feeling Geesey
Do you feel it? The winds are changing. A new season is almost upon us. On my last evening walk I watched a flock of birds moving gracefully across the grey sky. My heart moved with them, in hope, in expectation. Something about autumn always kindles my spirit.
Some time ago I sewed this Indie Geese quilt, and have been asked since then to create a pattern for it. Now the moment feels ripe. This quilt was made with one fabric collection (Indie Folk by Pat Bravo) plus solids. I played with direction of the geese, but mostly enjoyed pairing fabrics to make flocks of flying geese blocks.
There’s something so satisfying about putting two fabrics together. And again, and again. The repetition is strongly soothing.
Well, friends, I’m feeling geesey again. I have in mind to sew another of these quilts, while creating the pattern this September. Then, in October/November I’ll host a sew-along for all of you who want to get your geese on.
The sew-along will explore three style ideas for using color/fabric to create your Geesey quilt.
#1 Designer Palette
My Indie Geese version is all about the fabric designer’s palette. This style is a good way to go if you’d like to use a favorite fabric collection without too much planning.
The talented Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches made this amazing flying geese block based on Carolyn Friedlander’s Botanics fabric collection palette. That’s another example of letting a collection guide you.
Just make blocks in the combos that please you and let flocks of them mingle.
#2 Flight Pattern
My next Geesey quilt will focus on the directionality of the geese. I’ll use a consistent background fabric theme so that the geese themselves really stand out. I’ll also use some strong contrast geese fabric to draw the eye to errant flight patterns.
I’m inspired by this quilt by fabric designer Tamara Kate, made in 2016.
Fortunately, my same flying geese pattern can yield such a very different quilt. It’s all about fabric choice, of course.
#3 Scrappy
But you could also go really scrappy and have loads of fun with a Geesey quilt. Nettie of A Quilt is Nice makes lovely scrap quilts, and her latest flying geese quilt is no exception:
Notice how she repeats some shades like pale aqua, golden yellow, pale pink and peach. A little color repetition does wonders for a scrap quilt!
Our flying geese quilt sews from 3.5” wide fabric strips, so it is a great way to use up random yardage that you can cut into 3.5” width of fabric strips.
At the launch of the sew-along I’ll be sharing two ways to approach a scrap-based Geesey quilt.
So, is your interest peaked? Have you always wanted to make a flying geese quilt? This October and November will be an excellent opportunity. It will be a simple, straightforward sew-along to give our spirits room to rest and refresh.
I’d love it if you join me!
more soon,
Rachel
