Super Simple Flying Geese Quilt Tutorial
The Flying Geese quilt block is simple, versatile and quick to make. Flying Geese can stand alone as a single block or can be used to make many other famous quilt blocks – the Sawtooth Star being one of them.
Through my research on the history of this block I came across very few facts. There are some myths, mostly about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, but not much else. My conclusion, then, is that the history behind this block is as simple as the block itself – it looked like a flying goose, and so when the early quiltmakers made a quilt using this block, they named it “Flying Geese.”
Basing a quilt block name on simple observations seemed to be a common trend. To the women of that time, these blocks symbolized what they saw in their everyday lives – Log Cabin, Snowball, Bear’s Paw and Honeycomb.
Knowing that quilt blocks symbolized commonly found objects, it’s easy for storytellers and quilt lovers to jump to the conclusion that quilts could have been used to send basic messages to escaping enslaved people during the Civil War. Without much proof to back this up, there is a lot of controversy over quilt codes and their use in the 19th century. Fact or fantasy aside, it’s a wonderful story even if it may be just that.
Below is a map of the Underground Railroad to give you some perspective on how far fugitives would travel to safety.
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The main reason stories about quilts being used as secret codes is not confirmed as facts is because there does not seem to be any evidence that is pre-1865. Most of the “evidence” even then is hearsay without any written first-hand accounts. Fugitive enslaved people and Underground Railroad participants detail many ways of conveying messages, but never mention quilts and some of the details of the “quilt code” are incompatible with symbolism in African culture. With that said, the myths about code quilts are really interesting, so let’s talk about it anyway 😉
According to folklore, settlers aiding escaped enslaved people would place household items, including quilts, outside their homes to convey messages to those in need. Below are a few quilt blocks and their codes.
Flying Geese
This pattern informed escaping enslaved people to follow migrating geese toward Canada and to freedom.
Log Cabin
This pattern was used to let enslaved people know where safe houses were. People who helped the Underground Railroad may have identified themselves as friends to enslaved people on the run by tracing this pattern in dirt as a signal. This quilt told enslaved people to look for this symbol on their journey to freedom.
Bow Ties
Enslaved people’s clothes were often tattered and easy to spot. This pattern meant that someone would bring the enslaved person nice clothes to help them blend in with the free blacks.
Crossroads
Once through the mountains, enslaved people were to travel to the crossroads. The main crossroad was Cleveland, Ohio. Any quilt hung before this one would have given directions to Ohio.
Monkey Wrench
This meant the enslaved people were to gather all the tools they might need on the journey to freedom. Tools meant: something with which to build shelters, compasses for determining direction, or tools to serve as weapons for defending themselves.
Make Your Own Flying Geese
Supplies:
- Two Fat Quarters OR two large scraps of fabric
- Rotary Cutter
- Ruler
- Iron
- Ironing Board
- Pins
- Sewing Machine
Simple Sew Steps:
Below are instructions on how to make the Flying Geese block Two different ways. Tip: Once you master Flying Geese, check out my Sawtooth Star Quilt Pattern to see how to build upon its versatility!
Basic Flying Geese - Produces 1 Block
The instructions below will produce 1 - 3” x 6” finished block. To figure out the dimensions for larger or smaller blocks, simply add ½” when cutting to the desired size. See example...
- On the wrong side of 2 dark 3 ½” squares, draw a guideline from corner to corner.
- Place 1 dark square right side down on a light 3 ½” x 6 ½” rectangle. Sew along the guideline. Using a rotary cutter and ruler, trim ¼” from the seam. Press out.
- Repeat step 2 with the other 3 ½" dark square.
No Waste Flying Geese - Produces 4 Blocks
You need one square, the size of the finished width you desire the Flying Geese to be + 1 ¼”, and four squares that are the height of the finished unit you want plus ⅞”. The instructions below will produce 4 - 3” x 6” finished blocks. See example.
- Place 2 dark 3 ⅞” squares on opposite corners of the 7 ¼” light square and on the wrong side of the dark 3 ⅞” squares, draw a guideline from corner to corner.
- Sew a ¼” from the guideline on both sides. Cut apart.
- Press seams out. Place 1 dark square right side down and sew a ¼” from the guideline on both sides. Cut apart and press seam out. Repeat with the remaining unit.
Modern Flying Geese Quilts
Below are examples of quilters today using the Flying Geese block to make stunning modern quilts. The possibilities of what you can do are endless!
Spectrum by Fresh Lemons Quilts
Wanderlust by Maureen Cracknell
love it!! i want to try one soon. maybe a table runner as a starter
Thank you for the Flying Geese info!
-Jean💟
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I especially like the cheat sheet!
Hey Suzy, does this leave any extra fabric so you can trim/square up the blocks to 3×6? Or should I add a bit extra to be able to do this?
Thanks!
These makes pretty exact blocks, so add a little extra if you want wiggle room.
This is genius! I made it and it’s so easy and beautiful!! Thanks!
Question: Why the 3 7/8” measurement? Wouldn’t it be easier to just cut 4” blocks and then trim the finished flying geese’s blocks down? Please what is the reason for the 7/8?
Thank you
You can definitely do that. This is just the exact math assuming a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Thank you for helping out, wonderful information.
Excellent blog you have got here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days.
I seriously appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Where can I purchase the pattern for the Fresh Lemons quilt?
It looks like the link was broken, but I just fixed it 🙂
Love this blog. I prefer this method over video. Thank you soooooo much😃
I want a finished unit that is 4 x 7 1/2 “. I cut a large square 8 3/4″ (width +1 1/4″) and 4 smaller squares 4 7/8″ (height + 7/8″). I end up with a unit that is 4 1/2 x 7 3/4”. Maybe this only works with rectagles that have a length exactly twice their height…..?? I’m not good enough with math to make this work!
The No Waste 4-at-a-time method is designed for exactly what you said – blocks that are twice as wide as they are tall. For what you’re trying to do, the Basic one-at-a-time method should work, though.
The no-waste-4-at-a-time method is a very neat method. But it hardly leaves any seam on the sides. So if we join two columns of flying geese how will one get neat points at the two sides of the base?
The seams are a 1/4″ with this method. If you find that you’re having trouble sewing and trimming because the seams are too small, add a 1/4″ to your cut size and then trim the blocks when you’re finished.
Thank you for all of your great illustrations and help! I just started on a flying geese crib quilt, but my blocks don’t have enough seam allowance for a 1/4” seam. The corners will be cut off on all three sides of the triangle when I sew the blocks together. I cut 7.5” square and 4” smaller squares so that I’ll have a 6.5 block. Can you help? 🙂 Thank you!
It’s possible your 1/4″ seam is a bit wider than you realize. Many quilters sew a “scant” 1/4″ to make up for the added seam the folded fabric makes. I first suggest double checking that your seams are in fact a 1/4″ and then try using a tailor’s clapper to get extra flat seams – https://suzyquilts.com/tailors-clapper/
I love the time you take to research and enlighten us about quilting! Thank you! Who knew the craft we all enjoy served a necessary purpose at such a critical time in history.
Now….on to the flying geese.
Thank you again Suzy!
Another very helpful post! I’ve recently discovered your blog, and am delighted with the amount of useful information it contains.
I’m so happy to hear that! 🙂
I have just discovered your site and so pleased to find you. You have so much to offer in the quilting world and I appreciate your talent. . I was wondering how one can download the free quilt that you are offering–Bows and Arrows pattern. I just do not see where to go to download it.??????? I live in southern New Mexico and your pattern is so perfect.
Your work is very inspirational. Thank you so much..
Hey Judith, if you sign up for the Suzy Quilts newsletter you get the Bow and Arrows pattern for free! Click here to sign up – http://bit.ly/SuzyQuiltsNewsletter
Hello! I grew up watching my mom quilt, and I have long been wanting to learn. I just finished my first ever quilt, using this tutorial and a bunch of your other posts (and, of course, advice from my mom). Thank you for taking the time to post and teach us newcomers…it really helped it seem doable.
Currently making the Stars Hollow quilt and just want to confirm — should the end result end up with dog ears that need to be trimmed at the corners where the triangle points are? I see the dog ears in part of the illustration but not at the end so I just want to make sure I didn’t make a mistake!
Yes, that’s exactly correct!
Suzy I am a new quilter and I feel like I just learned an insider trick! Thank you for the easy to follow cheat sheet! 😍 can’t wait to try this.
Have always enjoyed your blog. I was particularly moved by the historical “references”. Surely more interesting (and to such a more noble end) than talking about @%#Q$!#^ election results. Quilting really is the “fabric of our lives”. in so many ways. Thank you for being such a great contributor!
Thank you for this tutorial. I’m a new quilter, and I’d like to use both ‘large’ and ‘small’ flying gees, as in ‘Wonderlust’ by Maureen Cracknell. How does one do this? Are the small ones half the size of the large ones so that two of the small ones ‘fit into’ a row of the large ones? Does one have to make separate small and large rows? I’m quite muddled.
Hello! new quilter here. Thank you so much for this article –really enjoy your site! This may be a basic question, but any advice on how to press the seams to avoid excessive bulk at the tip of the triangle? thanks!
Yes! This post, vith a video tutorial will help – https://suzyquilts.com/how-to-press-seams-in-a-quilt-with-video-tutorial/
I am a new quilter, but wanted some flying geese on the border of a crib quilt. I used scraps to practice the no waste option because I didn’t understand the directions. However, I followed them exactly, and it worked beautifully! I’m using 5” squares from a charm pack so I adjusted my small squares to be 2 3/4”. I don’t know if that is technically correct, but it seemed to work. Thank you!
There is a wonderful book Hidden in Plain View by Jacquline Tobin actual account of the story passed down from generation to generation in the family of Ozella McDaniel.
“Ozella’s Underground Railroad Quilt Code,” offer proof that some slaves were involved in a sophisticated network that melded African textile traditions with American quilt practices and created a potent result: African American quilts with patterns that conveyed messages that were, in fact, essential tools for escape along the Underground Railroad.
Thanks for reading, Trine! “Hidden in Plain View” is a pretty controversial book among professional quilt historians. Here are some links that help explain! First, this is from the International Quilt Museum: https://worldquilts.quiltstudy.org/americanstory/quiltsare/undergroundrailroad
And here is an article that features enlightening quotes from noted quilt historian Marsha MacDowell: https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/underground-railroad-quilt-codes
The research continues!