Duck Duck Goose Block Tutorial

Today I’m going to share a tutorial for a block I made for the 2015 Fabri-Quilt New Block Blog Hop hosted byYvonne @Quilting Jetgirl, Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs, Stephanie @Late Night Quilter, and Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination.  These awesome ladies have coordinated a blog hop that will provide 62 tutorials for 12.5″ blocks.  That’s right, 62 tutorials for 12.5″ blocks.  They will also use the blocks that we’ve designed to create 3 charity quilts.  I’m so proud to be a part of this blog hop.

I’ve decided to call my block Duck Duck Goose.  It’s full of flying geese, some big, some small.  Duck duck goose popped into my head and I’m terrible at naming things, so I went with it.

duck duck goose

Cutting Directions

Cut {4} 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangles, large geese (I used 2 different colors and cut 2 of each color)

Cut {8} 2″ x 3.5″ rectangles, small geese (I used 4 colors and cut 2 of each color)

Cut {8} 2″ x 3.5″ rectangles, background (I used two colors and cut 4 of each color)

Cut {8} 3.5″ squares (I used two colors and cut 4 of each color)

Cut {16} 2″ squares ( I used two colors and cut 8 of each)

Piecing Directions

This block contains 4 large flying geese and 8 small flying geese.  The units are made in the same manner for each size.

Step 1.  Draw a diagonal line (wrong side of fabric) down the middle of each 3.5″ square and 2″ square.

draw line

I used a Marvy marker that is air erasable.

Step 2.  Take one 3.5″ x 6.5″ rectangle and lay a 3.5″ square on the corner, right sides together.  The diagonal line should go from the bottom corner of the rectangle up to the middle.  See picture below.

sewline The diagonal line is very faint.  The white arrow is pointing to the line.  This is your sew line.

Step 3.  Sew on the diagonal line.

Step 4.  Trim the corner off leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.

trimcorner

Step 5.  Press the corner.

presscorner

Step 6.  Sew a second square to the other corner.

secondcorner

Step 7.  Trim this corner leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.

trimsecondcorner

Step 8.  Press corner.

onegoose

You now have one completed 3.5″ x 6.5″ flying goose.  Repeat steps 1 through 8 to create 3 more large flying geese and 8 small flying geese.  The small flying geese are made using a 2″ x 3.5″ rectangle and 2″ squares on each corner, follow steps 1 through 8 in the same manner with the smaller pieces.

Step 9.  Each quadrant of the block is made of 1 large flying goose, 2 small flying geese, and {2} 2″ x 3.5″ rectangles.

quarterblock

Step 10. Sew one rectangle to each small goose.

quarterblock2

 

Step 11. Sew the rows of small geese and rectangles together.

quarterblock3

Step 12.  Sew the large goose to the small flying geese unit.  Repeat steps 9 through 12 to make 4 units.

quarterblock4

Step 13.  Sew the four quadrants together.  You now have one Duck Duck Goose block!

duck duck goose

 

I did not include fabric requirements for this block because it’s great for scraps.  I used about half of a fat eighth of fabric for each of the background fabrics.  The rest of the pieces use minimal amounts of fabric.

I love this block for it’s simplicity but if you look close the pink flying geese form an off-balance pinwheel in the middle.  Who doesn’t love pinwheels?

You must check out all the other participants in the hop and start making 12.5″ blocks!  The hop will continue from Aug 31st through Sep 3rd. Here’s a list of everyone posting today.

Host – Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Kelly @Quilting it Out
Martha @Once a Wingnut
Irene @Patchwork and Pastry
Cassandra @The (not so) Dramatic Life
Andrea @The Sewing Fools
Bernie @Needle and Foot
Silvia @A Stranger View
Wanda @Wanda’s Life Sampler
Sandra @Musings of a Menopausal Melon
Jess @Quilty Habit
Diana @Red Delicious Life
Chelsea @Patch the Giraffe
Margo @Shadow Lane Quilts
Renee @Quilts of a Feather

Tuesday, September 1st
Host – Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs
Wednesday, September 2nd
Host – Stephanie @Late Night Quilter
Thursday, September 3rd
Host – Terri Ann @Childlike Fascination

A huge thank you to Fabri-Quilt for donating the fat 1/8th bundles to all of us.  I would like to note that pre-washing the Fabri-Quilt solids is a good idea to reduce shrinkage and bleeding.  I can’t wait to see the charity quilts that our lovely hostess make from our blocks.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the tutorial.

Vicki

44 thoughts on “Duck Duck Goose Block Tutorial”

  1. Duck Duck Goose is a fabulous name for this block; I think you are more apt and creative at naming than you are giving yourself credit for! I really like the elongated pinwheel shape that gets made in the center of the block; it really draws me in.

  2. I love flying geese! The use of two sizes in your block is genius! And the name….let’s just say it took me back to when my daughter was much, much younger. Congratulations on your design – Martha @ onceawingnut.com

  3. There is a lot of movement in this block which I think is created by the different sized blades in the pinwheel. Your instructions are very clear as well. Good work.

  4. I love the name you chose for your block. And what a great little block for using up scraps. I could see a patchy version of this block as a quilt for sure. Great job on your tutorial.

  5. I love that wonky pinwheel in the middle of the block! It’s like a little bonus when you look at the block for a moment, since it’s definitely the geese that jump out at you first. Great block!

  6. This is a fun block and I love the name! I have done very little with flying geese. I love the effect your created with them in this block though. Well done!

  7. I saw your block late last night and thought it was great, but just got time to come back and look at it again now! These different size geese are really fun and your instructions and pictures are great! Love it! The different background color will give an interesting detail when repeated. Great job!

  8. I really like the way the coral triangles come together to make the unbalanced pinwheel. Was trying to visualize how the darker blues would work together with more blocks, but my brain couldn’t go that far today. Not enough coffee. Love the name “Duck, Duck, Goose!”

  9. Such a great block! I am not normally a fan of pinwheels (probably one of the few) but I love how this block does not read as a traditional pinwheel right away. I think this is great for a kid’s quilt!

  10. The way the wings all touch in the middle for both the small geese and the large ones is just wonderful. This block does a great job of balancing both color and shapes. Thanks so much for sharing it with us Vicki!

  11. Such a fun little twist by switching your background to a color instead of the white. While it feels very traditional at first, it’s more than enough to allow you to be very creative with this block, and the variation on your geese sizes perfects it. I love this! This would be a lovely block for a quilt sampler.

  12. I love it! Perfect choice for a name, too. Have you tried any layouts with a bunch of these blocks yet? It would be neat to see what you come up with.

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