The August challenge for Island Batik ambassadors is called Try a Tool. We were each send a “tool” – a specialty ruler from Deb Tuckers Studio 180 Designs. I got the wing clipper which is used to make flying geese blocks.
I love the flying geese block. It is an interesting and versatile design element. It lends itself to varied layouts, making very interesting quilt designs. But I don’t usually use many of them in my quilts because they are not easy to make, and not easy to get the required accuracy. To get the full visual impact of the flying geese, the point at the end of the nose/beak of the goose has to stay intact.
When I got this tool, I tried a couple of practice blocks and I was impressed how easy it is to make and trim them at the accuracy I need. It’s not exactly magic. You still have to trim each one but you will certainly get the accuracy to make your design work. With an abundance of confidence, I designed a quilt full of flying geese ranging is size from 1″ X 2″ to 5″ X 10″. The tool can be used to trim geese of all sizes with a half inch increment from 0.5″ X 1″ to 5″ X 10″.
I drafted this block design using EQ8 and tried several layouts and colors. I finally picked a black background and a range of colors from dark red to bright yellow. All but the dark red are from Island Batik foundations and the dark reds are from Island Batik Whispering Feathers from winter 2019. I am tempted to try another with a white background and scrappy rainbow colors.
The layout splits the background negative space into two regions. I quilted the outer region with straight lines with a quarter inch spacing. The inner areas have overlapping spirals. I tried to keep the spacing at a quarter inch for the spirals as well. I also quilted around each goose block. I like how geese blocks pop because they are un-quilted but I may have to go back and lightly quilt the large geese. They seem too large to leave un-quilted. This time I remembered to use dark grey thread on the black background. Black thread on black is so hard to see. I went crazy when I did that last time. It was hard to see which areas were quilted. I still haven’t figured out how to take pictures that show the texture on black but keep the true hue of the other colors.
The back uses an Island Batik basic called Citrine. It has a beautiful blend of warm and bright yellows and gold. I didn’t want to cut this up into small pieces, so it made the perfect backing for this quilt.
I used Schmetz Microtex needles. I often forget to change needles on my sewing machine. Having a fresh microtex makes a big difference while sewing batiks.
Hobbs heirloom 80/20 batting is my go-to batting always. The black version was just perfect for this quilt.
Wow! I really love this design and the way the warm colors pop on the black background. I would love to see a rainbow on white version as well.
Lovely! Absolutely Lovely!!! and the variety of flying geese sizes has me in awe! 🙂
Nicely done!
Beautiful!
So pretty. I love the swirl of geese and the color change, and yay for good points.
Hi Vasudha! I was just thinking about you, wondering if I had missed a post from you and then here one is. I feel the same way about flying geese so I think I need to give the Wing Clipper a shot. I am quite picky about having enough to trim off so that they are nearly-perfect. Your project is just wonderful! I love all the different fabrics and that black background really allows each of them to shine and compliment each other. ~smile~ Roseanne
P.S. Thanks for linking up this week!
This is beautiful! I think a rainbow version on white would also be really striking. The different size geese make it really fun.
WOW! This is amazing. You created an awesome design.
This is absolutely breathtaking. I love how you used the tool to show the size variations – and the movement in the design is pure genius. Well done!
What a great quilt! I love the black and your use of the black batting. But, the real knockout is the optical illusion from the geese. This is another great quilt!
This is a great finish.
Wowzers! This is a phenomenal quilt! The blocks seem to be flying! Awesome! Congratulations on such a fabulous finish!
Your Geese truly do Buzz! I love the design, the colors, the quilting! The entire thing is marvelous! Congratulations!
This is such a fabulous quilt!! I love it all -from the really cool design to your colors choices, to your quilting!! its amazing!! That is a block pattern you could sell!!
So beautiful! Love the gradation. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.