QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese

✓Our best-selling online course is back and better than ever! APQS Longarm Certification Sponsored by Quilting Daily has been revised and updated. Not only will you learn how to make beautiful quilts, you’ll also gain skills to turn your passion into a paycheck with tips on how to run your own quilting business.

By Carolyn Beam, Quiltmaker Content Director

Im excited to share Aprils QM Bitty Block with you. I hope youre having as much fun sewing these little treasures as I am. In case youre new to Bitty Blocks, these little blocks are freebies presented the first Monday of each month on Quilty Pleasures. See earlier QM Bitty Blocks in case you missed them.

Aprils Bitty Block is a 4 x 4 block I call Flying Geese Pinwheel.

FG Pinwheel QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Aprils QM Bitty Block Flying Geese Pinwheel

Printer-friendly pdf of the Flying Geese Pinwheel block.

For one block, youll need:

Background (white dot):
4 squares 1-7/8 x 1-7/8 (see first photo below)
4 rectangles 1-1/2 x 2-1/2 (see second photo below)

Pinwheel (pink zigzag print):
1 square 3-1/4 x 3-1/4 (see first photo below)

1 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Pinwheel fabric and 4 small background squares

2 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Background rectangles

To make 4 Flying Geese, youll use the square of Pinwheel fabric and the 4 squares of background. Align 2 white squares on opposite corners of the Pinwheel square, right sides together, as shown below. Draw a diagonal line as shown and then stitch 1/4 out from both sides of the lines.

3 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Align white squares on opposite corners of the Pinwheel square.

Cut apart on the marked line.

4 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Stitch 1/4 on both sides of the line. Cut apart on the marked line.

With the small squares on top, open out the small squares and press the unit. On the remaining corner of each of these units, align a small square. Draw a line from corner to corner and sew 1/4 out on both sides of the line. Cut on the marked lines, open the small squares and press.

5 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Align small squares on remaining corners, sew and cut apart.

Now youll have 4 Flying Geese. You can also watch this technique on Quiltmakers Block Network.

6 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Four Flying Geese

The next step is to sew a background rectangle to the top of each Flying Geese.

7 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Sew a background rectangle to the top of each Flying Geese.

Sew two of these units together for each block half, positioning them as shown below to form a pinwheel. Be sure to make all your pinwheels spin in the same direction.

8 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Two block halves

Sew the halves together to complete the block.

Flying Geese Pinwheel

I like to press the final seam open.

Press the final seam open.

Of course you can use any technique you like to make the Flying Geese. The Flying Geese should finish at 1 x 2 (1-1/2 x 2-1/2 unfinished).

I had a lot of fun with the Flying Geese Pinwheel blocks!

10 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

My Flying Geese Pinwheels

Paula showed off her Bitty Blocks wall in her office. I havent made as many blocks as she has (yet), but heres my wall so far:

11 QM Bitty Blocks: Flying Geese Pinwheels

Bitty Blocks on my wall

I stole (borrowed?) her idea to use clothespins to hang them. They really brighten up my office!

When youve made enough Flying Geese Pinwheel blocks, youll probably want to continue making Flying Geese because the quilt settings we shared last month use Flying Geese in some of the rows.

Four Flying Geese

Theyll also keep you busy sewing until the next Bitty Block is available on May 4th!

Please email us photos of your own Bitty Blocks! Use [email protected].

* * * * *

If you like Flying Geese as much as we do, here are some products you might enjoy.

Flying Geese Master Class with Liz Porter