Flying geese blocks are a staple in quilting, but they can be intimidating for beginners. Today, we’re going to walk you through the process of creating both single and multiple flying geese blocks efficiently. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to achieve perfect piecing every time.

Why Flying Geese Can Be Challenging

Many quilters find flying geese challenging because they require precision and accuracy to maintain those sharp points. However, with the right techniques, you can master this block and enhance your quilts with ease.

What You’ll Need

Before starting, gather these essential supplies:

• Fabric for the Base and Triangles: Choose contrasting colors for visibility.
• Rotary Cutter and Ruler: For cutting fabric accurately.
• Scissors: For trimming threads and small pieces of fabric.
• Pins: To hold fabric in place while sewing.
• Erasable Marking Tool: For drawing diagonal lines without leaving residue.
• Sewing Machine with a General-Purpose Foot: Ideal for precision sewing.

Watch the Tutorial

Want to see these steps in action? Check out our YouTube video tutorial: How to Sew a Perfect Flying Geese Block. In the video, we demonstrate each step in detail, from preparing your fabric to finishing touches. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more quilting inspiration!

Step 1: Preparing Your Fabric

1. Cutting the Fabric: For a 2x4 flying geese, cut two triangles (2.5 inches x 4.5 inches) and one base piece (2.5 inches x 4.5 inches).
2. Marking the Fabric: Draw a diagonal line across each triangle using an erasable marking tool.

Step 2: Sewing the First Triangle

1. Aligning the Triangle: Place one triangle right sides together with the base piece, aligning the diagonal line with the edge of the base.
2. Sewing the Triangle: Sew along the diagonal line, just to the right of it, to ensure a smooth press later.
3. Trimming Excess Fabric: Cut ¼ inch away from the seam to reduce bulk.

Step 3: Pressing and Adding the Second Triangle

1. Pressing the Seam: Press the seam to set it, then flip it back to create the flying geese shape.
2. Adding the Second Triangle: Align the second triangle with the base, ensuring it mirrors the first triangle. Sew and press as before.

Step 4: Squaring Up Your Flying Geese

1. Using a Ruler: Use a ruler with a 45° mark to ensure your flying geese is square and the points are centered.
2. Trimming to Size: Trim excess fabric, maintaining a ¼ inch seam allowance above the point.

Making Four Flying Geese at Once

For efficiency, you can make four flying geese simultaneously:

1. Stacking Fabric: Place two sets of triangles right sides together and draw a diagonal line through both.
2. Sewing Both Sides: Sew ¼ inch away from the diagonal line on both sides.
3. Cutting Apart: Cut along the diagonal line to separate the pieces.
4. Pressing and Trimming: Press each piece and trim to size as before.

Tips for Success

• Always press your seams as you go to reduce bulk and ensure a smooth finish.
• Use a walking foot or even feed foot on your sewing machine to help guide the fabric smoothly.
• Practice joining strips and sewing corners on scrap fabric before working on your quilt.

With these steps and tips, you’ll be able to create perfect flying geese blocks that enhance your quilts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced quilter, mastering this technique will take your projects to the next level.

For more quilting tutorials and inspiration, don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel—happy quilting!

As you use your iron on various sewing projects, you will undoubtably find the bottom of the iron dirtied with a range of nastiness. In this post, we discuss how we clean the classroom irons at The Sewing Studio and the supplies and steps you can follow to clean your sewing iron.

What is on my iron?

Several of the materials we use while sewing can have residual amounts of adhesive, dyes, and other materials used during the material manufacturing process. Your iron may also pickup reminents of burned non-cotton fabric. Additionally, depending on your local water and type of water you put in your iron or spray bottle, you may also find calcium and other hard water deposits on your iron's sole plate or hot plate.

How do you clean an iron?

Caution: Cleaning an iron requires turning the iron on to a high setting, then cleaning the hot plate with a cotton rag and iron cleaner. This process is dangerous and there is a risk of serious burns. If you are not comfortable with this process or unable to safely handle a hot iron, please seek assistance. Clean an iron at your own risk.

1. Gather your equipment and supplies: iron, iron cleaner, and denim or terry cloth rags. For iron cleaner, we use Faultless Iron Cleaner or Magic Iron Cleaner.
2. Carefully review the instructions on your iron cleaner.
3. Empty any water from your iron.
4. Turn the iron on and set to hot (cotton) setting.
5. Apply iron cleaner to denim or terry cloth rag as directed by iron cleaner instructions.
6. Rub the rag with iron cleaner over the iron's hot plate in a circular motion.
7. Wipe iron hot plate with clear area of the rag or separate rag.
8. Place iron in a safe position, turn it off, and allow it to cool.

Items in this Entry:

• Faultless Iron Cleaner - https://amzn.to/3XmIvxQ
• Magic Iron Cleaner - https://thesewingstudio.com/shop/notions/magic-iron-cleaner-2oz/
• Black + Decker Classic (F67E-T) - https://amzn.to/4gkwH6T

Notes:

• All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
• This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our full terms and conditions.

Here at The Sewing Studio, we like our irons hot and heavy, which is why we recommend the Black + Decker Classic Traditional Steam Iron (F67E-T). This model is extremely useful for flattening cotton fabrics used in applique, crafting, embroidery, and quilting for several reasons:

First, the Classic has seven different temperature settings providing plenty of heat for removing wrinkles while requiring less downward pressure or pressing.

Second, a heavy-duty aluminum sole plate makes the iron weigh in at 3.9 lbs (1.78 kg) which also helps to remove wrinkles without requiring downward pressure from the user.

Lastly, the iron retails for an impressive $34.99 on the Black + Decker website and $29.99 at Amazon and Target.

Black + Decker Classic Specifications:

• Color: Black
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 4.8"
• Weight: 3.9 lbs
• Soleplate Material: Aluminum
• Steam Control: Yes
• Temperature Settings: Yes, seven levels
• Volts: 120V
• Wattage: 1100W
• Warranty: 2 Year Limited

Items in this Entry:

• Black + Decker Classic (F67E-T) - https://amzn.to/4gkwH6T
• Faultless Starch Premium Luxe - https://amzn.to/4ghCwBY

Notes:

• All trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners.
• This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our full terms and conditions.

There is no question that a sewing machine can be a valuable addition to anyone’s toolkit. However, with all of the different brands and models available, it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. At the Sewing Studio, we are proud partners of Baby Lock and are big fans of their machines. In this post, we'll share our favorite Baby Lock sewing machines and why we love them. Whether you're a beginner who's interested in thrifting and flipping or an experienced sewing vet that loves making quilts for their loved ones, we think you'll find the perfect machine for your needs in our roundup. So without further ado, let's get started!

Baby Lock Joy

The Baby Lock Joy sewing machine is an excellent choice for the beginning sewer looking to add new crafting opportunities or make small projects around their house. The Joy is perfect for first-time learners! We at The Sewing Studio often donate these machines to local schools to teach their students how to use a sewing machine! Their students have seen success using the Joy due to its functionality! 

Its small and compact size makes it easier to take with you on your next trip or for easy storage. You’re probably thinking “If it's tiny, is it mighty?” The answer is yes! The Joy comes with 19 built-in stitches including 1 four-step buttonhole, a built-in needle threader, a convenient thread cutter, quick-set drop-in bobbin, and free-arm sewing, and it allows for adjustable stitch length and width! The Joy comes with all these amazing capabilities while being budget-friendly! Having to sew on a patch or fix a hem used to be a hassle, but now it’s a joy! 

Baby Lock Soprano 

The Baby Lock Soprano sewing machine is a Sewing Studio favorite! We recommend the Soprano to more seasoned who are looking to add quilting to their projects! If you’re looking for an easy place to start quilting, the Soprano is the pick for you! It’s easy to do a fun project with the Soprano and even easier to finish quickly thanks to its user-friendly features!

The Baby Lock Soprano size is on the medium size in comparison to the Joy, but with more size comes more capabilities! The Soprano is equipped with an LCD screen, automatic needle threader, an advanced pivoting, 300 built-in stitches, an automatic fabric sensor system, built-in stitch memory, and a quilt extension table, along with built-in accessory storage! The functionality of the Soprano is quite extensive and the list can go on and on! We love the Soprano because it also comes with a walking foot, a knee lift, and our personal favorite, the cutters– exactly what any experienced sewist would want in their arsenal!

Baby Lock Chorus

Similar to The Baby Lock Ballad, The Baby Lock Chorus is a top-of-the-line quilting and sewing machine! It’s got a lot of body and a lot of muscle to back itself up! We at the Sewing Studio are huge fans of its size and the touch screen panel! We recommend The Chorus quilters and those who are interested in committing full-time to their passion projects! 

The Baby Lock Chorus features a lot of great functions and comes with the tools to help you create picture-perfect projects every time!  The Chorus has a NeverMiss Automatic Needle Threader, along with a multi-function foot control, an 11.25” large workspace, a sensor pen for sewing, a laser beam guide, 771 built-in stitches, and a compact digital dual-feed system!! The functionality of the Chorus is endless. 

 So, if you are a beginner sewer and want to start with a machine that is affordable and easy to use, the Baby Lock Joy is the perfect option for you. If you are an intermediate sewer who wants more features on your machine, then the Baby Lock Soprano would be a great choice. Lastly, if you are a quilter and need a huge sewing machine with all of the bells and whistles, then the Baby Lock Chorus will be perfect for you! 

If you’re interested in seeing these machines in action come by our studio today and take a look at or demo these amazing machines and all the accessories! Or give us a call at (806) 792-3863 for more information! Thank you for letting us help you take your inspiration and turn it into a creation!