Free Tutorial for the Easy Chicago Geese Quilt Block

Posted by Elaine Huff on

The Chicago Geese block is easy and quick to sew together. It's sort of Log Cabin, sort of Flying Geese, and looks very similar to the Wild Goose Chase block. Traditionally, the pattern is made with a background and two colors but...you know me, I had to add more fabrics to the mix! Let's get started!

chicago geese quilt block

(Update: You can purchase a PDF download of this block at Chicago Geese Quilt Block Pattern for $5).

Fabric Requirements for a 12" Finished Chicago Geese Quilt Block:

  • White: 1 - 5" square
  • Pink: 1 - 5" square
  • Dark Aqua: 4 - 4.5" squares
  • Light Gold: 1 - 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle, and 1 - 2.5: x 6.5" rectangle
  • Light Aqua: 1 - 2.5" x 6.5" rectangle, and 1 - 2.5" x 8.5" rectangle
  • Light Yellow: 1 - 2.5" x 8.5" rectangle, and 1 - 2.5" x 10.5" rectangle
  • Medium Aqua: 1 - 2.5" x 10.5" rectangle, and 1 2.5" x 12.5" rectangle
  • 1/4 yard of each color will make approximately four blocks

chicago geese fabric requirements

Sewing Directions:

Step 1:

Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner on the back of the Light/White 5" square and the four Dark Aqua 4.5" squares as shown in the picture below.

chicago geese 1

Half Square Triangle Unit:

Step 2:

Using the White 5" square and the Pink 5" square, make a Half Square Triangle (HST) unit. Trim/square up the HST to a 4.5" square. You only need one HST for each block. You can find a tutorial for making a basic Half Square Triangle block at https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-to-sew-a-basic-half-square-triangle-block

chicago geese 2

First Flying Geese Corner:

Step 3:

Match up the Light Gold 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle with the Half Square Triangle as shown below and sew together.

chicago geese 3

Step 4:

Press the seam allowance toward the rectangle as shown in the picture below.

chicago geese 4

Step 5:

Sew the Light Gold 2.5" x 6.5" rectangle to the Step 4 unit as shown.

chicago geese 5

Step 6:

Press the seam allowance toward the Light Gold fabric as shown below.

chicago geese 6

Step 7:

Lay out one of the Dark Aqua 4.5" squares as shown and sew a thread or two away from the marked line in what will be the seam allowance (this allows space for the fabric to fold in the next step). 

chicago geese 7

Step 8:

Match up the corners of Dark Aqua square and press as shown in the picture below.

chicago geese 8

Step 9:

Trim away the excess seam allowance.

chicago geese 9

Step 10:

Refold the Dark Aqua to complete this first Flying Geese corner.

chicago geese 11

Step 11:

Here's a picture showing the direction of the seam allowances. Notice that all of them go away from the Half Square Triangle unit.

chicago geese 11

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Second Flying Geese Corner:

Step 12:

Repeat Steps 3 through 11 substituting the Light Aqua rectangles for the Light Gold rectangles. 

chicago geese 12

Step 13:

Here's a shot of the back showing the directions of the seam allowances.

chicago geese 13

Third Flying Geese Corner:

Step 14:

Repeat Steps 3 through 11 again only using the Light Yellow rectangles.

chicago geese 14

and press the seam allowances outward just as before.

chicago geese 15

Fourth Flying Geese Corner:

Step 15:

Repeat Steps 3 through 11 again but substitute the Medium Aqua rectangles for the Light Gold ones. 

chicago geese 15

Step 16:

Here's a picture of the back of the final block. You're done!

chicago geese 16

Layout Options:

Here's just a normal 4 x 4 layout using similar colors to what I sewed up.

quilt 1 

Here's the traditional coloring of a background and two colors and rotated around a bit.

quilt 2

And a bit more fun just rotating the blocks around.

quilt 3

quilt 4

And a couple of on point layouts.

quilt 5

quilt 6

Conclusion:

The Chicago Geese block was fun and quick to sew together! I love the different designs you can get with this block. I think it would be a lovely block to make out of left over 2.5" strips and scraps and one dark fabric for the Flying Geese shapes.

hope you've enjoyed this Chicago Geese quilt block tutorial. If you liked this post and want to see more quilting tutorials like this, simply click HERE to sign up for my newsletter and also receive a free PDF called "Chained Weathervane".

Happy Quilting!

Elaine

P.S. You can purchase a PDF download of this block at https://www.etsy.com/listing/1314466339/chicago-geese. Check out my other PDF patterns in the Etsy shop at https://www.etsy.com/shop/fabric406

P.P.S. To figure out yardage for a quilt, check out this post: https://fabric406.com/blogs/fabric406-blog/how-much-fabric-do-i-need


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