I have used Eleanor Burns method for several quilts and like it too. For the Sawtooth Stars I took an extra Omnigrid 2.5" x 2.5" rulers and had my DH cut it down on one side making it 2.5" x 1.5". I marked the top with some clear tape for the goose portion and added my post-it notes to the back where the goose is. This lets me slide the modified ruler right up into the goose for a positive fit.

Thank you Karen, that was the information I was after!

I recently wrote myself a cheat sheet for this formula to make Eleanor Burns' flying geese.
For the geese part you multiply the finished size by2 and add 1 1/2 inches. For the sky parts you take the finished size and add 3".

For example if you want 4"x8 " finished flying geese the geese squares are cut size 9 1/2 sq. and the sky is an 11 inch sq.

2x4 finished uses a 5 1/2" sq for the geese and a 7" sq for the sky.
I hope this is helpful. Karen

Thank you Kathy. I thought her way looked interesting, but of course, she was giving the dimensions for the project of the day, and using her special square up template. Were you working from a formula or just trying to logic your way through? (the latter, not something for a newbie like me!) I'll give it a try!

suehenyon wrote:
Hi Sue, I looked at Eleanor's books and did some trial and error. To make 4 finished 1 x 2 inch geese, I started with a 5 inch square of the star point fabric and a 3-1/2 inch square of the background fabric.

They are tiny but turn out good, IF I remember to keep the 2nd sewing lines perpendicular to the first. Otherwise, the angle comes out off from 90 degrees.

Kathy

Good for you, Adamsme!! Everyone needs to find a method that works for them. Glad to hear that you've tried several and now have a preference!

Okay, I have tried all three methods - paper-pieced, Eleanor Burns' method, and the one proposed by Koala58. I prefer the last one. Eleanor Burns' method is okay, and it is better than using the paper piecing, but seems a bit wasteful to me. I have used the method proposed by Koala58 many times and it works great every time for me. The squares I made from the paper-piecing technique were not as accurate as I wanted. Also there is more bulk and burned fingers trying to iron the doggone seams open. When the pieces are so small, you have to be really careful cutting on the lines or you will not have enough seam allowance on some squares. Since the pieces are little, this is very important (thank you, Sally Collins!). By the way, my paper squares printed out at exactly 7/8".

I watched Eleanor Burns make the over-sized version, four at a time flying geese. If one chooses to used the over-sized squares technique, how do you determine the measurements to cut the squares?

Margo, which technique do you use?

Cre8tvlwyr wrote:
Yes, Monica....the flying geese sections of both the saw tooth stars and the border blocks that we start this month will finish at 1"x2".
You are welcome to make them with any technique that you like to do. Just keep checking your finished measurements.

http://www.patchpieces.com/Flyinggeese.html

I use this method when I'm making Flying Geese. When I saw the block, my first thought was to make the FG rather than the HST. As for this site, I have it in my favorites. I try to keep printouts handy but am always misplacing them. Now I need to get busy and get caught up! HUGS, Kelly in CO

Monica, I was going to write about the seam allowances being less then 1/4" but you figured that out for yourself. With these little pieces the smaller seam allowance is a help.

As for the sawtooth stars--I am making them with flying geese units just as you mentioned, using a large square of background fabric and 4 smaller squares for the star points. I am using an oversized measurement and then cutting the units precisely. The background square is 3.75" and the small squares are 2.25"--this is from a Sally Collins workshop on oversizing and then custom cutting. I find making 4 geese at once to be the fastest method for me. I trim each unit to 2" x 3.5" after sewing.

Barbara

sorry - I didnt mean the real 'flying geese' border - I mean the sections of star points in the sawtooth stars. I was wondering if it is possible to 'attack' them like flying geese? The finished 'sections' are 2" by 1" right? so can you make all four sides at once with one large center square representing the background and four smaller squares representing starpoints [or 'sky' for flying geese]?
Monica

I take it that you have figured out how you want to make your HSTs?

The saw tooth stars finish at 4" and the flying geese units finish at 3"x1-1/2". That's all the info I'm authorized to share until November!

OK - I see what is happening. I sewed two squares of the printed paper and then sewed two of them together to make a side of a star. It measures slightly less than 1 1/2" [between 1/8 and 1/16 off] by 2 3/8". I took less than a 1/4" seam to put the pieces together. The printed square doesn't give you 1/4" seams. The seams measure a little less than 3/16 [yeah, sorry, I was a scientist before going to lawschool - it really messes with the creative mind ] This method works, you just have to be careful and measure acurately to put the star together.

I have a real wacky question now [now that I cut all my fabric for all current and future sawtooth starpoints - yes I'm also nuts]... I notices on another blog that there is a real easy way 'wastefree' to make flying geese! Do the sawtooth star sides give the same proportion as flying geese??
Thanks,
Monica