Flying Geese Quilting Methods - Rectangle and Two Squares - Four at a Time (No Waste)

Oct 14, 2026

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Guide to assembling flying geese quilt blocks using two paper-cutting and stitching methods. The document explains a “Rectangle and Two Squares Method” for making a small number of units, including cutting sizes, placement, diagonal marking, sewing along the drawn line, trimming excess seam allowance, and pressing. It also details a “Four at a Time (No Waste)” approach, describing cutting one large and four small squares, positioning for diagonal lines, stitching a 1/4-inch seam, cutting on the center line, pressing open, and repeating to yield four finished units, plus exact size tables.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPaper Templates

FormatPDF

Pages1

AccessFree to download

Flying Geese: Rectangle and Two Squares Method

Flying Geese: Four at a Time (No Waste)

✁ Cut out on the dashed line |
1-3 | | | | |
5 | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Flying Geese: Rectangle and Two Squares Method
Use this method when piecing only a few flying geese.
1. Cut one rectangle and two squares according to the table at right.
2. Place a small square on top the left side of the rectangle, right sides together.
3. On the wrong side of the small square, draw a diagonal line. Sew on this diagonal line.
4. Trim off the excess seam allowance, and press the remainder toward the triangle.
5. Repeat with another square on the opposite end. | | | | | Finished Rectangle Square
Unit Size Size Size

1" x 2" 1½" x 2½" 1½"
1½" x 3" 2" x 3½" 2"
2" x 4" 2½" x 4½" 2½"
2½" x 5" 3" x 5 ½" 3"
3" x 6" 3½" x 6½" 3½"
3½" x 7" 4" x 7½" 4"
4" x 8" 4½" x 8½" 4½"
Tip: To avoid wasting fabric, sew the discarded corner snippets into pairs, and you will have tiny half-square triangles to use in another project. | | | | | | Flying Geese: Four at a Time (No Waste)
1. Cut one large square and four small squares according to the table below. With right sides together, position two of the small squares in opposite corners of the large square as shown. Draw a diagonal line from one corner of the top small square to the opposite corner of the bottom small square. Pin.
2. Sew a ¼" from each side of the line. Cut on the center line.
3. Press open. You have two units.
4. With right sides together, place the third small square on the bottom right corner of the large triangle. Draw a diagonal line corner to corner on the small square. Pin. Stitch a ¼" seam on each side of the line. Cut the unit in half on the drawn line.
5. Press open.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the remaining piece. You will have four flying geese units. | | | 1 | | | 2 | | | | | | | | 3
4 | | | | | 5 | | | Finished 4 Small Large Unit Size Squares Square

1" x 2" 1⅞" 3¼"
1½" x 3" 2⅜" 4¼"
2" x 4" 2⅞" 5¼"
2½" x 5" 3⅜" 6¼" | | Finished 4 Small Large Unit Size Squares Square

3" x 6" 3⅞" 7¼"
3½" x 7" 4⅜" 8¼"
4" x 8" 4⅞" 9¼" | | | | | | | | | Updated 01/12/18 © 2018 The Quilter's Planner™ | [QuiltersPlanner.com](QuiltersPlanner.com) | | | | | | | | | |

FAQs

When should you use the Rectangle and Two Squares Method?

Use it when piecing only a few flying geese units. The method cuts one rectangle and two squares, then stitches along a diagonal drawn on the small square.

How do you assemble flying geese using the Four at a Time (No Waste) method?

Cut one large square and four small squares, position two small squares in opposite corners, draw and pin diagonal lines, sew 1/4" from each side, cut on the center line, press open, then repeat steps to create four units.

What cutting and size guidance is included for the methods?

The document provides unit size tables for both methods, listing rectangle and square dimensions (e.g., rectangle sizes like 1" x 2" paired with specific square sizes) and a tip about saving trimmed corner scraps for half-square triangles in other projects.

Oct 14, 2026

Upload by Blitz