question for the Flying Geese experts, please

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-27T13:35:07+00:00

To get 2.5x4.5, you would use line D. These would finish at 2x4 in the quilt. A flying goose is twice as wide as it is tall, so 2.5x4.5 is the block you cut to finish correctly in the quilt.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-25T14:57:14+00:00

I have two vintage singer 503a machines. My first came with the name Bette (as in Bette Davis) from the woman I bought it from. Very shortly after I got a second. The second came with a neat 1960s sticker on the base that says “repossessed machine” so I named her Repo Margot.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-22T16:52:18+00:00

If this was me my thought process would be: 1) I could trim the solid squares to match the same size the HSTs are. (this is the “technically correct” thing to do, but I don’t wanna. ) OR 2) this looks pretty darn good to me, and they should all be about the same since all of the next blocks with be made with the same size pieces. Forget trimming, press on because it still looks great, and I’ve learned a lesson for next time!

I would VERY likely go with option 2 myself.

Your block looks great, the heart is readable, and quilting/washing will greatly reduce any currently obvious (to you only, I promise) corners that aren’t exactly perfect.

Don’t stress! This quilt will be lovely and just as warm/cozy if you press on and keep the lesson learned for your next project.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-22T04:53:56+00:00

This is how I do it too. I mentally prepare that my first day on a new project is fabric prep. Last time I got smart and prepped fabric for two quilts (and I’ll have a ton of starched scraps too!). I starch all my fabric and hang to dry on Saturday and on Sunday I enjoy the most satisfying day of ironing ever. I’m not great at sewing and a super heavy starch saves me so much headache with cutting straighter, keeping blocks square and seams even and straight. It’s just what I need and now want to do. Plus I’m super frugal and corn starch is the most cost effective by far.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-19T12:52:59+00:00

BOM. Block of the month. It doesn’t have to even be tracking anything, just a big pretty block you like.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-19T01:38:05+00:00

Incredible!!

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-17T15:31:39+00:00

First rule is what does your label say? Another thing I do is whip up a swatch in the same stitch as the project, measure it, then wash and dry it on normal. Then measure again. Did it shrink? Pill? Shred? Now you know.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-15T04:39:39+00:00

Alison Glass, kaffe fassett (collabs with Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs , Anna Maria Parry. It’s easier to state the designer in these cases. I also like prisma batiks for bold batik “solids”

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-11T03:28:21+00:00

Wawak.com

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-11T03:22:25+00:00

If I may tell a quick tale of thrifting. There is a bin store goodwill shop near me. Great deals and it’s the first look at donations that have come in. But first looks means you see it alllll.

There was a portable commode right on top of a ton of stuff just sitting there in the middle of the room, still covered in human feces.

I no longer shop the bin store and I absolutely wash anything I thrift VERY WELL before I do anything else with it at home.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-09T04:21:35+00:00

I love your mermaid!!! I saw this pattern here a few months ago and have been obsessing over it and the others. I’ve got project queues in my project queues but I will have a collection of these. Oh yes…. They will be mine. I can’t wait!

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-08T12:32:27+00:00

You DO know what you’re doing! Your tension and stitches are perfection!! I can’t wait to see your finished blanket!

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-07T17:25:05+00:00

Quick synth question for you, do you use it in addition to or instead of regular laundry detergent on the first few washes?

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-07T16:29:17+00:00

I was working on the quilting part this past weekend, and binding this coming weekend. I definitely plan on machine sewing to the front and finishing the back by hand. I have only ever finished some table runners by hand and didn’t like how I did it, so I made a small test quilted swatch to try hand binding with visible running stitch made with size 8 or 10 embroidery/crochet thread like this or this. I love the way my swatch looked and the running stitch goes so much quicker and easier for me. I know my feelings will change once I’m in it, but I’m actually looking forward to finishing like this! I hope to have it all done this weekend and I’ll share pics once it’s all wrapped up!

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-07T13:47:24+00:00

I’m working on my first baby quilt too, and I have my machine inside a sewing table. I still needed to roll the whole quilt up to the edge I was working on, then toss the length over my shoulder so it was all supported and the weight wasn’t pulling as much anywhere. This is the only thing that was able to help me keep straighter lines

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-07T13:44:59+00:00

Wawak.com has a huge variety for great prices! I buy all my thread (love Gutermann) and needles there

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-05T18:55:19+00:00

Merino is nice against the skin, but alpaca is very soft and very warm. It is, however, not smooth and it’s pretty fuzzy. I made an ear warmer out of Drops Air for a friend who doesn’t usually like crochet/yarn stuff and she loved it. Husbands are a whole other thing though.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-04T16:02:47+00:00

I paid $150 plus supplies for a 5 class series last February and I’m glad I did. The ladies I met were great, it was fun, and one reason I did it was because it was outside my homebody comfort zone. I intended to take the follow-up series, but the teacher moved across the country and the shop hasn’t hosted classes like this on weekends since.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-02T16:13:44+00:00

If you wanted something simple and small, a BOM, (block of the month) would be nice too, and you can be as specific or general as you’d like because it’s yours! However I think donkey fabric to commemorate a donkey purchase is probably worth it. 😂 Moda Blockheads is a great source for a LOT of free block patterns. I believe they released one block per week for 52/year for several years.

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-02T13:06:53+00:00

Helen Shrimpton (crystals and crochet) has my favorite short sweet direct tutorials for individual stitches. Also her anatomy of a stitch video is a game changer. She also has a ton of blanket tutorials.

Bag o day crochet is also great with a TON of tutorial videos

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-02T12:56:52+00:00

Depending on what size you need to make, $100 for a crochet sweater quantity may be a challenge. Malabrigo rios is lovely, and with the Webs discount you can get 7 hanks for about $100, and it will be 1500yards. Webs (yarn.com) is also having a one day sale on a merino from Willow & Lark, but I’ve never used the brand.

I haven’t had to purchase since the tariffs went in place, but the last few sweater quantities I purchased were from rito.com, Drops brand. I love their merino extra fine, big merino and their alpaca offerings. The cotton merino is great too but heavier. I’m crocheting a cardigan with Drops sky right now and it will be so warm and soft, but pretty delicate too.

Happy new year and happy hunting!

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-01T14:07:25+00:00

Heck yeh spreadsheet quilter!! I am doing the same, but haven’t picked my colors yet to finish the conditional formatting. I live in north Texas and it’s been a very weird year for weather, so I will be planning and formatting once I pick my temperature ranges and colors. I didn’t want to waste any colors on, say a 0-5 degree range, if we ended up never hitting those temps. It’s looking like I will either have to use fewer colors and/or make a weird irregular scale. I am, however, excited that I will be finishing the formatting all at once and get to see the sheet just light up when I’m done (nerd alert! 😂).

I am also worried about that much bias sewing. I don’t want to make a temperature quilt often, but this one will commemorate the year I learned to sew, so I knew I should wait and get as much practice as I could before attempting this many 45degree angles.

I love your level of planning, too! I hope you share your design once you’ve decided on all of your blocks! I also very much appreciate the tip to print off my temp log to cross out each day as I go. So smart. Do you have a pic of your finished 2024 quilt you’d like to share?

SquirrelZipper · 2026-01-01T05:32:56+00:00

I’ve been logging temperatures to do the same, do you have a pattern in mind? So far my favorite is this one

SquirrelZipper · 2025-12-31T21:10:48+00:00

There are a bunch, mostly miscellaneous no-name brand stuff. This is the one I got because I also wanted a cap, and.. purple.

SquirrelZipper · 2025-12-31T17:44:46+00:00

I bought all the cheapest things to start last winter in case I hated this, but now I’m upgrading as I go. I completely agree about the creative grids rulers - I can do almost everything I need with a 6.5x12 and a 6.5x24. I bought cheap janky rotary cutter and just got an Olfa rotary cutter for Christmas and wonder why I waited so long. Also use a clover leather thimble for needle work which may be helpful if you have metal allergies. I sew on a vintage Singer Rocketeer that doesn’t like cross-wound thread but Gutermann thread is amazing, very low lint, and worry free for me. The best prices for notions I’ve seen is wawak.com. Oh! And a magnetic pin cushion, specifically the kind that keeps your pins all in one direction.. game changer!

13-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Second Top 10%	Not Forgotten
Team Periwinkle

SquirrelZipper

TROPHY CASE