Clue #2 of our Sweet Freedom Mystery!

Welcome to our Sweet Freedom Mystery – Clue #2!

Our first clue was a great first start to our patriotic mystery, and our second clue picks up where Clue #1 left off...Let's carry on, shall we?

Fabrics = Blue, White

AccuQuilt GO! Die = 3 ½” x 6 ½" Flying Geese Die (3” x 6" Finished)

Flying Geese die #55456

Cut Fabrics:

Blue

• Fifty-six (56) Flying "center" geese - a few of us are referring to these very LARGE Flying Geese as Flying Eagles!

White:

• Fifty-six 'pairs' of Geese wings = 112 TOTAL Geese L&R wings (the two 'sides' wings/triangles of the Geese).  Because the die wings are already 'notched' to match the center flying notched goose. NO need to worry about cutting left/right and/or 'mirrored' wings - these geese wings are interchangeable for 'either' side of the Goose...Win/WIN!

Flying Geese

Fabric Prep Tip:  Prepare your fabrics by starching/pressing for straighter/sharper cuts, and to stabilize the 'bias' edges of the flying geese units.  Cut Flying Geese on the ‘lengthwise’ grain of fabric to maintain fabric stability in your quilt.  

AccuQuilt has a great video tut on HOW to cut/sew/press Flying Geese PLUS...

https://blog.accuquilt.com/tutorial/go-project-tutorials/go-flying-geese-quilt 
PLUS - a F R E E Flying Geese pattern - NOT ours, just 'another' quilt pattern to use w/Flying Geese AccuQuilt GO! die...Enjoy! 

Cutting Tip:  Cut your fabric ‘chunks’ ½” longer and wider than your ‘actual’ die. Layer up to (4-6) layers of fabric at a time, depending on 'which' GO! cutter you may have.  And don't forget about fabric grain - as described in the AccuQuilt Flying Geese video tut (web link provided above & below).

Alternative cutting:  for those who may be cutting your Flying Geese w/rotary cutter/mat/ruler, NO worries!  You may cut your Flying Geese units according to the sizes given, utilizing the ‘lengthwise’ grain of fabric, just as we are doing w/AccuQuilt GO! Dies.  We will also be providing a printable flying geese tutorial in our Sweet Freedom Mystery Facebook Group, courtesy of Lisa Sutherland of Quilt Jubilee...Thanks, Lisa!

Measuring die for fabric 'chunk' measurements - adding 1/2" to width & height

Cutting the different fabric layers apart on the smaller dies like this Flying Geese die - especially IF the fabric is a bit stiff and/or thick, allows the fabric to lie a little flatter and gives a cleaner cut.

Cutting fabric layers to size

You may certainly opt to cut your fabric 'chunks' w/rotary cutter & ruler - I use whichever method happens to be 'handy' at the time. 

Because we are using two (2) different fabrics on this die - and the die cuts are rather close, proper alignment is key to good, accurate cuts.  I also take advantage of any scraps that may result from previous cutting, and cut those, too!  Nothing needs to be going to waste.

Cutting fabric scraps into Geese

Good cuts result in great sewing!

AccuQuilt has a great video tut on HOW to cut/sew/press Flying Geese PLUS...

https://blog.accuquilt.com/tutorial/go-project-tutorials/go-flying-geese-quilt 
PLUS - a F R E E Flying Geese pattern - NOT ours, just 'another' quilt pattern to use w/Flying Geese AccuQuilt GO! die...Enjoy! 

Sew:
One (1) White wing and One (1) Blue goose together/right sides together = Blue center goose/White wing.  
 
Perfectly cut flying geese & wings are a joy to sew:

1st Wing & Goose ready to sew after being perfectly die cut

 Line up the 1st White Wing & Blue Goose:

Align 1st wing by 'pinning/holding' in place w/stylus

Luckily for us - our AccuQuilt GO! Flying Geese die cuts these fabric units so precisely, lining these pieces up prior to sewing is a breeze, as long as we do it carefully.

Sew 1st wing in place, keeping it aligned w/stylus or 'other' holding tool - even fingers will work as long as they are kept 'away' from the needle!

Gently holding wing unit in place while sewing - notice the 'slack' while holding the 1st wing in place - NEVER stretch this wing, especially since it's on the bias edge of the fabric

Sewing Tip:
Carefully 'pin down & sew' the first bias wing to the bias triangle side of the Blue goose.  This is where my trusty stylus comes in handy - you may use whatever you enjoy using to help hold two (2) layers of fabric together.

These bias edges are prone to stretching out/ready for a nap...we do NOT want our Flying Geese/Flying Eagles 'stretching out & lying down' on the job...Nope.  We want them staying nice and straight/flat with NO furling & curling.  PLEASE:  Handle these bias edges w/care - preferably 'starching the dog' out of the fabrics prior to cutting and Pressing w/care. 
 
I enjoy chain piecing ALL the wings of one side of the geese at one time, press FLAT first, then press each wing seam Open, pressing toward the White wing and away from the Blue goose triangle to avoid bulk in the intersecting wing seams.  Check out our first Clue #1 for additional pressing techniques:

Press 1st wing FLAT first, prior to pressing 'open' -

 Press the 1st wing Open after first pressing FLAT - pressing seam towards the White wing:

Carefully press the 1st wing open without any stretching and/or pulling while pressing into place

1st 'wing' of flying geese ALL sewn/pressed - ready for the second wing

Next:
Sew the second White Wing = One (1) White wing and One (1) Blue goose to the 'second/alternate' side of the Blue Flying Goose/right sides together.  Press this completed Flying Goose unit. 

Create fifty-six (56) Total Blue/White Flying Geese units.  Each completed Flying Goose unit should measure 3 ½ x 6 ½”.

After pressing ALL the chain-pieced flying geese units, then I finish sewing/chain-piecing the second wing of each Flying Goose unit:

Chain-piecing 2nd wing of each Flying Goose unit

Measuring Tip:
Measure and check the first seams of your first few Geese 'prior to' sewing ALL of them, to ensure you have your scant 1/4" properly defined:

Check your 1/4" seam at the beginning of sewing your first goose, and subsequently throughout while you sew your units to ensure continuity of your seam allowance w/ALL your units

 

Next - Measure the first few completed Flying Geese units to make sure they are the correct/required size.  Adjust your seam allowance if necessary to achieve your desired result:

3 1/2" wide - We're Good!

1/23/2020:  Just received the following question in our Sweet Freedom Mystery Facebook Group:

"Does our scant 1/4" seam allowance 'extend' beyond the beak of each goose?”

Short answer: YES! Yes it does - otherwise, when you assemble your flying geese unit into your quilt, your geese's beak will be sewn 'into' the seam allowance of your quilt...Yuk! A beak-less goose is NOT a good thing!

scant 1/4" seam allowing extends 'beyond' the beak of the Blue Goose

 

Side view of our Flying Geese unit w/scant 1/4" seam allowance

Final Sewing/Pressing Results for Clue #2:

• Fifty-six (56) Blue/White 3 ½ x 6 ½” Flying Geese units

UPDATE 1/23/2020 & Clarification:  We've had some questions about quilting terms:

• Finished = the dimensions of a unit when it is ALL sewn into a quilt and ALL the seam allowances are contained in a sewn/finished quit. Therefore a 3 ½ x 6 ½” unit (Finishes at 3" x 6") means this unit will FINISH at 3" x 6" in a quilt with ALL the seams sewn.

• Hope that clarifies without confusing. Your Clue #2 flying geese units, once completed for this clue, will measure 3 ½ x 6 ½” prior to being sewn into a quilt. 

• Please note:  these dimensions and definitions also apply to the AccuQuilt GO! Flying Geese Die #55456 we are using for this clue, and most ALL other dies and quilt patterns...Thank YOU! 

Congrats!  You’ve just completed Clue #2 of our Sweet FreedomMystery! 

Once again I wish to Thank each and EVERY one of you for choosing to participate in this patriotic Sweet Freedom Mystery - to create a patriotic quilt that will be awarded to a Combat Service Member or Veteran for their service and sacrifice for our country. 

Happy Sewing,

Deb Lindley

Illiana Quilts Of Honor 

Sweet Freedom Mystery Facebook Group:  
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SweetFreedomMystery/ 

Clue #3 scheduled to be released 'around MIDNIGHT' on Tuesday, January 28, 2020...See You Then!


Sweet Freedom Mystery Info:
Fabric Requirements 
Clue #1
Clue #2 
Clue #3
Clue #4
Clue #5