thanks, Margo! I like the tip about putting painter's tape on the sewing machine and marking the needle line. I will try that next time I sew. (I haven't started the sawtooth star blocks yet...)

I ran into a couple of fast ways to do flying geese, and this website has them:
http://quiltingpassion.com/tutorials/geese/
I add 1/8 inch to the measurements on the quadruple square method and then trim to size. There is very little waste with this method. The double sqaure method was new to me, it is much easier but more waste.

Marion

I did finish my Sawtooth Stars for Feb. Mar. and April, so now I have 24 little star done. I did figure out how many I needed to do from each fabric combination, since I am using a limited amount of fabrics. I do not have a picture of the little stars yet.

Margarita in Auburn, CA

theothermarion wrote:
I'm sorry, Marion! You can always access all my tutorials on my webshots albums from my TQS profile, and you can always get to my profile by just clicking on my picture anywhere you see it on the web site, or by doing a search for "Margo".
On my profile, just click on the link beside my picture.

For now, just click here for the March Pinwheels with flying geese:

http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/570305305PZwEyD?vhost=entertainment

You will see all of the tutorials from last year's appliqued BOM (although the patterns are no longer available) as well as one for each month this year. Hope you find some helpful tips.

OK, I give up! Where can I find your tutorials?

theothermarion wrote:
Marion, in my March tutorial I showed how I made flying geese units instead of using 2 HSTs. There are a lot of different techniques for making flying geese units, and you are welcome to use whatever works for you. If you find a method that has not been discussed on one of the forum threads, please share it with us!

I'm working on those border blocks, and am making flying geese whenever I can. Margo, is there a reason you are not giving different instructions for flying geese? I don't like to piece when I don't have to, and I just realized today just how much bulk I am avoiding by using a different method.

I like all the different fabrics everyone is using, some of them I wish I had used. But I still like mine the best!

Marion

Done and posted. I'll end up doing one block over, but I'm actually able to make a block with accurate ending measurements now. Thank goodness.

Just a reminder that you can put 2-3 extra pairs of magnifying glasses over your regualr glasses and get REALLY good magnification! Learned that little one from Caryl Bryer Fallert!

Works, too!

I love everyone's work! I've got my blocks finished for the second pieced border, but I've been too busy to do anything else. Hopefully, I'll get them sewn together next week. Judy in Torrance

I finished April a couple days ago, but finally got the picture taken!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

I finished and posted my April Blocks.

I have finished more than half of the 72 sawtooth stars, where I also used flying geese to eliminate some of the seamlines. I started by cutting all of the pieces for all 72 sawtooth stars, in advance, so that I could chain piece to my hearts content. However, I stole some of the flying geese pieces, that were already cut and partially sewn for my sawtooth stars, and used them in my April BOM stars. It probably took me a little longer to make the April stars this way, than if I had just used the templates, but I like having fewer seams. Also, I wanted to use some of the same fabrics in my April stars that I had used up when cutting out my pieces for the sawtooth stars.

Still waiting for my PC to be returned from HP repair in Dallas so that I can post my March and April "Show & Tell" photos.

I'm working on my April blocks today I am using three different shades of blue and three different shades of purple. And then there is my black background and a red. I printed out a picture of each block with the correct colors (thank you EQ6). Some of the HSTs are going to be Flying Geese instead. So while I was watching TV the other night, I outlined each block and made a list of all the HSTs and FG that I needed. So I'm in the sewing room today working on the HSTs. Except I grabbed the dark blue instead of the medium blue and made 12 HSTs that I don't need! :shock: Well my carpets are clean and I'm home alone, so back to work.
edit: Just realized that since we're working on these blocks for several months, I will probably use the HSTs later, so I'll just hold on to them.

Well I figured out the fabric for my squares. And I know how many HSTs of each combination. But I've got an exchange block that I need to work on, so that's what I'm doing today. We're getting the carpets cleaned tomorrow, so maybe I'll start working on them then. And one of these days, I'll actually get all my borders sewn on and a picture up on show and tell. My four patch border is done, but I still need to figure out the floaters. My pinwheels are done but not sewn together yet.