Using the Quilt-in-a-Day Flying Geese Ruler

Methods of Making Flying Geese Quilt Blocks

I found at least 10 different ways of making the Flying Geese quilt block, and I have no doubt that there are more. This tutorial is for the Quilt-in-a-Day Flying Goose Ruler. If you would like a chart, there is one available at Scrapdash.

Here are some of the methods I found.

Items you might like to have on hand

Making Four 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ (unfinished) Flying Geese Blocks Using the quilt in a day (four at a time) Method

Colorful quilt corner triangles on holiday-themed fabric. Perfect for Christmas quilting projects.

Assemble:

  • (8) 7″ White squares
  • (8) 5-1/2″ Red squares

In this method, you work with much larger pieces until the flying goose unit is completed, and then you trim it with a Large Quilt in a Day Flying Geese ruler.

Start with a 7″ square white fabric. This is the “sky” or corners of the block. Lay on top of that a 5-1/2″ red square, right sides together and roughly centered on the larger square. This is the “goose” or center of the block. Draw a line through the diagonal of both squares. Pin carefully, then sew 1/4″ on either side of the diagonal. Cut on the line and press to the larger triangle.

Colorful quilt fabric square on a green cutting mat.
Colorful patchwork quilt square with floral pattern and textured fabric.
Close-up of quilt fabric squares with red and white patterns on a green cutting mat.


Lay your two odd shaped squares on top of each other, right sides together, matching the corners of the smaller
triangle with the corners of the larger one. The seams WILL NOT touch each other.

Once again, draw a line on the diagonal (crossing the center seam) and sew 1/4″ on either side of the line. Cut on the line. You should end up with a unit that looks like the one to the bottom right. Make a small clip in the center so you can press both sides away from the goose. Now just cut this unit in half, pressing to the white.

Close-up of fabric squares with pins for quilting assembly.
Colorful fabric triangles for quilting, sewing, and craft projects on a green cutting mat.
Colorful quilt block sewing project with red and white fabric pieces.

Square it up using the Flying Geese ruler. Use Omnigrip on the back to keep it from slipping. You will make (4) Flying Geese Units.

Colorful holiday-themed fabric quilt block on cutting mat. Perfect for festive quilting projects and holiday decorations.
Decorative fabric gift card holder with embroidery and quilting design.
Precise fabric cutting with quilting rulers and templates for accurate quilt pieces.

A rotating mat comes in very handy!

quilt patterns using flying geese


BiographyPhoebe Moon (also known as Kris Driessen) brings warmth and creativity to every corner of the quilting world. A former quilt shop owner and passionate pattern designer, she’s spent years inspiring quilters of all skill levels through her clever designs, time-saving techniques, and hands-on teaching. Whether sharing beginner-friendly projects, guiding advanced quilting methods, or creating step-by-step tutorials, Phoebe loves helping others grow in their craft. Explore her collection of Printable PDF Quilt Patterns on Etsy —from mini quilts and table runners to full-size bed quilts—and discover the resources, inspiration, and community that make quilting such a joy.