This week's beautiful Summer in the Country sew-along block is "Evening Star" designed by Jen Van Orman of Heritage Threads. This week we are going to be making lots of flying geese. I have gone off the path of the pattern instructions again. I prefer to make my flying geese four at a time and over-sized. I then trim them down to size. This does take a bit more fabric, so if you do it my way, plan ahead for that bit of waste. This tutorial and cutting chart by The Crafty Quilter has all the information on making flying geese the 4 at a time, over-sized method.
Our first task is to make the center of our block unit. This block is made up of 4 flying geese that are 1 1/4 x 2 inches unfinished. As mentioned, you make the flying geese oversized and trim down. I used my Fit to be Geese ruler by Open Gate Quilts to trim down my units to size. I have had this tool forever and am not sure if it is still made. It came in a small size and a large size (pictured below).
Once you assemble it, measure your center square to be sure it is 3 1/2 inches square.
Our next step is to make the next round of flying geese to surround our center block unit.
These flying geese units are a more standard size, 2 x 3 1/2". I used my BlocLoc ruler in that size for trimming.
As we did before, measure this unit to be sure it comes out at 6 1/2" square. Checking the size of your units as you go will ensure an accurate block when you are finished.
Now we are ready to make the flying geese units for the 3rd and final round of our Evening Star block. These geese are big guys at 3 1/2 x 6 1/2". I didn't have a BlocLoc trim tool in that size, so I pulled out my large Fit to be Geese ruler and got the job done.
Ready to put it all together?
I love how this is coming together! Once your block is all sewn, give it a final measure to be sure it is 12 1/2" square.
Ta da, here are our first four Summer in the Country blocks!
Patt sent me a photo of her first three blocks:
Patt is going with a red white and blue colorway also. I love her prints.
If you are sewing along and would like to share your blocks, send me an image in an email. I'd love to post them.
8 Responses
This quilt top is looking good!
That Evening Star block is so pretty!
Thanks for sharing flying geese tips & a participant’s completed blocks. You’re both doing a great job!
This is such a great block! Thanks for sharing the tutorial and cutting chart for the two methods of making flying geese. I printed out the instructions for both methods.
An entire quilt of just that block would be amazing…it’s like a starburst of color. I love Patt’s choices of darker colors too. I love seeing what other people are making. I’m living vicariously through others…
That evening star is a beautiful block!! And I imagine that the more careful in cutting, keeping your scant 1/4 inch seam, squaring up, etc is very important to a good outcome.
So far this is my favorite block 😻
Love your blocks!