Keeping Blocks Square
Pattern: Log Cabin Flying Geese from Missouri Star Quilt Company
This tutorial is the same for any log cabin block or squaring blocks as you sew. In the block below, one block that is not square causes the whole block to be off.
It all starts with your first block.
Using the lines on your mat, check for square.
With your strip ALWAYS on the bottom, sew together.
Using the lines on your ruler, cut off strip.
Press open then use the lines on your ruler to square.
Cut.
With strip on bottom, sew. You will notice I didn't start at the top of the strip. That's because I can see that the strip is not straight on the end.
Press open. Using your ruler check for square. Look at the line across your ruler at the bottom of the strip and the blue piece on the side. When they're square, cut the pink strip.
Turn the block around, line up using the line across the ruler at the top of your block and the green block. Cut the pink strip.
Press open seam. Try not to stretch your fabric. Just lay your iron on it and press. Don't press down and rub it back and forth. Look at the top of this block. You can see that the pink strip is not straight.
Line up your block across your ruler. If you look close, it's on the 3 inch line. Cut the side off that's not straight.
To make your sew line you can draw a line or fold and press. I folded one to show you how, but the fabric is so dark that the line didn't show up, so I marked it.
I pinned mine to keep it lined up with the block underneath while I stitched it.
Sew on stitch line.
Cut and press open.
Add your next strip, press open.
Line up across ruler and the top two pieces. Cut. You will see that you have already squared.
Add next strip.
Square using the lines on your ruler.
Use a line at the top instead of the bottom. It doesn't matter which end. The reason I put the side of the strip on the line is because it is most always straight if it is a precut jelly roll.
Continue until you have added all your strips. To check and see if your geese is sewn on right, press it open before cutting. If it's square at the corner like below then you are good to go.
After finishing my block I noticed that my first goose was flying backward, lol. Double check to make sure your geese are all flying the same way.
Use the lines on your cutting matter to make sure your finished block is square. All block need to be the same size before sewing them together. I laid my 12 inch square ruler on top of the block to check for square.
