Mystery Monday - Clue #4

Good Monday morning.  Here is Clue #4 that you all have been waiting for.  Guess what....more flying geese!!  And a few half square triangles too.

Unit 4 - Make 52 Flying Geese units using Fabric #7 and Fabric #8 along with Fabric #2.

You will need to cut the following:

52 - 5 ½” x 3” rectangles from Fabric #2

52 - 3" x 3" squares from Fabric #7

52 - 3" x 3" squares from Fabric #8

To make the flying geese units you will draw a line (on the wrong side of the fabric) corner to corner on the 3" squares (Fabric #7 & Fabric 8) - this is your sew line (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Place the square on one side of the 5 ½” x 3” rectangle (right sides together)  - lining up all the edges. Sew on the line. I like to sew on the line from the outside corner down to the middle of the 5 ½” x 3” rectangle. Sewing this way helps when you want to do a strip sewing method (continuous sewing of all the units).  Note:  all of the Fabric #7 squares need to be sewn to the same side in the same direction for each 5 ½” x 3" rectangle.  Likewise when you sew the #8 - 3" squares to the opposite side - make sure you are sewing them all on the same side.

Lay your ruler's ¼” line onto your sew line. Trim away the excess. Press Fabric #7 away to the outside corner as shown in Fig. 2

Fig. 2

Place Fabric #8 - 3" square on the opposite side of the 5 ½” x 3” rectangle (right sides together) - lining up all the edges. Sew on the line. Again - I like to sew from the outside corner into the middle. This way when you come to the previous seam you are traveling in the right direction and you won't have your previous seam turning in the wrong direction and your unit will lay flat. Lay your ruler's ¼” line onto your sew line. Trim away the excess. Press Fabric #8 away to the outside corner as shown in Fig. 3. Note: each point will be a different fabric.  All flying geese should be completed the same.

Fig. 3

Unit #5 - make 52 half square triangle units. If you have the "Quilt in a Day" half square triangle ruler just follow her directions for the 3" unfinished or the 2 ½” finished half square triangles.  I just love using this ruler.  You get 8 - half square triangles for each 7" square of the two fabrics.  Done in a jiffy!!  You will be using Fabrics #7 & #8 for these units.

If you don't have the ruler - it's the old fashioned way for you......

You will need to cut the following:

26 - 3 ½” squares of Fabric #7

26 - 3 ½” squares of Fabric #8

To make the half square triangle units you will draw a line (on the wrong side of the fabric) corner to corner on the 3 ½” squares (Fabric #7) - this is your reference line (Fig. 4).  Place Fabric #7 over Fabric #8 right sides together.  Sew 1/4" from the reference line on both sides.  Cut on the reference line.  Press the two units open.  Square up to 3" (Fig. 5).  

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Note: when calculating the cutting size of the half square triangles the rule of thumb is the finished size of the block 2 ½” plus 7/8” equals 3 3/8” squares.  I like to round up the extra 8th of an inch to 3 ½”.  It gives me that extra bit more to square up my blocks - because you know when you sew on a bias things can get a bit wonky.

Happy piecing.