The Flying Geese Quilt is a timeless and versatile design that never goes out of style. With its dynamic triangular shapes, the flying geese block symbolizes freedom, movement, and creativity in quilting. This particular quilt, designed by Wendy Sheppard for QT Fabrics, finishes at 66” x 76”, making it a perfect size for a throw or bed topper.
What makes this pattern special is the combination of scenic and feather-inspired fabrics arranged into a layout full of texture and flow. Whether you’re new to quilting or an experienced maker, the flying geese block is a wonderful skill-builder and offers endless design possibilities.
The Flying Geese block is one of the most essential units in quilting, and this pattern shows just how versatile it can be. By repeating and arranging the geese in different orientations, you can create movement across the quilt that feels almost like flocks in flight. This timeless block has been used for centuries and continues to inspire quilters with its simplicity, elegance, and endless design potential. Whether you choose a traditional color palette or experiment with bold modern prints, the Flying Geese Quilt will always look stunning.
Materials Needed
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Quilt Top Fabrics: A variety of scenic, feather, and blender prints (yardage details provided in the PDF).
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Batting: 74” x 84”
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Backing Fabric: 4 ¾ yards (Navy Geese Vignette recommended)
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Binding Fabric: ⅞ yard (Feathers Navy recommended)
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Basic Sewing Supplies: Rotary cutter, quilting ruler, sewing machine, and pins.
Finished Size: 66” x 76”
REQUIREMENTS
Key Techniques
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Flying Geese Units – Made with the stitch-and-flip method using 2” squares and 2” x 3 ½” rectangles. A total of 180 flying geese units are constructed.
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Block Assemblies – Units are grouped into different block types (FG1, FG2, FG3, FG4), each giving variety and movement to the quilt layout.
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Sashing & Borders – Blocks are framed with sashing strips and finished with multiple borders, giving the quilt a polished and framed look.
Quilt Construction Overview
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Make Flying Geese Units – Use background squares and rectangles to assemble 180 units. Trim to size.
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Assemble Blocks – Join flying geese into FG1–FG4 blocks, then combine them with scenic fabric rectangles to create larger blocks (B1–H2).
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Create Rows – Arrange blocks into six rows, separated by sashing strips. Rows measure 9 ½” x 49 ½” when complete.
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Quilt Center Assembly – Sew rows together with pieced sashing in between, creating a quilt center of 49 ½” x 59 ½”.
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Add Borders – Inner borders in oatmeal and frosted pine, followed by outer borders in navy vignette fabric, expand the quilt to its final size of 66” x 76”.
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Finishing – Layer backing, batting, and quilt top. Quilt as desired and bind with feather navy fabric.
Final Thoughts
The Flying Geese Quilt Pattern is an excellent project for quilters who love classic designs with a modern twist. Its crisp triangles, elegant borders, and scenic fabrics create a quilt full of life and motion. With step-by-step instructions and detailed cutting charts, this project is approachable for advanced beginners and still engaging for seasoned quilters.
At the end of this post, you’ll find the free PDF pattern, complete with cutting diagrams, block layouts, and a quilt assembly guide.
👉 Download the Free Flying Geese Quilt PDF Pattern Here
The Flying Geese Quilt is a true celebration of classic quilting design, blending history with modern creativity. Its sharp triangles and flowing rows give a sense of movement that keeps the eye engaged, while the structured borders provide a polished frame. This project is perfect for anyone wanting to strengthen their piecing skills while creating a quilt that feels both traditional and contemporary. Don’t forget to download the free PDF pattern for complete instructions and explore our other quilt tutorials for even more timeless designs to add to your collection.