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Flying geese · Intermediate

Fox and Geese quilt block

A large plain center with four flying geese along each side and a large half-square triangle in each corner.

Fox and Geese: main, background and accent. A 8 × 8 grid.

Cutting chart by block size

8" Fox and Geese (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares3 1/4" × 3 1/4"16 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background16 squares1 7/8" × 1 7/8"32 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent1 square4 1/2" × 4 1/2"–

12" Fox and Geese (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares4 1/4" × 4 1/4"16 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares3 7/8" × 3 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background16 squares2 3/8" × 2 3/8"32 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent1 square6 1/2" × 6 1/2"–

16" Fox and Geese (cut for one block)

FabricCutSizeThen
Main4 squares5 1/4" × 5 1/4"16 triangles (cut twice on the diagonal)
Main2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background2 squares4 7/8" × 4 7/8"4 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Background16 squares2 7/8" × 2 7/8"32 triangles (cut once on the diagonal)
Accent1 square8 1/2" × 8 1/2"–

How to make a 16" Fox and Geese block

  1. Cut the pieces in the chart above. All measurements include a 1/4" seam allowance.
  2. Cut the squares marked "cut twice" on both diagonals. Each gives four triangles with the long edge on the straight grain: these are the large triangles in flying geese and hourglass units.
  3. Cut the squares marked "cut once" in half on the diagonal. Each gives two triangles. Sew them to their neighbours along the long edge first and press toward the darker fabric.
  4. Lay all the pieces out as in the diagram. The block is a 8 × 8 grid, and each cell finishes at 2". Sew neighbouring pieces into sections, then the sections into rows, pressing seams in opposite directions from row to row.
  5. Join the rows. The block should measure 16 1/2" now and 16" once it is sewn into the quilt.

Yardage for a Fox and Geese quilt (16" blocks)

Quilt sizeBlocksFinished sizeMainBackgroundAccentBorder & bindingBacking
Baby2 × 3 (6)38" × 54"7/8 yd1 yd5/8 yd1 yd3 1/2 yd
Lap3 × 3 (9)54" × 54"1 1/4 yd1 1/2 yd7/8 yd1 1/8 yd3 1/2 yd
Throw3 × 4 (12)54" × 70"1 1/2 yd1 3/4 yd7/8 yd1 1/4 yd4 1/2 yd
Twin4 × 6 (24)70" × 102"2 7/8 yd3 3/8 yd1 5/8 yd1 3/4 yd6 1/4 yd
Queen6 × 6 (36)102" × 102"4 1/4 yd5 1/8 yd2 3/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd
King6 × 6 (36)102" × 102"4 1/4 yd5 1/8 yd2 3/8 yd1 7/8 yd9 1/4 yd

Blocks side by side with a 3" border, 2 1/2" binding, 42" usable width and 10% extra.

Four ways to set it

A throw quilt of 16" Fox and Geese blocks in each setting.

SettingBlocksFinished sizeExtra fabric
Side by side1254" × 70"–
With sashing1258" × 76"Sashing 3/4 yd, Cornerstones 1/8 yd
Alternating plain blocks6 pieced + 6 plain54" × 70"Plain blocks 1 5/8 yd
On point851 3/8" × 74"Setting triangles 1 7/8 yd

See Fox and Geese in your own fabrics

1. Your fabrics (tap a fabric, then choose a sample or your own photo)
2. Block
3. Quilt size
4. Block size
5. Setting

What to buy

FabricYardageCut

Based on 42" usable fabric width, 1/4" seams and 10% extra. Your photos stay on your device.

Questions

How many fabrics does a Fox and Geese block need?

Three: main, background and accent. Choose a main fabric that contrasts clearly with the background so the design reads from a distance.

What size pieces do I cut for a 16 inch Fox and Geese?

4 main squares at 5 1/4" × 5 1/4"; 2 main squares at 4 7/8" × 4 7/8"; 2 background squares at 4 7/8" × 4 7/8"; 16 background squares at 2 7/8" × 2 7/8"; 1 accent square at 8 1/2" × 8 1/2".

How many Fox and Geese blocks for a lap quilt?

9 blocks at 16", set 3 by 3 with a 3" border, make a 54" × 54" quilt.

More flying geese blocks