Old dog, new trick

Remember this little block?  It doesn't look like much here, but I was compelled to make it up after seeing the most breathtaking antique scrap quilt at Woodard & Greenstein's fabulous gallery in NYC several summers ago.  When I wrote about it here, I had every intention of replicating the quilt, a block a week or so.  Two years plus later, one sad, lone block.  The sample got pinned to my bulletin board and though I often thought 'I must get back to that', the fiddly nature its small size always stopped me from moving forward on it.  Because, dear readers (and here is where the quilters will want to run and get the smelling salts), I used little templates when I made it. 

I admit it.  I'm a traditional girl when it comes to my quilting habits.  (In my mind, 'deliberate', as opposed to 'provincial'. Or 'nuts'. You decide.)  Aside from the occasional Jan Mullens quilt or log cabin design, I don't much use my rotary cutter.  Which is why I often stall out on projects.  So many ideas, such a big stash.  Flit, flit, flit. 

Last week while out doing errands, I found myself in a favorite quilt shop, thumbing through new books.  I almost never purchase books which feature traditional designs because I prefer to draft them myself, but I can't resist flipping through to check out new quilt photos.  So it was that I came upon a quilt that may have been inspired by the same antique quilt I saw in NYC.  And the book offered quick piecing instructions.  On my third trip back to consider it (I may have a large stash, but I do consider my quilting expenditures carefully), I caved.  Bought it, hustled it home and between must-finish holiday projects, whipped out a flying geese strip (above) in a mere 10 minutes.  Revelation! 

Favorite old block from my WIP box

This opens up all sorts of projects I had put on the back burner!  Do you need to find this book now?  No, you do not, because after I brought it home, I Googled 'quick pieced flying geese' and up popped this wonderful tutorial.  What?  You all knew about this already?

Nevermind. 

Comments

[Julie]

Whoa! How do they think these things up? I would never have guessed all that would get you to a flying geese block. I have to admit that I generally make up extremely simple blocks for my quilts because I am scared of all the fussy stuff. Maybe I just need to look for these alternate methods of doing things.

Can't wait to see your progress on these flying geese blocks -- I just love the look of that motif!

[pixie]

well, um yes, I've seen it before, but I forgot. Love that second block, now there's an idea....cheddar and blue perhaps...hmmm. I;m gonna blame you for a new ufo.

[Alesia]

No, I didn't have a quick flying geese tutorial and I NEED one. Thank you for the link!! Ten minutes? Shazam.

[Lynn]

Templates?!?!? OMG no wonder you stalled out!!! Just think of the quick cutting you can do now with those tips!!! And you can still draft your own AND hand quilt.

[sammyjo]

i love the blocks and im glad you found an alternitive method because now i get to see you make these cool quilt blocks as im not quite ready for this level of quilting lol

[amandajean]

wow! thanks for the link to the tutorial. never knew it could be so easy! your block looks great.

[Angela]

Ok, your post was really making me giggle. Welcome to the speed piecing/rotary cutting dark side :0).

[rachel]

I haven't quilted in about 15 years, so the whole quick piecing revolution passed me by. Thanks for the linky link.

[Amy]

Don't know if you care, but the flying geese on the bottom of you block face the red square - the version in the book, they face away from the square...

[christina(apronstrings)]

i have got to start quilting. i just have so much going on. i think this summer may be the summer of quilt. it's the last craft frontier for me.
i love the antique quilt look. and brown is very warm.

[Kay]

Well, if you didn't know about it, how the heck was I supposed to know about it?

There is always somebody who has already figured out something I need to know! Must remember that.

xox Kay

[Caron]

Thinking back to the first quilts I made pre - rotary cutter. So thankful for new technology. Maybe tomorrow I'll put up a picture of a crazy goose quilt I made using the short cut you linked.

[Schnoobie]

OK! um, sooooo you were just enjoying the process a bit more than, say, a new millennium woman with a rotary cutter!! It's ok to savor those scissor moments.
We just want (more!)to see(more!) a great new inspiring(more!) project everyday!!*LOL*we don't want much huh??

[Jennifer]

Yes, love that tutorial. I also like making them with connector corners, then sewing the cut-off connector corner "scrap" along the diagonal, which yields a tiny HST. For quick-piece geese, my Fons and Porter Flying Geese ruler is awesome, too.

Three cheers for fiddly, antique quilts! I would LOVE to see that antique quilt that inspired you.

[Tia Curtis]

Wonderful link! My flying geese always looked pretty horrid, now they are just fine! Thank you so much! Tia

[Vickie E]

I don't know If I missed your post, but did you sell your house yet? Did St. Joesph work?

[Kathleen]

I was dreaming about quilting the other day. My stash is buried at my mom's house. But I just hate the freaking sewing machine. Sigh. Yours are lovely.

And thanks for the nice hair compliment. :) I love it. The hair. ;0)

[PJ]

Love it! It's POPS off the screen!

[Sonnja]

I love the blocks!
Kind regards,

Sonnja, from the Netherlands
BEERTJE ZONN

[Era]

Ooo ooo, I love the traditional blocks like flying geese! I'm working on a log cabin right now and my rotary cutter is my best friend.