Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Flying Geese Quilt

Inspired by the book that lives on my bedside table - Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects, as well as by the wonderful Flying Geese Quilts seen on Flickr, I have created my own skein of flying geese. 

 I started off making the flying geese units using the very nifty Flying Geese Tutorial found on The Last Piece by Sarah Fielke, but found that my units were not all created equal.  This has nothing to do with the tutorial, and everything to do with my sewing and the fact that I was using a heavier linen blend fabric which greedily used up more fabric in the fold that was needed to provide the sharp and pointed tip with a quarter inch seam allowance. 


I then used the "Easy Star & Geese Ruler" by Kimberly Einmo which, although it meant working with bias edges, it gave me the extra control I need to make Flying Geese unit of consistent size.  


I have also used several different linen and linen blend fabrics in this quilt, all very similar in color but varying in texture and weight, to add variety and interest.


Quick Fabric reference:
  • Black and White Floral - Joel Dewberry - Manzanita in Black
  • Large Daisy Red and Grey - Kei Daisies
  • Small floral print in pink, red and black - "Come Quilt with Me" by Pat Yamin?
  • Red and Orange Solids - Shot Cottons by Kaffe Fassett
  • Grey and White Polka Dot - Kokka Medium Dot in Grey
In choosing fabrics I have limited the number of fabrics and only worked with red/pink, orange, black and grey fabrics.  I also ensured that there was a mix of large and small scale fabrics, adding solid fabrics as a feature.


Although I dreaded the inevitable bulky seams the quilt top came together really well, and my thoughts have turned to piecing the back.

RELEVANT LINKS:
Modern Flying Geese Quilt and Quilt Pattern
Modern Flying Geese Quilt Pattern (Etsy Store)

35 comments:

  1. I have the same problem with Sarah's geese tutorial...so much so that I have abandoned geese!

    A lovely quilt Rita!

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh, wow, I love this. love the grey neutral bg and love the flying geese, I might just have to get this book, because you know I just need one more...so I can add to the quilts I need to do before I die.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the colours together... esp the pops of orange and red solids.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love how those fabrics all go together so nicely! I was going to make that quilt from Denyse Schmidt as well, but after getting my copy of Liberated Quiltmaker II, I'm thinking a wonky flying geese instead.
    Love flying geese :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Stunning! I love that small floral print. And the pops of the solid orange and red.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice color and fabric choices! This quilt works really well :)

    joan

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love how the red pops out at you! It almost looks more like a colorful, symmetrical mountain range than flying geese :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love it Rita - the colours are really great!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I do not know how you do it?! Do you almost make a quilt a week. Let me be bird on your windowsill and just watch you work. Each one more beautiful and creative than the last one, each one trying something new. You are truly my inspiration when I feel like I can't cut the pieces for a mini-quilt. Keep quilting so we all can learn. Thank you.
    Minna (charlotteandbutterball)

    ReplyDelete
  10. You always amaze me!!!!

    xo
    eva

    ReplyDelete
  11. Another fabulous design. Love the pops of colour.

    ReplyDelete
  12. this is gorgeous ... the grey grounds everything and the range of colours is perfect together.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love the book - love your quilt top. Great colors!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful color choices. The only success I've ever had with flying geese is to paper piece them.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely !!! I love the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think it looks just lovely. Not seeing any bulk from here.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That is so striking! I've always been a fan of the geese.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This piece turned out great! You really have to be a excellent piecer using such high contrasting colors! Beautiful work.

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's totally a one of a kind quilt.
    I love the grey. You could have used the white which would be the norm, but your choice of grey....magic!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I always love your choice of prints! They really stand out with that grey linen. I've never tried sewing Flying Geese but your quilt makes me want to get upstairs and start cutting!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I see "Many Mountains" more than Flying Geese in your quilt. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I found your blog about two months ago, and I stop by frequently. I really enjoy the way you use color in your quilts, and have been really inspired to try new combinations and blast myself out of my color comfort zone.
    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and gifts with all the inhabitants of blogland!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've been using Kimberly's ruler ever since I took a class with ther 2 years ago. Love it. Very saving on fabric, and the result is a precise piece.

    ReplyDelete
  24. A student of mine sent me the link to your website and to today's posting. I'm just tickled to pieces you used my Easy Star and Geese Ruler! Your quilt is GORGEOUS -- I'm just smiling from ear to ear! Thank you for such nice comments about the ruler. I'll be linking your post to my blog so my readers can enjoy as well!

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is incredible -- you've done a beautiful job! :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. That orange pops and I love the whole thing!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I LOVE this! What an awesome quilt! A flying geese quilt has been on my to-do list for quite some time now.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Some of those greys read a bit blue. I don't know if this does it in person, but I think it works really well with those oranges!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Gorgeous....as usual. You're an inspiration! And I guess, so too is my bedside reading....it's the same as yours! Too funny!

    ReplyDelete
  30. The colours in this quilts are gorgeous, and your geese look lovely, sharp and precise!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I always sneek peaks at your wonderful blog. I really enjoy it so much, but never write. I have to tell you that I just love your work but especially these flying geese! The colors are beautiful and the background as well. You are so inspiring!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love this quilt (all your quilts). I'm going to give flying geese a try this afternoon - what size are your geese?

    Barbara

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment! I really appreciate it.

Comments are published after review.

Feel free to ask questions and I will answer either here or by email, as is appropriate.