Mastering the Scandi Flying Geese Quilt

As a young girl, I remember my grandmother’s house being filled with the comforting scent of freshly baked bread and the soft hum of her sewing machine.

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She was a master quilter, and her creations were nothing short of breathtaking.

One of my most cherished memories is of a particular winter afternoon when she pulled out a quilt she had been working on. It was a Scandi Flying Geese quilt, a pattern that was as beautiful as it was intricate. I was mesmerized by the geometric patterns and the way the colors danced together.

That day, my grandmother didn’t just share her quilt with me; she shared her passion. Now, I want to share that passion with you.

In this tutorial, we will be exploring the Scandi Flying Geese quilt pattern. This pattern is versatile and can be made using any set of Fat Quarters. So, let’s get started!

Materials Needed

  1. Scandi Fat Quarters
  2. Flying Geese ruler
  3. White print fabric
  4. White solid fabric
  5. Grey, yellow, and teal fabrics
  6. Rotary cutter
  7. Sewing machine with a walking foot
  8. Binding clips
  9. Coordinating colored thread

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preparation

Press all fabrics well before cutting. Remember that RST = right sides together, FG = Flying Geese, and WOF = width of fabric. This pattern assumes all fabric off the bolt is 44in wide.

Step 2: Cutting the Grey Fabrics

From each of the grey fabrics cut five 3-inch wide strips.

Step 3: Subcutting the Grey Fabrics

Use the Flying Geese ruler to subcut three strips into five center triangles and ten side triangles.

Step 4: Subcutting the Remaining Grey Fabrics

Subcut the remaining two strips into eight 5¼in x 3in rectangles.

Step 5: Cutting the Yellow and Teal Fabrics

From each of the yellow and teal fabrics cut two 7in x 5¼in rectangles, two 5½in x 5¼in pieces, and three 3in wide strips.

Step 6: Subcutting the Yellow and Teal Fabrics

Use the Flying Geese ruler to subcut two strips into four center triangles and eight side triangles. Subcut the remaining strip into two 5¼in x 3in rectangles.

Step 7: Cutting the Leftover Print Fabrics

From leftover print fabrics cut 2in strips, for the binding to lengths of fabric. Mix all the prints together if you want a scrappy binding.

Step 8: Cutting the White Print Fabric

From the white print fabric cut eight 3in strips. Use the Flying Geese ruler to subcut four strips into twenty center triangles. Subcut the remaining four strips into forty side triangles.

Step 9: Cutting the White Solid Fabric

From the white solid fabric cut one 20½in x WOF piece, one 12½in x WOF piece, and two 48in x WOF pieces, for the backing.

Step 10: Piecing the Flying Geese Units

To make one chevron block: take a white center triangle and lay a grey side triangle on top, right sides together (RST), matching up the side and bottom edges. The top corner of the grey triangle and side corner of the white triangle will stick out a little.

Step 11: Sewing the Pieces Together

Sew the two pieces together, ¼in away from the edge. Fold outwards and press.

Step 12: Adding the Second Grey Side Triangle

Line a second grey side triangle up against the left-hand edge of the white triangle, as before. Sew together, fold out and press. You now have one Flying Geese unit.

Step 13: Making a Reverse Flying Geese Unit

Repeat steps 10-12 with a grey central triangle and two white side triangles to make a reverse Flying Geese unit.

Step 14: Trimming the Dog Ears

Trim the dog ears (excess seam allowance) away from the edges to make two 2½in x 5in blocks.

Step 15: Creating the Chevron Block

Sew the two blocks together to create one chevron block. Press the joining seam to the side.

Step 16: Repeating the Process

Repeat steps 10-15 to make four yellow print chevron blocks, four teal chevron blocks, six geometric grey chevron blocks, and six floral grey chevron blocks.

Step 17: Ensuring Fabric Placement

Remember the fabric placement here: ensure that your print faces upwards in three of the blocks, and downwards in the other three. This ensures that when you flip the bottom strip downwards, the print will still face the right direction.

Step 18: Assembling the Quilt Top

Sew the chevron blocks into strips, with the coordinating 5¼in x 3in rectangles in between each one. Make two yellow print strips with two chevron blocks in each, two teal strips with two chevron blocks in each, two geometric grey strips with three chevron blocks in each, and two floral grey strips with three chevron blocks in each (matching the directions of the print for each).

Step 19: Finishing the Strips

The grey strips should now be complete. Finish each teal and yellow print strip to measure approximately 23in x 5¼in. To do so, sew the 7in x 5¼in rectangles to the top of each strip. Then sew the 5½in x 5¼in pieces to the bottom of each strip. Press each strip.

Step 20: Sewing the Strips

Sew the strips into two units of four strips, referring to the below image for color placement. Line them up along the bottom before sewing. Make sure both strip blocks are exactly the same, so that they’ll be in reverse order when the bottom block is flipped. Press seams flat.

Step 21: Straightening the Top Edge

The top edge may be a little uneven, so straighten up with a rotary cutter and ruler when complete. Sew the two strip blocks together, matching up the seams and press.

Step 22: Joining the White Pieces

Place your completed strip block right side up, and join the white 12½in x WOF piece to the right-hand side. Press the seam flat. Then join the white 20½in x WOF piece to the left-hand side and press the seam. Trim the white and print sections so that the edges are even, to finish the quilt top.

Step 23: Quilting and Finishing

Join the two 48in x WOF pieces of white fabric together along the long edge, using a ½in seam. Press the seam open. Trim to roughly 48in square. You will be left with extra white fabric – keep for another project!

Step 24: Making a Quilt Sandwich

Make a quilt sandwich by placing the white backing piece face down, then the batting on top, then place the quilt top centrally and right side up. The backing and batting will be a little larger than the quilt top, to allow for any movement while quilting.

Step 25: Basting the Quilt

Baste using your preferred method. You could spray baste the layers together, thread baste, or use pins or safety pins. Whatever your preference, ensure that your three layers are secure before quilting.

Step 26: Preparing Your Sewing Machine

If you have one, apply a walking foot to your sewing machine. This will help to avoid your fabrics from bunching up while you quilt.

Step 27: Quilting

Quilt as desired. A simple straight line design with freehand lines in varying widths apart works well for this pattern. Stitch with the quilt foot lined up against the chevron strips to start. From that point, use your lines of stitching to fill in the rest of the space. If you want your lines a little neater, or need a little more guidance, use a removable fabric marker to lightly mark quilting lines to follow.

Step 28: Trimming the Quilt

Once happy with your quilting, trim the excess batting and backing fabric even with your 44in quilt top.

Step 29: Preparing the Binding

Take your 2in strips of teal fabric and sew together into one strip, end-to-end, using diagonal seams. Press the seams open and trim away the dog ears.

Step 30: Attaching the Binding

Fold in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, and press. Sew the binding to the front of the quilt, folding a neat miter at each corner.

Step 31: Finishing the Binding

Then fold the binding over to the back, using pins or binding clips to hold in place. Hand stitch in place, using a coordinating colored thread and a slipstitch, to finish.

Full Pattern: Click Here

And there you have it! Your very own Scandi Flying Geese quilt. This pattern is a beautiful blend of tradition and modernity, and it’s a project that you can truly make your own. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or a beginner, this pattern offers a rewarding challenge.

Remember, quilting is not just about the end product; it’s about the journey. It’s about the hours spent choosing fabrics, cutting and piecing them together, and seeing your creation come to life. It’s a labor of love, much like the one my grandmother shared with me all those years ago. Happy quilting!

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