Welcome to my quilting tutorial on mastering the art of foundation paper piecing (FPP) to create flawless flying geese units. If you’ve ever struggled with achieving precise quilt blocks, foundation paper piecing is your solution. Today, we’ll focus on using foundation papers from It’s Sew Emma to craft stunning flying geese units with ease and accuracy.
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Supplies for Perfect Flying Geese Units
Before we dive into the step-by-step process, let’s gather our supplies:
- Foundation papers from It’s Sew Emma (each paper makes 2 flying geese at a time)
- Two different fabrics for the flying geese units
- Pins or a Sew Line Glue Pen
- Add-a-quarter ruler
- Rotary cutter and cutting mat
- Iron and ironing board
- Quilting ruler
- Sewing machine
- Seam roller (optional, but handy for flattening seams)
Foundation Paper Piecing Flying Geese Units: Step-by-Step
1. Preparation: Start by preparing your fabric pieces and foundation papers. Measure and cut your fabric according to the dimensions provided in your foundation paper pad. Then, carefully tear out the foundation papers from the paper pad, trimming off the outer border if desired. At this point, I also like to use the sharp edge of the Add-A-Quarter Plus ruler to fold along the diagonal lines that make the wings of the geese. This makes trimming and adding fabric easier later on.
2. Placing the First Fabric: Take one of your foundation papers and place it with the printed side facing down. Lay your larger fabric piece (for the body of the flying geese) right side up over the first section of the foundation paper, ensuring it fully covers the area of both flying geese printed on the paper. Secure the fabric in place with pins or the fabric glue pen.
3. Trimming the First Fabric: Flip the foundation paper and the first fabric over, taking care to keep them attached to each other. Carefully fold back a number 2 triangle along the line we creased in step one. Place the lip of the Add-A-Quarter ruler along the folded edge of the paper, and using the rotary cutter, trim off the triangle of fabric that extends past the edge of the ruler. Repeat this for the other number 2 triangle on the opposite end.
4. Adding the Second Fabric: Now, grab two of the smaller fabric triangles (for the wings of the flying geese) and align one on each of the cut edges of the larger fabric piece, right sides together. Pin the fabrics together to hold them in place during stitching or hold them in place one at a time while stitching down.
5. Stitching: Set your sewing machine to a shorter stitch length (around 1.5 mm) to perforate the paper easily. With the fabrics down against the bed of the machine and the printed side of the foundation paper facing up, stitch along the line between the first and second sections of the foundation paper, starting and ending past the edge of the flying geese diagram to secure the seam. Repeat for the other side with another smaller fabric piece (number 2 triangles).
6. Pressing: With your stitched seams in place, it’s time to press. Use a hot iron to press the seams towards the outer edges of the flying geese unit. Press firmly but gently to set the stitches and flatten the seams for a neat finish. Do not use steam with foundation paper.
7. Trimming for the other wing: Once pressed, place your unit with the paper side up on a cutting mat. Carefully pull the paper back on the previously folded line between number 1 and the number 3 triangle. You may have to pull the paper away from a few stitches to get the paper folded back. Align your Add-A-Quarter ruler with the folded edge and trim off the excess.
8. Adding the Second Fabric: Now, grab your other two smaller fabric triangles (for the other wings of the flying geese) and align one on each of the cut edges of the larger fabric piece, right sides together. Pin the fabrics together to hold them in place during stitching or hold them in place one at a time while stitching down.
9. Pressing: With your last stitched seams in place, it’s time to press again. Use a hot iron to press the final seams towards the outer edges of the flying geese unit. Press firmly but gently to set the stitches and flatten the seams for a neat finish. Do not use steam with foundation paper.
10. Final Trimming: Once pressed, place your unit with the paper side up on a cutting mat. Align your quilting ruler with the solid lines on the foundation paper and trim the excess fabric using a rotary cutter. You will have two perfectly sized flying geese units.
11. Pull off Paper: Once trimmed, you can now carefully tear the foundation papers off the backside of your flying geese. This should be fairly easy since the stitching perforated the paper. Gently fold along the perforation and tear the paper away to discard.
12. Repeat: Repeat the above steps to create additional flying geese units, using the remaining foundation papers and fabric pieces. With practice, you’ll become more efficient and confident in your foundation paper piecing skills.
Related: Foundation Paper Piecing Basics
Final Thoughts on Foundation Paper
Congratulations! You’ve successfully mastered the technique of creating perfect flying geese units using foundation paper piecing. With this method, you can achieve precision and consistency in your quilt blocks, resulting in stunning finished projects. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different fabrics and patterns to unleash your creativity.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced quilter, foundation paper piecing flying geese offers a reliable method for achieving flawless results in your quilt blocks. Give it a try and see the difference it makes in your quilting journey. Until next time, happy stitching!
