This month we will be making four Scattered Geese blocks. These blocks are foundation paper pieced using the leave-in stabilizer templates for Block #4: Scattered Geese.

Block #4: Scattered Geese

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SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED F 4 - Block #4: Scattered Geese Piecing

Templates (on stabilizer, 6 segments per block)

F Add-A-Quarter Ruler

F Postcard, Card stock, or Bookmark

F Cutting Mat + Rotary

F Iron + Pressing Board

F Elmer’s Glue Stick

F Elmer’s Washable Glue Bottle w/Fine Tip

F 68 - 1.5” to 5.5” low volume scraps

F 4 - 1.75” x 1.75” - Pieces A1

F 4 - 2.5” x 3.5” - Pieces B1

F 4 - 3” x 3.75” - Pieces C2

F 4 - 4” x 4.5” - Pieces C4

F 4 - 3.25” x 3.25” - Pieces D1

F 4 - 3.5” x 4” - Pieces D5

F 4 - 3” x 3” - Pieces F1

F 4 - 2.5” x 2.5” - Pieces E1

F 4 - 10” x 14” - Batting

F 4 - 10” x 14” - Backing (use solids see - Page 2

for backing details)

FABRIC YOU WILL NEED

A1

A2

B2 C1D6 E2

E3

F2F3

D4

D3

D2

E4

C3

C5

B3

A3

A4

B1

C4

C2 D5 E1

F1D1

A1

A2

B2 C1D6 E2

E3

F2F3

D4

D3

D2

E4

C3

C5

B3

A3

A4

B1

C4

C2 D5 E1

F1D1

A1

A2

B2 C1D6 E2

E3

F2F3

D4

D3

D2

E4

C3

C5

B3

A3

A4

B1

C4

C2 D5 E1

F1D1

A1

A2

B2 C1D6 E2

E3

F2F3

D4

D3

D2

E4

C3

C5

B3

A3

A4

B1

C4

C2 D5 E1

F1D1

Note: These blocks are perfect for using scrap pieces about 1.5” to 5.5” big. No template piece is bigger than 5.5 inches.

CHOOSING FABRIC

Using the diagrams on Page 1 as a general guide, finalize your fabric selections for all four Scattered Geese blocks.

I chose to use printed fabric for the triangle geese and randomly chose low volume prints and solids for the background.

Cut out each piece according to the “Fabric You Will Need” section on Page 1. Keep the fabrics for each block separated by the block number (1,2,3,4). Label each piece of fabric with the proper block piece number (A1, A2, B3, etc.). I suggest paper clipping a set of piecing templates to each block set of fabrics to keep organized.

Once you have chosen your fabric for the front of the blocks, you will need to choose fabric for the backing of the blocks. I used (and the kits include) the following Kona® Cotton Solids (for the back of the blocks): #13 - Ruby, #16 - Curry, #19- Grasshopper, #22 - Copen

CONSERVING FABRICThe measurements given for each piece of fabric are larger than absolutely necessary. I have chosen to do this because we have many students in this class who are newer to foundation paper piecing and I feel that working with pieces of fabric that are larger than needed make it easier to learn. If you’re using a precious fabric you want to carefully conserve, you can cut specific size fabrics for each piece. One way to accurately do this is to create freezer paper cutting templates for each piece in the Scattered Geese blocks. Trace the block template onto a piece of freezer paper and cut out each piece (A1, A2, B3, B4, etc.). Using the freezer paper template, iron each freezer paper template piece to the wrong side of each chosen fabric. Adding a good half inch around all sides of the template, cut the fabric out. This takes a bit more time, but you will end up with different size fabrics for all the pieces and you will conserve fabric.

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This center circle is the back of Block #1.

Note: Keep in mind that because we are quilting-as-you-go the backing of the quilt is automatically a reflected version of the front.

#1A

#2A

STEP #1AGet out one Segment A template and fabricpiece A1. Put a dab of Elmer’s Glue Stickwithin the A1 section on the blank side ofyour template. Stick the template blank sideto wrong side of your fabric. Make sure thefabric generously covers the A1 section on thetemplate.

STEP #2AUse a piece of card stock or a thick bookmark(represented as the dark tan rectangle in thediagrams) as a straight edge. Line the straightedge up with the line between piece A1 and A2so the straight edge is covering piece A1. Gently fold the template back along the straightedge.

Using an Add-A-Quarter ruler, snap the rulerinto place against the edge of the template.Using a rotary cutter, cut along the edge of theAdd-A-Quarter ruler. You should now have aperfect quarter inch seam allowance.

STEP #3AFlip the template over. Line fabric piece A2 upwith the edge you just cut of fabric piece A1.When you line up the fabric, you must do so insuch a way that after piece A2 is sewn on andpressed back it will cover section A2 on thetemplate entirely. Place fabric A2 into positionwhere you think it will cover properly. Do a quick flip check by flipping piece A2 back to make sure it covers section A2 on the template entirely. Starting at the top point of A1, sew directly on the line between piece A1 and A2 (backstitch at the start and end). Flip the template over and set the seam by pressing along where you have just sewn. Now press piece A2 outward with a dry, hot iron.

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PIECING THE SEGMENTS

#3A

#4A

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STEP #4A & #5AYou will repeat steps 1A-3A to add pieces A3 and A4.

STEP #6AUsing a rotary cutter and quilting ruler, verycarefully cut directly on the outermost black lineof the template, cutting off any excess templateand fabric.

Repeat these piecing steps for Segments B, C, D, E, and F.

Place Segment A piece and Segment B pieceright sides together. To line the pieces upproperly, measure a quarter inch from thebottom left point of Segment A (see diagram)and that is where Segment B should begin. I liketo stick a pin through the point on the quarterinch seam line, then flip the pieces over to see ifthe pin goes through the accurate point on thequarter inch seam line of the other side (refer tovideo tutorial).Glue baste the two Segments together. Sewdirectly on the inner, quarter inch black line(start off the edge and end off the edge). Pressthe seams toward Segment A.

Repeat this step until all of the segments are properly joined together to complete your block. Press all seam allowances to one direction.

#5A

#6A

JOINING THE SEGMENTS

For the Scattered Geese blocks, I decided to free motion quilt straight lines echoing the shapes of each background piece. I then quilted an echoed triangle inside each geese piece. I chose these designs because I wanted to complement the rectangles in the block with a geometrical design.

When choosing quilting designs for these blocks, remember they will be trimmed down later in the year (NOT YET) before the quilt is assembled.

When you have completed quilting each block, you can bury your threads then trim off any excess batting and backing around the shape of the block. Do not trim or cut the actual block. We will do this at the end of the year.

QUILTING SUGGESTIONS FROM KATHLEEN RIGGINS

I have teamed up with Kathleen Riggins of KathleenQuilts.com to offer you even more inspiration for quilting your Technicolor Galaxy quilt.

Kathleen is a professional long-arm quilter who I have long admired and had the pleasure of meeting in person at QuiltCon. Kathleen has a blog series called Free Motion Friday, and in this series, quilters can submit a picture of a quilt they’re not sure how to quilt and Kathleen will give quilting suggestions on her blog.

Kathleen will be posting suggestions for all of the Technicolor Galaxy blocks on a monthly basis so you have even more inspiration!

See her suggestions for the Scattered Geese blocks here:http://kathleenquilts.com/2015/05/07/technicolor-galaxy-month-4/

QUILTING YOUR BLOCKS

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Scattered Geese Coloring Sheet

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