Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern

From our Free Quilt Block Patterns Library

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Skill Level: Confident beginner

The Flock of Geese quilt block may be more commonly known as 'Birds in the Air'. Since we've already got a block by the same name (just simpler) in the library, this namesake will have to do.

Other names for this block include: Birds of the Air, Flying Birds, Flying Geese and White Cloud.

In this lesson you'll learn to make it with rotary cut shapes and traditional piecing methods.

Let's get started!

The Flock of Geese quilt block tutorial starts here...

All seam allowances (SA) are 1/4".

First press a pieced unit flat to set the seam. Then open ig, pressing from the front to prevent tucks at the SA. Seams are pressed to the dark fabric unless otherwise noted.

Step 1: Cut the patches for a Flock of Geese

Flock of Geese quilt block design

Sample Size: 4Β½" finished / 5" finished

Grid: 3x3

Attribution: Ruth Finley

AKA: Birds in the Air (Ruth Finley), Birds in the Air (Scioto Imhoff Danner), Flying Birds (Ruther Finley), Flying Geese (Marguerite Ickis), Flying Geese (Yvonne Khin)

To create a block with pointy points, choose fabrics that highly contrast each other. Large florals or prints with big open spaces are not suitable for this block.

We will be working with exposed bias edges (#1 and #3 patches) during construction. To tame them, I suggest starching your quilt fabric before cutting. (I did for the sample pictures in these instructions.)

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Cutting Chart for a
Flock of Geese Quilt Block

~ Traditional Piecing ~

Patch Fabric Qty Finished Block Size
3” 4½" 6” 9”
1 D 3 1⅞" x 1⅞" 2⅜" x 2⅜" 2⅞" x 2⅞" 3⅞" x 3⅞"
2 L 2 1⅞" x 1⅞" 2⅜" x 2⅜" 2⅞" x 2⅞" 3⅞" x 3⅞"
3 L 1 3⅞" x 3⅞" 5⅜" x 5⅜" 6⅞" x 6⅞" 9⅞" x 9⅞"
Unfinished Block Size 3½" 5” 6½" 9½"
Trim HSTs to 1½" x 1½" 2” x 2” 2½" x 2½" 3½" x 3½"
Grid Size 1” 1½" 2” 3”

90% Faster Than Rotary Cutters

Step 2: Assemble the Flock of Geese quilt block

Draw a diagonal line on the back of 2 of the 3 dark #1 squares. I've used my Bohin Mechanical Chalk Pencil. The chalk is easy to see on the dark fabric. The line stays fine from end to end. (I love this marking tool!)

Cut the remaining #1 in half on the diagonal and set it aside.

Mark patches

With right sides together (RST), layer #1 and #2. Repeat for a total of 2 pair.

Sew 1/4" away from the drawn lines for a total of 3 stitching lines as shown below.

Stitch HST

With a rotary cutter, cut along the drawn line to separate the sewn patches into 3 triangle squares and two loose triangles as shown below.

Trim away the dog ears (circles in red, top, right).  In the cutting chart locate the row labelled 'HST measure...'. Where this row intersects the Finished Size column is what your HST should measure at this point. For this 4-1/2" sample, that number is 2".

Trim HSTs

Lay out the cut and sewn patches to create the Flock of Geese design.

Patches laid out ready to stitch

Sew the HSTs and loose triangles together in each row. I get the best results when I feed the flat edge of the HST into the sewing machine first as shown below.

Sew HST patches

After stitching...

Ready to assemble the pieced half

Press the SA of the top row of triangles in the opposite direction of the second row so that the seams will nest in the next step.

Sew the rows of triangles together. (Yep, I'm a pinner...even for short seams!)

Stitch the pieced half of the design

Press. At this point, ideally, the two halves are the exact same size.

Ready to assemble the two halves

Match the two halves, RST and stitch along the long diagonal edge. I prefer to sew from the pieced side so that I can see where the points of the little triangles are, and avoid sewing through them.

Give your block one final press, check it's measurement against the unfinished block size from the chart.

Your Flock of Geese quilt block is ready to take off!

The finished Flock of Geese block

OK. I've got a confession...

I think this Flock of Geese block is really rather...well...meh!

I could take it or leave it. But.

There's always a 'but', isn't there?

This ho-hum block is part of some pretty neat looking ones...that all of a sudden don't look so hard to make, like...

Double Hour Glass quilt block design

The Double Hour Glass

You might know it as 'The Wandering Lover', but all those triangles really help you eye 'wander' all around the block.

It looks like a more complicated version of our Old Maid's Puzzle.

Old Maid's Puzzle quilt block design

But this block is called Old Maid's Puzzle and it doesn't look ANYTHING like it's simpler cousin. Who knew??!!

With all the fabrics, this one's got a lot going on.

Twinkling Star quilt block design


This is my favorite, The Twinkling Star.

I admit, there's a lot of bias edges to contend with in a single block. But starch is the great equalizer. Take it slow and steady and you'll have a real stunner when you're finished!

A second Twinkling Star quilt block design

Now add another colorβ€”two shades. It's totally transformed!

What about a different quilt block?

For a list of all the 220+ quilt block patterns on this site, start here.

If you know the name of the block, shorten your search by using these links:

A-D

E-M

N-Z

Click here if you're looking for blocks with at least some paper piecing.

Click here if you're looking for the basic building blocks of quilting, i.e., Flying Geese, half square triangles, quarter square triangles, etc., along with several techniques to make each.

And finally, use these links to find blocks in these finished sizes:

For even more blocks to make...

Click here to learn about my favorite quilt book resources that inspire my patchwork designs.

For you, are quilt block designs like potato chips...

...you can't have just one?!!

Check the amazing resources I rely on for all the quilt block designs you see on this website. 

To see if they're worthy of a spot in YOUR quilting library, CLICK HERE.



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