What this calculator does
Flying geese turn up in stars, borders and countless traditional blocks. Two ways of making them are common, and each needs different cutting sizes. This calculator gives both for any finished size, plus how many squares or rectangles to cut for the number of geese you need.
How to use it
- Enter the finished width and height. The width is usually twice the height.
- Enter how many geese you need. The no-waste method makes them in sets of four.
- Cut the large squares from the goose fabric and the small squares from the sky fabric.
The math
No-waste (makes 4):
large square = finished width + 1¼″ (1)
small squares = finished height + 7/8″ (4)
Stitch-and-flip (makes 1):
rectangle = (width + ½″) × (height + ½″)
squares = height + ½″ (2)
Flying geese cutting chart
| Finished | Large square | Small squares | Flip rectangle | Flip squares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2″ × 1″ | 3 1/4″ | 1 7/8″ | 2 1/2″ × 1 1/2″ | 1 1/2″ |
| 3″ × 1 1/2″ | 4 1/4″ | 2 3/8″ | 3 1/2″ × 2″ | 2″ |
| 4″ × 2″ | 5 1/4″ | 2 7/8″ | 4 1/2″ × 2 1/2″ | 2 1/2″ |
| 5″ × 2 1/2″ | 6 1/4″ | 3 3/8″ | 5 1/2″ × 3″ | 3″ |
| 6″ × 3″ | 7 1/4″ | 3 7/8″ | 6 1/2″ × 3 1/2″ | 3 1/2″ |
| 8″ × 4″ | 9 1/4″ | 4 7/8″ | 8 1/2″ × 4 1/2″ | 4 1/2″ |
Tips
Mark the diagonals first. Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of every small square before you start sewing. Chain-piecing goes much faster when the marking is done.
Save the corners. The triangles cut off in stitch-and-flip can be sewn into tiny HSTs. Stitch a second seam ½ inch from the first before you trim, and you get a bonus HST from each corner.
Questions people ask
What is a flying geese unit?
A rectangle twice as wide as it is tall, with a large triangle (the goose) in the middle and two small triangles (the sky) on either side. Sawtooth stars and many borders are built from them.
Which method should I use?
The no-waste method makes four geese at once with no off-cuts and is quick for many units. Stitch-and-flip uses a rectangle and two squares per goose. It wastes two small triangles each time but is very accurate and easy for beginners.
Can I make geese that are not twice as wide as tall?
Use stitch-and-flip. The no-waste square sizes only work for the classic 2:1 shape.
Should I make them oversized and trim?
Many quilters add about ¼ inch to each square and trim the finished unit with a flying geese ruler. It is slower but gives crisper points.