Underground Railroad Block 11

Underground Railroad Block 11

Flying Geese

The Flying Geese quilt is the 8th quilt in the Williams family code.

With this quilt , slaves learned they were to take their direction, timing and behavior from migrating geese.

Since geese fly north in the spring, it was also the best time for slaves to escape. Geese have to stop any waterways along the journey in order to rest and eat. Especially since geese make loud honking noises, it was easy for the runaways to follow their flight pattern.

Geese patches can easily be sewn together in four directions. A clever quilter wishing to assist the runaways could show direction simply by making one set of Geese distinct from the others. This one block could act as a compass, transforming the quilt into a map.

This is the block from the book.

This is my block using the navy and cheddars.

I used 3 different prints for the geese and 1 print for the sky of the geese.

The 3 squares for the geese are 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" sq. and the for the sky you will 

need 12 squares 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" sq. you can also use different lights for the sky 

instead of just one print. You will also need 2 prints for the strips along the flying geese.

Out of each of those 2 prints cut 4 strips 1 1/2" x 7" strips. I have mine laid out in the above picture.

To make the flying geese, place two of the 2 7/8" squares on top of the 5 1/4" square.

Stitch 1/4" on either side of the center diagonal line. I have drawn my stitching lines.

After stitching your lines, cut down the center diagonally.  Press sky away from the geese.

Place a 2 7/8" square in the corner of your piece after pressing. Draw your stitching lines as before, stitch and cut down the center of the two stitched lines. Press sky away

from geese. 

Trim your geese. 2 1/2" x 4 1/2". Finish all geese in this manner.

Lay out your 3 different geese in the order you want them and stitch, making 4 different 

units. Press your seams.

Layout your units as in the block as shown above.

Place your strips as above and sew each unit.

Now layout as in the block and sew your units together.

Now you have your finished block. Trim to 12 1/2" square.

Have fun!