Cut 4 2" squares. (8" block -- 1 1/2")
Step 2 - Cut medium fabric as follows:
- Cut 4 2 3/8" squares. Divide each into half-square triangles. (8" block -- 1 7/8")
Step 3 - Cut dark fabric as follows:
- Cut 6 3 7/8" squares. Divide each into half-square triangles. (8" block -- 2 7/8")
Step 4 - Place the largest square on your cutting board. This will be your center square. Leave it there.
Step 5 - Begin making flying geese. Using a 1/4" seam, sew the longest side of your medium fabric triangles to the side of your smallest light fabric triangles. Chain piece if desired. Press seams to one side.
Step 6 - Sew remaining medium-fabric triangles to your partial flying geese. Make sure to join the longest side of your medium-fabric triangles to the hypotenuse of your light-fabric triangles. Press seams to one side. You know have four flying-geese blocks.
Step 7 - Take your four 2" squares, along with your flying geese, and lay them out as pictured. Join together as shown, pressing seams to the side as needed.
Step 8 - Using your large light-fabric and dark-fabric triangles, lay out four units as shown.
Step 9 - Create flying geese using the same method from step 6. You will have four geese when you finish this step.
Step 10 - Using your remaining light-fabric and dark-fabric triangles, create half-square triangle blocks. You will have four half-square blocks when you finish this step.
Step 11 - Lay out your pieces as pictured. Join together as shown, pressing seams to the side as needed.
Step 12 - Breathe a great sigh of relief. You are done!
